An Italian beef is a sandwich of thin slices of seasoned roast beef, dripping with meat juices, on a dense, long Italian-style roll. This sandwich originated in Chicago, where its history dates back at least to the 1930s.
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- Founded:
- 1930
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Marty Cusack
An addition to the "History of the Italian Beef" on the "info" page.
My mom (100% Italian-American; grew up in the old Maxwell Street neighborhood) was at a presentation by the Scala Beef folk at a Chicago Culinary Historians meeting. She told them that the origin of the Italian beef was a direct cause of Italian-Americ...ans not being rich enough to serve a full meal at Italian weddings - made worse during the Great Depression.
Traditionally, it was expected that guest would be served a full meal, including roasts, but since the poor couldn't afford to serve dozens of roasts, only a few were served, but sliced thin and served with bread and fried peppers. This was , she sahe, the origin of the Italian Beef sammich.
I've talked to a few other older Chicago-area Italian-Americans and they've all confirmed this story.
So, sorry Travel Channel - the Italian Beef WASN'T invented at Al's Beef.Read More
My mom (100% Italian-American; grew up in the old Maxwell Street neighborhood) was at a presentation by the Scala Beef folk at a Chicago Culinary Historians meeting. She told them that the origin of the Italian beef was a direct cause of Italian-Americ...ans not being rich enough to serve a full meal at Italian weddings - made worse during the Great Depression.
Traditionally, it was expected that guest would be served a full meal, including roasts, but since the poor couldn't afford to serve dozens of roasts, only a few were served, but sliced thin and served with bread and fried peppers. This was , she sahe, the origin of the Italian Beef sammich.
I've talked to a few other older Chicago-area Italian-Americans and they've all confirmed this story.
So, sorry Travel Channel - the Italian Beef WASN'T invented at Al's Beef.Read More
Marty Cusack
Connie's Italian Beef was the best. Great Combos. The old place was on North Avenue just east of the old Salerno's Funeral Home. Every wake of one of my Italian relatives (or old neighborhood Italians) meant dinner standing at the counter at Connie's enjoying a great beef & sausage combo.
I think that Connie's moved ove...r to Harlem a while ago, just north of North; don't know if it's still there.Read More
I think that Connie's moved ove...r to Harlem a while ago, just north of North; don't know if it's still there.Read More
Stephanie Bourne I used to live in Chicago and LOVED Johnny's Beef. I'm in San Francisco now and haven't had any luck finding a good sandwich here. Any suggestions?
Bobby Donofrio WHERES A THE BEEFA ????????
Steve Growing up in the Chi my fav place was Marge's on N. Cicero between North Ave and Division. Now I do Portillo's which I really like, Lukes, and I actually think Rosatis has a pretty good sandwich as well.
Robert Contreras Sorry Midway*********
Robert Contreras Sorry...Miday******
Robert Contreras Johnnie's, Portillo's, Patio's(on Taylor) I've had 'em all...but a little known place on west 63rd can rival most of these places. It's called Jack-Robbins, owned by a chinese couple, they have one of the best Italian beefs in the area--Been there for 15 years, it's only a few blocks west of Madway Airport.
Rhonda Moran The Patio on Taylor in Chicago!!! YUM!!!
Steven Michael An Italian beef is a sandwich of thin slices of seasoned roast beef, dripping with meat juices, on a dense, long Italian-style roll. This sandwich originated in Chicago, where its history dates back at least to the 1930s.
Steven Michael Italian Beefs rule !!!!!!!!!!!!! I miss Chicago beefs
Jim Tritten Bunyon's in Berwyn. Had spiciness I loved.
Carolyn Clerk I had these in Crystal Lake IL and they were delish
John-Luke Hamilton Hi everyone, my favorite places (in order of excellence) are Al's #1, Johnny's Beef in Elmwood Park, Duke's Drive-In in Bridgeview, and further down the list in no particular order are Buona Beef, Portillo's (Hold the Cheese PLEASE), and Jay's in Schiller Park and Harwood Heights.
Justin Nelson
awesome Giardiniera (Italian Pepper Relish) recipe for your Italian Beefs!
2 jalapenos diced (don't dice anything smaller than a tic-tac; nobody likes mush)
2 bell peppers diced (one orange and one green)
1 head of cauliflower diced - don't use the stems
1 cup carrots diced
1 cup celery diced
1/2 cup pimento stuffed olives d...iced (keep about 1/4 cup of the juice)
3 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp freshly diced garlic
2 tsp chopped dried basil leaves
pinch of dried thyme
2 tbsp lime juice
1 16 oz can of banana peppers diced (keep the juice)
1 16 oz can of hot cherry peppers diced (keep the juice)
1/2 cup red vinegar
1/2 cup virgin olive oil
Dice it and in a large mixing bowl mix it all together. Don't add the vinegar until the end. Use all the other juices first that you kept - it will taste better. Add as much of the 1/2 cup of vinegar as needed at the end to ensure all veggies in the bowl are covered. Let sit in fridge for 48 hours. Keep in covered bowl or in a large jar or can it!Read More
2 jalapenos diced (don't dice anything smaller than a tic-tac; nobody likes mush)
2 bell peppers diced (one orange and one green)
1 head of cauliflower diced - don't use the stems
1 cup carrots diced
1 cup celery diced
1/2 cup pimento stuffed olives d...iced (keep about 1/4 cup of the juice)
3 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp freshly diced garlic
2 tsp chopped dried basil leaves
pinch of dried thyme
2 tbsp lime juice
1 16 oz can of banana peppers diced (keep the juice)
1 16 oz can of hot cherry peppers diced (keep the juice)
1/2 cup red vinegar
1/2 cup virgin olive oil
Dice it and in a large mixing bowl mix it all together. Don't add the vinegar until the end. Use all the other juices first that you kept - it will taste better. Add as much of the 1/2 cup of vinegar as needed at the end to ensure all veggies in the bowl are covered. Let sit in fridge for 48 hours. Keep in covered bowl or in a large jar or can it!Read More
