The South American is a sandwich from Minnesotan cuisine. It is similar to a sloppy joe, and originated in the Iron Range of Minnesota. The sandwich is a bar snack made of several kinds of minced meat, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and celery. An Italian variation includes chopped pepperoni.
The sandwich was invented at the Spaghetti Inn in Gilbert, Minnesota, by Mike Giacomo, who created the sandwich from leftovers when a drunk resident turned up at the inn and demanded a meal. The etymology of the name is unknown; however, it could possibly be due to the perceived exotic nature of South America.