Manny's Corned Beef & Pastrami

-The Sammy's of Chi

Did you know that August is national Sandwich month? I did not. Otherwise I would of had some special post ready to go. Well I also learned that National Sandwich Day is November 3rd, 2010 so you can expect one of those then. So instead I switched up my schedule and am going to share with my loyal readers one of my favorite sandwiches in Chicago. Manny's Deli came to be shortly after World War II when one of two brothers who worked at a family cafeteria on Van Buren and Halsted left to open his own place which would be Manny's located on Roosevelt road not too far from Old Maxwell Street Market. Here we are with the fourth generation of the family working there and Manny's is still doing it up right and is Chicago's best deli, bar none.


Manny's has been at its current location since 1964 and is loved by all

Please note a couple things 1) It's impossible to pick one sandwich as the best. However the corned beef/pastrami with a slice of Swiss on top from Manny's would be on any list I compiled and 2) Yes I've been to Manny's many of times and it is one of my favorites but its been featured everywhere else and I try to switch it up. I was going to do a classics of Chicago month sometime in the future that includes Manny's and many other well known spots in the area loved by locals, the relocated and tourists alike. So don't think I haven't been everywhere. You can expect more on the beloved Chicago deli later in life. Believe me when I tell you that this sandwich is on any best sandwiches in Chicago list including my own. It comes piled high with both corned beef and pastrami and includes a potato pancake (seen on top of sammy) and a pickle. It will fill you up for more than a few hours. The sandwich should be a landmark just like the restaurant is. It's my favorite thing to order at one of my favorite spots to eat. Happy National Sandwich Month.


corned beef/pastrami sandwich from Manny's

Manny's Coffee Shop & Deli
1141 South Jefferson Street
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 939-2855
Website

Nottoli Italian Foods

-Chicago's Italian Grocers

Its a new year and there are new specials to come with it. Like stops to all the great family run (by multiple generations) neighborhood Italian grocery stores and delis. I am very excited to post about one of my favorite market/deli/sandwich shops in Chicago as the inaugural place in this new series. Located on Harlem ave in Norwood Park, Nottoli Italian Foods is one of Chicago's best little Italian grocery stores with some of the city's best Italian sausage and maker of some mighty fine prepared foods too. The hell with trying to come up with words to describe this places goodness. I'm going to take you on a photographic tour of this small family run Italian grocery store that's been around since the 50's.


In Chicago's Norwood Park neighborhood


Nottoli does both groceries and already made prepared foods


The Hungry Hound named Nottoli the best meatball sammy in Chi

Even though Nottoli isn't too close to my place I still get over there pretty often. Its a spot where I can pick up groceries for the fridge and pantry both perishable and non along with their excellent homemade Italian sausage as well as prepared sandwiches both hot and cold. If you need some produce to go with any Italian meal you may be cooking they should have it over there as well as most of the other ingredients your meal calls for. If your not feeling like making dinner and don't want to settle for fast food, well they have food that's homemade and heats up nice and fast. Such dinners include spaghetti, ravioli, gnocchi deli sandwiches etc...Stock your fridge up by stopping at the deli counter in back and getting fresh sliced meats for sandwiches and pastas and other specialty's of theirs.


If you don't make your own, you aint a real Chicago Italian grocer


Prepared meals for later, dried sausage and fresh cheese is available


No matter how much you need, they got bricks for sale


A favorite back in the Old Country


Fresh sliced deli meats, prepared pastas and everything else you need...


...like some of my favorite hot Italian sausage, made fresh daily


Bottled Italian sodas and marinated everything is also packed in the two aisles


Such as marinated eggplant and artichoke hearts as well as olives


Despite being a tiny little grocer they pack the place and the shelves

On any given day you could find something made fresh in house and available to go and heated if you want it to be. I will usually by a piece of lasagna when they have it in the cooler display in back with the deli meats and sausage.


As seen above, homemade lasagna served in the deli by the lb


I could eat here 7 days a week and not have anything twice in a month

-The Sammy's of Chi


Nottoli's sandwich menu and deli meats to the far right

You'll notice most people stopping in immediately head to the back to make a sandwich order. Nottoli makes their own Italian roast beef and its available hot as an Italian beef or with their sausage as a combo and also cold by the pound and in a roast beef sub sandwich. When you place your order they will slice the meat fresh for you regardless of how your eating it. The little kitchen in the back pumps out some amazing old school family recipes including the extra hot Italian sausage available for home on the grill and in a hot sandwich to there. The man who you might commonly find staring at you while eating around Chicago food stops calls Nottoli's meatball sandwich the best in the city and its a very good one indeed and of course made with the old family meatball recipe.


