DNC

     At the end of the month delegates from all across our great nation will descend upon Philadelphia to attend the Democratic National Convention.  In addition to seeing all the historic sites like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall they will also be flocking to places like Pat's and Geno's to sample the city's signature sandwich, the cheesesteak.

     Those of us who live in and around the City of Brotherly Love are very familiar with the ingredients that go into making this iconic meal.  But I began to wonder as I thought about the sliced rib eye on an Amoroso roll, do other places in the U.S. have anything like it?

     Turns out that in northeastern Illinois around Chicago there is something called Italian Beef that sounds strangely similar.  The Italian Beef sandwich is described by locals there as a sandwich made of thin slices of seasoned roast beef placed in a long Italian roll that has been dipped in the meat juices and then garnished with giadiniera, a relish of pickled vegetables.

     Accounts vary as to its origin but the most credible rendition is that Italian immigrants who worked in the Chicago stockyards in the early 1900s would purchase from the company the cheaper (and tougher) less desirable cuts of meat.  At home the meat would be slow roasted to tenderize it, then slow simmered in a spicy broth using Italian spices and herbs.  The meat was then thinly sliced across the grain so there would be enough to go around to feed all those invited to family events like weddings and banquets.  Most often the meat was stuffed into freshly baked Italian bread.


     Today these sandwiches are available throughout the greater Chicago region in small pizza and sandwich shops.  The roll is dipped in the meat juices to add flavor.  You can have the roll "wet" (dipped once), "juicy" (dipped twice), or "soaked" (dipped thrice).  It's also helpful when eating this soppy sandwich to learn the Italian stance, leaning over with elbows out.

     Sounds interesting, but they forgot the Cheez Whiz!