So I sat in the Chicago airport for a couple of hours tonight on my way back from Toronto. I managed to dodge a bullet from a previous flight; I was originally scheduled through Washington but my instincts kicked in to change flights the minute a mechanical check had been announced. I was the only one who stood up and changed flights when the lady at the check-in counter announced a “slight delay due to a nut that needed tightening on the hydraulics.” I watched the departure board from the security of my new departing gate as my previous flight’s “slight delay” went to 30 minutes, then an hour, then two and eventually the flight was cancelled. I later learned the connection in DC also had problems and was cancelled; chalk one up to travel experience.
Knowing a two hour layover in Chicago was immanent my mouth was already watering for one of my favorite Chicago foods; the Italian beef sandwich. Tell my wife that I was in the Chicago airport for an hour and she will tell you what I had to eat. If you are ever in the Chica
go airport and have some time and a desire for a great food experience it is not to be missed. Look for Billy Goat’s Tavern in the food court of concourse C. Order an Italian beef either “sweet” or “spicy” depending on your pepper preference. What you will get is a tasty Chicago classic. As with many culinary greats there are only a few components to this sandwich but together they make one great big flavor experience. The sandwich consists of thinly shaved beef heated in au jus and then slapped on a hoagie. The hoagie is then partially dunked into the au jus to soak the bread with beef flavor. Finally either sweet peppers or spicy giardinera (hot peppers and spicy pickled vegetables) are placed on the shaved beef. The sandwich will require a lot of napkins and if one is familiar with the “Philly stoop,” the stooped over position in which you eat a real Philly cheese steak so as not to get the cheese whiz all over you, you can implement that technique also. Good hot beef, great au jus flavor and really nice spicy peppers and vegetables never went together so well. I wish I had one right now. There is always next time…
Knowing a two hour layover in Chicago was immanent my mouth was already watering for one of my favorite Chicago foods; the Italian beef sandwich. Tell my wife that I was in the Chicago airport for an hour and she will tell you what I had to eat. If you are ever in the Chica
go airport and have some time and a desire for a great food experience it is not to be missed. Look for Billy Goat’s Tavern in the food court of concourse C. Order an Italian beef either “sweet” or “spicy” depending on your pepper preference. What you will get is a tasty Chicago classic. As with many culinary greats there are only a few components to this sandwich but together they make one great big flavor experience. The sandwich consists of thinly shaved beef heated in au jus and then slapped on a hoagie. The hoagie is then partially dunked into the au jus to soak the bread with beef flavor. Finally either sweet peppers or spicy giardinera (hot peppers and spicy pickled vegetables) are placed on the shaved beef. The sandwich will require a lot of napkins and if one is familiar with the “Philly stoop,” the stooped over position in which you eat a real Philly cheese steak so as not to get the cheese whiz all over you, you can implement that technique also. Good hot beef, great au jus flavor and really nice spicy peppers and vegetables never went together so well. I wish I had one right now. There is always next time…
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2 comments:
Arrrrgggnnmmmmm...that looks awesome.
Can we get Ben to sound that noise out for us? I don't think I've ever heard him make that noise over something I've cooked!
So, was it your instincts that told you to change your flight or your taste buds? That looks amazing! And clearly you are a bona fide blogger. Taking a photograph of your sandwich is always a good sign. :D
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