No one.

I polled over 20 lifelong Chicagoans, people that grew up in the city and surrounding suburbs that still live in the city and surrounding suburbs.

I polled people from the north side, south side, west side, southwest suburbs, western suburbs, northern suburbs and northwest suburbs. 

I asked a simple question: did you, or anyone in your family, ever make an Italian beef sandwich from scratch? 

No. Most everyone said no. 

The few that said yes clarified they didn’t make it from scratch, they got one of those buckets of pre-made Italian beef, usually for large family functions and when they were homesick for Chicago.

No one is attempting to recreate sandwiches they saw on The Bear.

If you are attempting to make an Italian beef sandwich because of a well received FX on Hulu series, good for you. 

If you are attempting to make an Italian beef sandwich because a well received FX on Hulu series led you to believe Chicagoans spend hours turning chuck roast into sandwich meat, you are incorrect. You are doing the equivalent of making French food because you think French chefs are controlled by rats under their toques. If you believe either of these things, good for you! I am jealous. 

Everyone I know from where I grew up does or has enjoyed an Italian beef sandwich. We just got them at Johnnie’s Beef, Al’s #1 Italian Beef, Mr. Beef, Michael’s Beef House, Buona Beef, Portillo’s and way more places better known for hot dogs than Italian beef (I got them at Donald’s Famous Hotdogs in Westchester, Lucky Dog in Melrose Park, Parky’s Hot Dogs in Forest Park and about a dozen more places that have closed over the last two decades and have been replaced by chains like Sonic (I’m specifically mourning Pepe’s II Hot Dogs in Westchester)). 

You know why we didn’t and don’t make them? Because there’s a quality Italian beef sandwich seemingly every mile or two in and around a 50 mile radius of Chicago. Why would you spend a dozen hours making enough sandwiches for an Army platoon when you could just walk a few blocks and get one made from someone that’s been making quality sandwiches for decades?

But if you want to make it at home, more power to you. Please invite me over.

Also, no one makes deep dish pizza at home. That’s nuts. We do make tavern-style pizza and hot dogs. The hot dog stereotype is true.

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