Nottoli's Homemade Italian Beef in the slicer


Available hot as a sandwich or to take home and make IB's at your house


sliced fresh and extra thin upon ordering (gravy free with 1 lb purchase)


Nottoli's Homemade Hot Italian Sausage grilled in my yard


A made at home combo sandwich using Nottoli homemade beef and sausage


Nottoli's Meatball sandwich

I'm an Italian sub type of guy when it comes to my cold cut sandwiches. The folks over at Nottoli do up a might fine Italian that always comes out perfectly made and satisfyingly delicious. However the Italian roast beef is one their specialty's in my books and this is my go to spot for a cold roast beef sandwich when the hankering comes a calling. Its the same great beef used in the Italian beef sliced fresh and topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, provolone, oil and their homemade giardiniera. The family has been providing the neighborhood with their services for decades now. It has always been a popular stop for Bears fans heading down to the lake to tailgate as well as anybody looking to serve up some amazing food at their party. With conference championship week ahead and the Super Bowl coming next month Nottoli is a great place to keep in mind for any future events that you might need to pick up food and groceries for. No ones going to be pissed about the outcome of the food.


Italian Sub Sandwich


Roast Beef Sub Sandwich


The best roast beef sub in the city


Nottoli's does everything up good...check it out

Nottoli Italian Foods
5025 North Harlem Avenue
Chicago, IL 60656-3501
(773) 631-0662

The Gluttony does Katz's Deli in NYC

-Snoopin' around
a peak into my favorite food sites


Outside Katz's world famous deli in NYC (Pic from: The Gluttony)

I got some good friends on both sides of the coast but I haven't been able to get out to Southern Cali or NYC in the last few years and I need to switch that up real fast. My man Kellan aka K-RO aka K-REEZY, runs one hell of a site called "The Gluttony" and he comes from Southern Cali and lives it up in Hollywood and its no Perez Hilton so don't expect any sightings of Jon & Kate reuniting over sushi or Lindsey Lohan getting down at the club to be reported. Well maybe the Lindsey doing deadly sins story but none of that Hollywood gossip shat that the media considers news now. The site also happens to be a great source for good food stops in Southern Cali and the West Coast and about as he documents them during his travels while working for one of the fashion games dopest teams in agenda. The food stops are featured in the "Eat W/ Reez" installment. Check out my mans sick photography skills and a West Coasters visit to one of New York city's most famous eateries. Click HERE for the scoop. See ya tomorrow.

Fontano's Subs

-The Sammy's of Chi

The Fontano family opened their flagship store in the Taylor St./Little Italy neighborhood of Chicago back in 1960. So you had to know its time was coming over here at chibbqking. If you cant do the math they are now pushing onto there 50th anniversary which will happen in the year 2010. The Fontano family has been offering outstanding homemade Italian submarines, homemade sausage, deli foods, salads and other Italian cooking items you would find at your local neighborhood cornerstore. Around sometime after the Polk St location opened they started to franchise out. As of today they have a few Chicagoland locations including a spot in Denver. Obviously, the original is still the best. The people that work at the Polk St. location make you feel like you've been going there since 1960 whether you've been going there since 1998 or its your first visit that day. Gotta love neighborhood friendliness and when you get a sub and ice from Mario's its a world champ one-two punch.


A Taylor St. neighborhood regular

I've been getting subs from Fontano's for over a decade now and the only thing that has changed about the sandwiches is which kind I get. My first go-to sandwich over there was always a meatball. It is still is my go Sub when over there during the winter months. They also make the their own giardiniera and other bottled goods. I would say they have some of the best bottled hot peppers in the city so what remains a constant is that whatever sandwich I get-its always got hot giardiniera on it. If your a fan of big old Italian Subs than the Blockbuster is for you. Its a big daddy that features all the Italian cold cuts plus toppings and peppers and is in my steady rotation when there. During the summer months I get to Fontano's quite often and that's because they have a couple of great sandwiches for a hot summer day. If you wanna have them cater your party or deliver to your office for a party or just lunch they'll do that too.


Tuna w/ lettuce, tomato, onions & hot peppers

Sometimes in the dead of summer, you just need something cold to eat as well as drink. You know something that's almost refreshing and wont make you feel sick or need to rest up after. It just so happens that Fontano's has my two favorite cold cuts in the city-meaning they are served cold. During the summer months I always have to get both a 6" turkey and 6" tuna. Like I said theres some foods that just work well on a hot summer day and a tuna with giardiniera from Fontano's is one of those things. Its the simple things like quality meat, fresh bread and ingredients that matter in making a good sub and Fontano's achieves great success at all three.

