The Italian beef sandwich is a mouthwatering culinary masterpiece that shines in its simplicity. A basic Italian beef sandwich contains nothing more than thinly sliced beef marinated in its own juices, slowly simmered gravy and hearty bread to absorb the delectable juice. The final product might be dressed up with sweet peppers or Italian-style pickles, but little else is needed to make these sandwiches absolutely perfect.

Origins of Italian Beef
Like any significant culinary creation, the Italian beef sandwich has a hotly debated history with several origin stories. However, the staff at Serrelli's Finer Foods is confident that the store's founders were behind the creation of the sandwich in 1934. As a product of the Great Depression, the sandwich helped to stretch any quantity of beef further with thin slices and fresh beef juice.

Read more

Source: http://oakpark.suntimes.com