26 Comments
Oct 25Liked by Dennis Lee

can't believe the word "beef" appears 36 times but "boof" doesn't even make one appearance

Expand full comment
author

You're a better journalist than me

Expand full comment
Oct 25Liked by Dennis Lee

huge missed opportunity to evolve the ranchy italian beef into a raunchy italian beef

Expand full comment
Oct 25Liked by Dennis Lee

I lost it at seeing your gang in their protective Ziploc layer, and immediately determined that this needs to be called the Moop Suit, after the famous Trivial Pursuit typo in the bubble boy episode of “Seinfeld”.

I actually tried to make an Italian Beef grilled cheese sandwich for the state fair a couple weeks ago, first making an American cheese block out of mozzarella, provolone and this amazing Italian cheese called Fontal. It didn’t win any ribbons, but it was fucking delicious.

Expand full comment

Card says Moops!

Expand full comment
Oct 26Liked by Dennis Lee

IT WAS THE MOORS!!!

Expand full comment
Oct 25Liked by Dennis Lee

You're amazing. Italian beef with Chicago dog toppings? I love that. Also, I put ketchup on hot dogs. I'm not ashamed. It's not for my non-daughter. IT'S FOR ME.

Expand full comment
Oct 25Liked by Dennis Lee

Um. Not only are you going to lose your citizenship to ChicagoLand, you will probably be exiled to some place like, I don't know, Florida, but not anywhere in Florida, Jacksonville, you will be exiled to Jacksonville and will be checked on once a month by really bad people who will ensure you stay in Jacksonville forever eating nothing but nachos slathered in orange cheese. And ketchup.

Expand full comment
author

Man, if you only knew how many Chicagoans eventually move to Florida...I have a feeling I'd be greeted with arms wide open (the Creed song), gallons of ketchup, and a hurricane

Expand full comment

Maybe the best sandwich I’ve ever had was the combo at Al’s Italian Beef near Wrigley Field: beef with a sausage added, dipped to near sogginess, with peppers and gardinera.

Expand full comment
Oct 25Liked by Dennis Lee

I've been blaming my orders on my daughter for like 17 years. She's ... 8.

Expand full comment

Which Portillos do you frequent? It sounds more like a Wieners Circle! Can't wait for the Chicago Beef to go viral (with a side of insults) 🌭

Expand full comment
author

The one on Addison and Kimball. Closest to us! Bonus: It's by Olive Garden. Heehee

Expand full comment

Oh yes, and you know a lot about corner booths there too!

Expand full comment

That was the greatest exploration of the Italian Beef ever, and thank you! As a Chicagoan, I am totally mystified by my compatriots love of that said sandwich. I mean, huh? It’s just so….huh? I will say if I’m going to eat one it will be baptized and with cheese and whatever else is available. But please, no other condiments. Ketchup in particular is an abomination. 🤣❤️

Expand full comment
Oct 29Liked by Dennis Lee

If Chicago disowns the lot of you, we're happy to take you into Minneapolis. Round these parts we don't give a shit if you put ketchup on your hogs, in fact that's quite normal behavior.

Expand full comment
Oct 27Liked by Dennis Lee

O CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN

Expand full comment
Oct 27Liked by Dennis Lee

Happy 300th!! 🎈🎈🎈

Expand full comment

I am not even a Chicagoan and no better not to put ketchup on a hot dog..hehe

Expand full comment
Oct 26Liked by Dennis Lee

If we can get Phil Vittel to sign off on this thing, you may have created a new classic with the Chicago-Style beef sandwich.

Expand full comment
Oct 25·edited Oct 25Liked by Dennis Lee

The No Ketchup On Hot Dogs people are the worst kind of people. Same kind of person as "the only way to drink coffee is BLACK. NOTHING IN IT." but with a weird level of regional superiority that nobody else shares.

Let people like what they like. This isn't as important as you think it is.

That said ... this deserves a Pulitzer and I can't wait to try a Chicago-style Dipped Beef.

Expand full comment
author

If we ever meet up we should 100% join together to do this!

Expand full comment
Oct 25Liked by Dennis Lee

Next step: the classic combo sandwich. Put the actual hot dog in there with the beef and all the dog toppings. Really commit to that coronary.

Expand full comment