Over the last two summers, The Bear on Hulu has captured the imagination of a nation enthralled by the chaos inside a restaurant kitchen. If a program could ever be a “song of the summer,” it would be this Chicago-based drama centered around an Italian beef sandwich shop with a fine-dining spin.
But as you watch Carmy and Sydney and Richie jaw at each other, intermittently shouting “CORNER” and “BEHIND” and “HANDS,” you might be wondering — how can I get my hands on the central, delectable and savory Chicago treat? And, what is “The Bear” (or “The Beef of Chicagoland”) actually based on within the city limits of the heart of the Midwest?
As it turns out, per Variety, the show derived inspiration from Mr. Beef — a Chicagoland greasy spoon institution built on good eats and better people. And a Twitter user (@mckiesdjlounge) has found Mr. Beef’s original recipe for an Italian beef sandwich, published in the Chicago Tribune in January 1990.
Talk about a wonderful and delicious slice of au jus history.
So, in the interest of helping grow your investment and get a little “taste” of Chicago, if you will, here’s how to make the Italian beef sandwich that helped inspire the mayhem of a fictional Second City restaurant.
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