My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

[Perversion]

He claims that he's talked to some people that moved to Chicagoland from the east coast, and they'd never eaten an Italian beef sandwich before moving here. So his theory is that Italian beef sandwiches are specific to the midwest, or possibly to the Chicago area. So the question is, do restaurants by where you live serve Italian beef sandwiches?

Also, please post where you are from (in general).

[IRC]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

*snickers*

[hitogoroshi]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

Nope.

[H2SO4]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

Never even heard of it.

[Cosmic Jeff]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

It's a roast beef sandwich. It has many layers of very thinly sliced beef and is typically served on either garlic bread or toasted Italian bread. Mozzarella and oregano is popular with them. It's basically a heart-attack catalyst.

[IRC]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

I'm sure you can get them everywhere. They might not be called Italian beef sandwiches but they got em.

[Perversion]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

Thanks for the clarification, Jeff. There's also something you can get around here called a combo, which is both Italian beef and Italian sausage on one sandwich.

Italian beef is spicier than regular roast beef, however.

[RPGD]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

I have never seen any of that beefs here. I must track some down immediately.

[Chad]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

Nope, not in Massachusetts or Florida have I seen them.

[JPS]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

It would be nice if you posted what an italian beef sandwich is comprised of if case it goes by another name somewhere else

dont say just italian beef

[Czechs Mex]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

An Italian beef sandwich consists of thin slices of beef served inside Italian bread or some other crusty bread (often soaked), which has been cut lengthwise and into individual portions. (The "Italian Bread" commonly used in Chicagoland is a white loaf with a high gluten content and little to no sourdough flavor, made to be reminiscent of what many think of as being Italian restaurant bread). Even though it is served on Italian bread sliced lengthwise, this is the only thing it has in common with submarine sandwiches. Italian beef is made using cuts of beef from the sirloin butt (Scala's) or the top/bottom round wet-roasted in broth with garlic, oregano and spices until medium rare or medium. The roast is then cooled, then sliced very thinly ("shaved") using a deli slicer, and then served dripping wet after a reintroduction to its reheated beef cooking broth, topped off with sauteed green bell peppers, or hot Chicago-style "giardiniera" peppers (mix of Serrano peppers, carrot, cauliflower, celery, olives, and oil/spices), or rarely marinara sauce by request; hence the need to use a chewy bread for this dish: a softer bread would disintegrate.
The sandwich was featured on the PBS special Sandwiches That You Will Like.

The Italian beef sandwich is a dish associated with Chicago. It is difficult to obtain outside the Chicago area. Italian Beef sandwiches can be found at most hot dog stands and small Italian-American restaurants throughout the city and its suburbs. Most Chicago hotdog-stand-style Italian Beef retailers purchase pre-seasoned, pre-cooked, and pre-sliced Italian Beef with separate cooking broth ("au jus"), and then heat and serve, while other retailers purchase the raw beef cuts and prepare it themselves. Chicago's favorite, highly-rated, or "famed" Italian Beef places typically prepare the beef themselves on their own premises according to their own recipes. Some produce their own homemade "hot giardiniera" too, but this is more rare.

[hat]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

I have never seen one and I live in Ohio.

[Smurvis]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

It sounds like I'll be visiting the Chicago area soon.

[Nixon]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

I don't think we have those here in Tex-ass.

[highwind]

Re: My friend has a theory re:Italian beef sandwiches

Is Chicago home to the most unhealthy food in the world or WHAT?