CHICAGO — Saturday is a good day to treat yourself to an Italian beef sandwich.
May 23 is officially “Italian Beef Day” in Illinois after the adoption of House Resolution 0912 on Wednesday.
The resolution commends the “iconic sandwich as a proud symbol of the State’s culinary heritage, immigrant history, and community spirit,” and “extends thanks to the families and proprietors of Italian beef establishments across the State of Illinois in recognition of their enduring contributions to this shared heritage.”
Since January, state Rep. Rick Ryan, of Evergreen Park, has been spearheading efforts to make Italian beef the official state sandwich. That bill, House Bill 4669, passed the House on April 15 and is assigned to the Executive Committee, with plans for review later this week. The bill has 13 bipartisan co-sponsors between both chambers.
As an Italian-American who used to sit in his grandma’s kitchen while beef was simmering on the stove, Ryan previously told Block Club he was happy to be the lead sponsor of the beef sandwich bill.
“It’s a food that goes back to my childhood, so it’s just kind of a natural fit for me,” Ryan said.
In the meantime, Ryan and his supporters continue to rally around the beloved sandwich.
On Monday, Ryan filed legislation designating May 23 as “Italian Beef Day” in Illinois, honoring “the cultural and economic contributions of the restaurants, food vendors, and hardworking Illinoisans who have kept this tradition alive for generations.”
After it was adopted on Wednesday, Ryan celebrated in Springfield with a special event featuring Italian beef sandwiches and a guest appearance by actor and West Side native Corey Hendrix, who plays “Sweeps” on the Emmy-winning FX/Hulu series “The Bear.”
The series prominently features Chicago’s culinary scene, particularly Mr. Beef in River North, after which the fictional beef stand in the show was modeled.
“We’re thrilled to have members from The Bear and the film industry joining us as we celebrate,” Ryan said in a press release. “The show has combined culture and entertainment and encouraged viewers to enjoy some of the delicious meals that they’ve seen be prepared on the set.”
The Italian beef sandwich came to Chicago in the early 1900s by way of Italian immigrants, according to “The Chicago Food Encyclopedia,” edited by Carol Mighton Haddix, Bruce Kraig and Colleen Taylor Sen.
“Italians, most from the southern part of the country, created Italian beef, which was probably first served at weddings in the Taylor Street neighborhood known as ‘Little Italy,’” according to the book.
Working-class Italian home cooks often used cheaper cuts of beef to create filling sandwiches that cost little to make, a custom that caught on at weddings in the 1920s, known as “peanut weddings,” according to the encyclopedia.
From this tradition came neighborhood Italian beef stands, particularly in Little Italy, according to the food encyclopedia. After World War II, the beef stand business proliferated, gaining a fanbase outside of Chicago’s Italian community.
Today, Italian beef is synonymous with Chicago and can be found in restaurants, stores, greasy spoons, stadiums and venues across the city and suburbs.
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