Don't you just love Italian beef?

[madison2000]

Poll question: Don't you just love Italian beef?

When I was a child my parents told me I didn't like pizza. Well, I don't know where they got their information, but anyway, when we would go out to a restaurant for pizza (never did the fast food thing) they would order me an Italian beef, no hot peppers. To this day its one of my favorite foods, but alas, I no longer live in Chicago so its harder to find a really good IB sandwich.

[RagingInMiami]

1. I hope you have learned to appreciate the hot peppers now

I love Italian beef

[madison2000]

2. No, they don't agree with me

but I don't use condiments for anything- strangely I like things "plain".

[AngryAmish]

3. Good Italian beef is impossible to find west of Rt 83

North of Touhy and south of Lincoln Hioghway.

In order of delicousness, the best Italian Beefs are:

1. Johnnies on North in Elmwood Park (just W of Harlem). Simply the best. Spicy, tender deef. Perennial champion.

2. Boston's at Chicago and Grand.

3. Portillo's. I find much argument against it, but Portillo's makes a great beef.

4. Carm's. They have four or five of them now, but I always liked the oriiginal at Cicero and Roosevelt. Always lots of hookers in the parking lot, but damn fine beef. Great soakers, too.

[madison2000]

4. There's a little place at 22nd and Western (don's?)

that has really good sandwiches too. I used to like to go there and eat a sandwich, then visit the dog pound at 26th and Western - the smell on my hands would make the dogs crazy!

Johnnies, awesome food!

[Cyndee_Lou_Who]

12. Zippy's out in Schaumburg is good, too

mmmm. I am back in WI now, and not a decent IB to be found!! x(

[BlueManDude]

5. An Italian and an Old Style. What's better than that?

on a sunny day in the bleachers at Wrigley....

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

6. A few different ways to make them at home:

http://www.recipegoldmine.com/sandwich/sandwich151.html

1). Chicago-Style Italian Beef Sandwiches

1 (5 to 7 pound) rump roast
2 cups boiling water
2 beef flavor bouillon cubes
1 teaspoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, more or less,
depending upon taste
Salt and pepper to taste
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
6 garlic cloves, peeled and mashed
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
2 or more loaves Italian or Vienna bread, French
or any hard, crusty bread, sliced down the center,
lengthwise, but not all the way through to the other
side, then cut into serving size pieces

Place roast on a rack, in an open 13 x 9-inch roasting pan with the rack in it. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Bake, allowing 25 minutes per pound. Roast will be rare. Cool, and slice very thin.

To the drippings in the pan, add the boiling water, bouillon cubes or granules, (1 bouillon cube for each cup of boiling water used). Add marjoram, thyme, oregano, hot pepper sauce, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, garlic cloves, and chopped green pepper. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Add the thinly sliced beef and cover. Marinate in gravy in refrigerator overnight.

The next day, heat thoroughly, and serve warm on the French bread, along with a crisp, green salad.

Makes 8 to 10 sandwiches.

http://crockpot.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/345/Chicago_Style_Italian_Beef55693.shtml

2). Chicago Style Italian Beef Recipe

1 rump roast, rolled
flour
shortening
6 cups water, divided
4 beef bouillon cubes
1 tablespoon oregano
2 teaspoons garlic salt
1 teaspoon paprika
2/3 cup reserved broth
6 tiny hot peppers
2 bay leaves
pepper
bay leaves
sliced French bread

Coat the roast with flour and brown in a Dutch oven or similar pan in a little shortening on top of the stove. After browned on all sides, drain off the grease and add 3 cups of water. Cover and simmer for 1 hour. Put it in a crock pot and let it simmer all day. Remove from liquid and cool meat completely, reserving liquid.

After meat is completely cooled, slice thinly with an electric knife. Bring remaining ingredients (except bread) to a boil and sliced beef. Simmer for 1 hour.

Remove peppers and bay leaves.