I always enjoyed a good turkey sub every now and then but when you take the top notch smoked turkey that Fontano's uses-it takes a regular turkey sub from good to great. Not only do they have great housemade hot peppers but they use fresh Gonnella bread and highly flavored smoked turkey. Its best to let the turkey sit a little while while the oil, mayo, peppers, spices and meats all mold together into the bread making it the best turkey sub in Chicago. You would be a real wise guy to try one for yourself and see. There's a reason they have the block on lock.


Smoked Turkey with everything + hot peppers

Fontano's Subs
1058 W Polk St
Chicago, IL
312-421-4474
Polk St. location Menu

2 for 1 Milwaukee Special: Kopp's & Koppa's

-Got beef?
The Burgers of Wisconsin

When one takes a trip to Wisconsin and consumes massive amounts of cheese, sausage and beer they probably think they completed the list for regional eats but they forgot a few things. As much a part of the Sconnie diet as those three items are-so happen to be burgers and custard. Anyone who's been to the state and other parts of the Midwest has most likely passed quite a few Culver's fast food outlets (started in Wisconsin) known for their butter burgers and custard. While Culver's is good and an alright choice if you need a quick bite off the highway-there are so many other spots in Wisconsin with a few locations here and there that take the burger/custard combo to another level. The leader of this pack has got to be Kopp's. Its been that way since 1950 when they first started making the Wisconsin treat.


In 'n Out wishes it could compete with Kopp's

Kopp's has three locations in and near Milwaukee and is always a to-do on my list when I visit. If the different style of futuristic architecture isn't pleasing enough on the eyes then the burgers and custard certainly will be. I'm not a big fan of desert and prefer Italian Ice and fruit based ones to ice cream and milk based but I do love me some frozen custard. Wisconsin is the land of custard and Kopp's is King according to most locals I've talked too. Why is it better than ice cream? well its typically made with eggs, cream, sugar and of course butter. Only in Wisconsin do they load the butter on any and everything and Kopp's is a testament to that tradition. While 99 out of 100 people that go into Kopp's get custard about 95 out of 100 also go for the food-the burgers to be exact.


Beef...its whats for dinner

Kopp's is one of the peoples of Milwaukee's favorite places to eat and because of this there has been times when I was in there and there were 300+ people waiting in the various lines inside. Its a real summertime destination as there is no dining area inside-just a large park like area outside where people sit down and eat. The parking lot is large and goes around the shack in a circle where you are greeted by 100's of cow statues and there is no drive thru. Its a park, get your food, eat and go process that's all part of the charm. I am always shocked by how smooth and on time they get the orders taken and made which is no small feat since it gets real packed and the burgers are made fresh to order.


fries are better than most so I usually order them


cheeseburger with 30's style toppings (pickles, mustard and Kopps fried onions)

The jumbo burgers, which are standard, need to be eaten with two hands at first and at $3.60 its about the same price as the Whopper and Big Mac and it couldn't be further apart in quality and taste than those two. While I find the beef at Kewpee's to still be the best tasting beef in state-the fresh meat here is still much better than most places. What makes Kopp's burgers a contender when it comes to best in Wisconsin-a state full of 5 star burger spots-is the bun and the toppings. Wisconsin just doesn't mess around when it comes to their burgers and they take every facet of them seriously. The buns at Fred's burger and Kopp's are the best I have ever had and take both of them to a higher level than they already were. The topping list at Kopp's is also just perfect. It includes ketchup, mustard, raw onions, fried onions, relish, lettuce, pickles, mayo, tomatoes, hot sauce, jalapenos, bleu cheese and salsa. Butter is standard on every burger...even plain. If that's not enough they also offer Wisconsin's own Nueske's bacon crisped to perfection.


cheeseburger with just about everything including the best bacon anywhere


Butter Burgers


Grasshopper Custard in a cup

-Grubbing in Milwaukee
Where the locals eat.

When you first glance at Koppa's it looks as though its just another independent grocery store. While it is an independent family owned joint, its not your normal corner store. Going on 25 years now the people of Milwaukee have made Koppa's and the fulbeli deli inside-one of the eating treasures in the area. Located right near the UW-Milwaukee campus in the East Side neighborhood it is a very popular spot with the college kids and everyone from the neighborhood.


