A French dip sandwich, also known as a beef dip, is a hot

sandwich A sandwich is a Dish (food), dish typically consisting variously of meat, cheese, sauces, and vegetables used as a filling between slices of bread, or placed atop a slice of bread; or, more generally, any dish in which bread serves as a ''co ...

consisting of thinly sliced

roast beef Roast beef is a dish of beef that is roasted, generally served as the main dish of meal. In the Anglosphere, roast beef is one of the meats often served at Sunday lunch or dinner. Yorkshire pudding is a standard side dish. Sliced roast beef ...

(or, sometimes, other meats) on a "French roll" or baguette. It is usually served plain but a popular variation is to top with Swiss cheese, onions, and a dipping container of beef broth produced from the cooking process (termed ''

au jus ''Au jus'' () is a French language, French culinary term meaning "with juice". It refers to meat dishes prepared or served together with a light broth or gravy, made from the fluids secreted by the meat as it is cooked. In French cuisine, cookin ...

'', "with juice"). Beef stock, a light beef gravy, or beef consommé is sometimes substituted. The sandwich is most commonly served with a cup on the side of the plate, into which the sandwich is dipped as it is eaten, although this is not how the sandwich was served when it was originally developed. The sandwich is an American invention, with the name seeming to refer to the style of bread, rather than any French origin.

History

Two

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restaurants have claimed to be the birthplace of the French dip sandwich: Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet and Philippe the Original. Philippe's website describes the dish as a "specialty of the house", and the words "Home of the Original French Dip Sandwich" are present in the restaurant's logo. At Phillippe's, the roll is dipped in the hot beef juices before the sandwich is assembled, and is served "wet", while at Cole's it is served with a side of beef juices. The sandwich can also be requested "double dipped", where both halves of the sandwich are dipped before serving, at either establishment. Both restaurants feature their own brand of spicy mustard. The controversy over who originated the sandwich remains unresolved. Both restaurants were established in 1908. However, Cole's claims to have originated the sandwich shortly after the restaurant opened in 1908, while Philippe's claims that owner Philippe Mathieu invented it in 1918. The story of the sandwich's invention by Philippe's has several variants: some sources say that it was first created by a cook or a server who, while preparing a sandwich for a police officer or fireman, accidentally dropped it into a pan of meat drippings. The patron liked it, and the dish surged in popularity shortly after its invention. Other accounts say that a customer who didn't want some meat drippings to go to waste requested his sandwich be dipped in them. Still others say that a chef dipped a sandwich into a pan of meat drippings after a customer complained that the bread was stale. Cole's account states that the sandwich was invented by a sympathetic chef, Jack Garlinghouse, for a customer who was complaining of sore gums. Some accounts tell Philippe's version of events, but assign the location to Cole's. The mystery of the sandwich's invention might not be solved due to a lack of information and observable evidence.

Modern-day

The French dip is now served at a number of restaurant chains including

fast food Fast food is a type of Mass production, mass-produced food designed for commercial resale, with a strong priority placed on speed of service. ''Fast food'' is a commercial term, limited to food sold in a restaurant or store with frozen, preheat ...

places,

diner A diner is a type of restaurant found across the United States and Canada, as well as parts of Western Europe and Australia. Diners offer a wide range of cuisine, mostly American cuisine, a casual atmosphere, and, characteristically, a comb ...

s, and standard

restaurant A restaurant is an establishment that prepares and serves food and drinks to customers. Meals are generally served and eaten on the premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and Delivery (commerce), food delivery services. Restaurants ...

s. File:French Dip Sandwich.jpg, A French dip File:French dip.jpg, French dip, with bowl of '' jus'' for dipping

References

External links

Philippe's the Original

Philippe's on Sandwich Paradise
on

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{{Sandwiches American sandwiches Beef sandwiches Californian cuisine Cuisine of the Western United States Culture of Los Angeles French-American culture in California Hot sandwiches

History

Modern-day

See also

References

External links