At Jimmy's Place, everything is made in-house from scratch daily using family recipes for authentic Chicago-Italian food. Jeff Mauro went to this popular restaurant searching for the secret to its delicious bone-in Chicken Vesuvio to create an inspired Chicken Vesuvio Sandwich.
Need a brunch fix during the week? Lula Cafe is your place, as it offers a daily brunch menu that Jeff Mauro adores. Plus, its signature “Royale” sandwich changes every week — and has for the past 10 years. For a sweet finish, indulge in Lula’s bread pudding French toast with malted whipped cream.
On The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Troy Johnson celebrates his love of a Wisconsin favorite with none other than beer-battered fried cheese curds. Also try the Old Fashioned House Burger. Made from local beef, it’s topped with fried onion, bacon, cheddar cheese, garlic sauce and a soft-cooked egg.
Jim's Original features the one-and-only Polish Sausage Sandwich that has been a Chicago favorite since 1941. But on Sandwich King, Jeff tried another favorite: the Pork Chop Sandwich. Unlike a typical pork chop sandwich, Jim's opts for leaving the bone in for a juicy, flavorful bite.
Retro fanatics have their fill at Angel Food Bakery. Owner Stephanie Samuels has been bringing back old-school bakery favorites with treats like whoopie pies, homemade Twinkies and Thin Mints. Sandwich King Jeff Mauro thinks Angel's ultimate sweet sandwich is the chocolate-dipped s'more.
This Chicago institution features recipes dating back more than 50 years. The highlight for Sandwich King Jeff Mauro is the corned beef made with a custom blend of pickling spices. Every order (about 1,000 each day) at Manny's Coffee Shop is topped with a golden potato pancake.
Showcasing artisan cheese, bread and wine in all their high-quality, earthly glory, Pastoral Artisan Cheese is a Chicago specialty shop with four locations. It views artisan sandwiches as a lovely way to pair flavors, so when the Sandwich King stopped by, he went for the Sinfully Healthy Sandwich.
With a cafe in Elmwood Park and a takeout spot on Navy Pier, Massa is renowned for authentic paninis, pizza, fried dough and other Italian specialties. Jeff Mauro swung by for the Italian stuffed Panzerotti, and locals recommend concluding any date night here with authentic, otherworldly gelato.
When Sandwich King Jeff Mauro craves a thick slice of pork, he heads to Publican Quality Meats. Known for their choice cuts, Publican Quality Meats also dishes out an ever-changing sandwich menu that features mouthwatering options like braised pork belly, smoked trout and adobo pork shoulder.
When Jeff Mauro looks for inspiration for turning dessert into a sandwich, he looks to the masters at Sugar Fixe Patisserie in Oak Park, Ill. These pastries put a spin on classic favorites; be sure to try the almond croissant sandwich filled with almond cream and topped with toasted almonds.
Jeff Mauro visited Graze for its "spot-on" veggie burger made with beets and walnuts. This Madison, Wisconsin, restaurant sources its ingredients from local small farms, and its eclectic menu includes Asian dishes such as bibimbap and pork buns. The Korean-Style Nachos topped with beef bulgogi and kimchi are a popular pick.
Established in 1946, Gene and Jude's helped shape the famous Chicago-style hot dog (perfect for any game day), which comes with mustard, relish, onion, tomato, celery salt, pickles and pickled sport peppers on a poppy-seed bun. These fan favorites are a must for any lover of good ole Americana.
Jeff Mauro went to Peoria Packing Butcher for the freshest possible pork tenderloin for his schnitzel sandwich. Peoria Packing Limited launched in 1990 to provide Chicago grocery stores with local meat, and in 1993 the retail shop opened to sell high-quality meat to the public at wholesale prices.
At this sandwich shop that Jeff Mauro calls a "no-frills diner," they've been serving meals such as the corned beef sandwich the same way for 80 years. If it's a Tuesday or Saturday, don't leave without ordering the signature short rib smothered in gravy and served on a bun.
This Puerto Rican restaurant is the birthplace of the "jibarito," a combination of savory steak or pork, melted cheese, crisp romaine lettuce, tomatoes, mayo and garlic all sandwiched between two flattened, deep-fried plantains (or as Jeff Mauro called it, "the world’s most interesting bun").
Make restaurant favorites at home with copycat recipes from FN Magazine.
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