Serve on sliced French bread. Add a little broth to the bread as well. (In Chicago, they serve it really soaked. ) Serve with pepperocini peppers or sautéed red and green bell peppers.

3). A TRUCKLOAD of variations HERE:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/search/0,1-0,italian_beef_sandwiches,FF.html

...this is one of them:

http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1718,159183-239198,00.html

CHICAGO STYLE ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES

3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1 (4 lb.) beef bottom round roast
4 lg. green peppers
1 tbsp. instant beef bouillon granules
1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/4 c. water
16 pieces (6" each) crusty Italian or French bread, split

Combine garlic, salt and pepper; rub evenly over roast. Place roast on rack in open roasting pan. Insert roast meat thermometer so bulb is centered in the thickest part. Do not add water. Do not cover. Roast in a 300 degree oven until meat thermometer registers 135 degrees. Allow 20-25 minutes per pound.

Remove roast to a large platter. Pour drippings into 1 cup measure; skim off fat and discard. Reserve drippings. Cover roast and refrigerate until chilled.

Meanwhile, place green peppers on rack in broiler pan. Broil 10-15 minutes, or until skins blister, turning occasionally. Place peppers in paper bag; close, and let stand 15-20 minutes. Remove loosened skin and cut peppers in 3/4 inch strips; reserve.

To prepare seasoned cooking liquid, add water to drippings to equal 5 cups. Combine drippings, bouillon granules, Italian seasoning, oregano and red pepper in Dutch oven or large saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered, 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, carve roast across the grain into very thin slices or slice with meat slicer. I bring the roast back to have the butcher slice it. Add sliced beef to seasoned liquid; cover and heat through. (Do not overcook.) Place reserved green pepper strips and 1/4 cup water in large saucepan or skillet. Simmer 2 minutes; drain. Serve beef on crusty bread, and top with seasoned gravy and green peppers. Yield 16 sandwiches.

[madison2000]

7. Damn, that looks like a lot of work!

You cook, I'll bring the beer, OK?

[BigBearJohn]

16. Thanks for these great recipes! YUM! Can't wait to try them.

[Placebo]

8. Best Chicago Beef: Chickie's Beef

Seriously the best, I think.

[AngryAmish]

9. Where is Chickies?

[Placebo]

11. There's 2 locations...

2839 S Pulaski Rd

&

5517 W Cermak Rd

I kid you not, they have the best beef in the city! :9

http://www.ylunch.com/chicago/chickies/chickies.html

[BigBearJohn]

17. Oh! Don't forget a place in Brookfield called "Bambino's"

[phone] 8863 Ogden Ave, Brookfield, IL

Run by an old Italian family. I go there everytime I visit family

[BigBearJohn]

10. Wow! What a great topic. I live in CA (born in Chicago)

If anyone is interested, I have a recipe for italian beef.
I have not been able to find any decent italian beef here in California.

(oops! on edit, I just noticed others with recipes that are much
better than mine. I can't wait to try them. THANKS A MILLION!!!!!)

[AngryAmish]

13. Ever try an Italian Beef in other midwestern states?

Many times it is just roast beef with a marinara sauce. Quite disgusting, especially considering the quality of marinara one gets in Iowa. (food snob alert!)

Oh, Suzy's on Irving Park is pretty good, especially at 3 a.m.

[madison2000]

14. Theres a little hole in the wall here in Madison that sells them

and they are good- guess what, the owners have a couple of places in Chicago.

[AngryAmish]

15. Well that brings the total of good beef stands in Wisconsin to 1

Not picking on you, but I have spent considerable time sampling and debating the merits of different beef sandwhiches. I am such a geek.

[madison2000]

18. Madison has much to offer, but it can't begin to compare

to the number and variety of places to eat in Chicago!

Edit: I confess to driving all the way to Chicago for a Giordano's pizza one afternoon when I had a craving for it! Now I know there is one in Rockford.

[Blue-Jay]

19. I prefer Italian shoes.