What a neighborhood grocery store should be like

Koppa's is just like any other mom and pop grocery store as far as looks and shelved goods go but they shine in other spots. You can find fresh meat, nice fresh looking/tasting produce, some unique grocery items you wont find at many other spots, a great selection of beer and wine and one of the best deli's in any grocery store around. You will find humorous advertising slogans and on occasion, public posting of those who chose to write bad checks. Its really, one of the coolest little grocery spota I have ever been too anywhere. Its easy to see why this place is so popular with the UW students seeing as though they have everything a college student could want. Students get beer, groceries like cereal and chips, lunch, snacks and toiletries all in one quick stop.


Fluffernutter sammys and whoopie pies for the college kids


There's nothing that feels like a corporate grocery store here


Check out the display case of old time Wisconsin beer cans

On top of the really nice beer selection and fresh produce the real star of Koppa's is the deli aka The Fulbeli deli. The deli which is known for its out of this word sandwiches of which many are named after a planet or something in the solar system. One of the hardest decisions to make is what sandwich to get. The sandwich choices are endless and so are the ways they prepare them. You want a cold cut double decker? got 'em, subs? got 'em, Hodag breakfast sandwiches? got those too, Veggie delights, grilled specialties and signature sandwiches? check, check and check. The option of several breads is there and all sorts of condiments and fresh sliced deli meats make it a real Wisconsin gem.The only problem you'll have when visiting is what sandwich to get.


its not hype, Koppa's does it right

Koppa's has signature sandwiches like the Bread Favre which consists of shaved Cajun turkey breast, sharp cheddar, bacon, avocado, red onion, lettuce, tomato, mayo and dressing on a fresh baked roll. Pair that with Koppa’s seasoned fries and you’re good to go. Want an Elvis? you guessed it-it's a fried PB and banana sandwich. As if Koppa's wasn't unique enough in its own right-it gets even more so as you wait for your sandwich to be made. Directly across the aisle from the deli counter is an employee donated Atari system with over 50 games to play. So as your waiting for your handmade sandwich to be crafted just plop down into the lazy boy chairs and play some video games while you wait.


A rimpish-ham, turkey, tomato, onion, lettuce, mayo, bacon and secret sauce


Pinkowski-shaved pastrami, Swiss cheese, red onions & spicy mustard on marble rye

The Eastside neighborhood is so chill that I almost considered subletting a spot there this summer-just so I could have a place to chill in Milwaukee. Between the bars, food stops like Koppa's and the beautiful blonde's running around everywhere, there's not much more I could ask for. When someone asks my favorite Midwest city other than Chicago its an easy answer-Milwaukee. Its also one of my favorites cities in the country. Great eating, real boozing with a great bar scene and did I mention the hordes of gorgeous thick blonde females?

Kopp's Frozen Custard
5373 N Port Washington Rd
Milwaukee, WI 53217
(414) 961-3288
3 locations
Website



Koppa's Farwell Foods
1940 N Farwell Ave
Milwaukee, WI 53202-1410
(414) 273-1273
Website w/Deli menu

2 for 1 sandwich special

-The Sammy's of Chi

Chicago is a land rich in many places to grab a sandwich for lunch. If you want to try something different check out one of the many Vietnamese places that offer bahn mi sandwiches for takeout. The Vietnamese version of a po' boy is a fresh cooked French baguette with varying meats that consists of super fresh cilantro, jalapeno, pickled carrots, onions and cucumbers creating an amazing fresh, spicy flavor. There are many places that serve these Vietnamese lunch favorites on and around Argyle St but my favorite comes from a place called Nhu' Lan bakery in Lincoln square. Its a small place geared towards takeout for the Vietnamese crowd and they make a killer house special bahn mi.


Vietnamese Po' Boy

The house special has jalapeno, cilantro, pickled carrot, cucumber, lettuce, pork pate, headcheese, ham and some actual cheese. It all comes together to create the best bahn mi I have eaten in the city and I have been trying places for over 5 years now since I first read about them. The price is ridiculous at under $3. If your going to try a bahn mi make sure its from here because these are on another level compared to other favorites around town.

Chicago doesnt have a great number of great deli's other than Manny's the list is pretty empty. I wouldn't consider Max & Benny's to be a great deli but it gets the job done. If it wasn't halfway to Wisconsin I would get there more often but I'm rarely out that far North. I really like the matzo ball soup but am no expert on that stuff. My combo sandwich of corned beef and pastrami on rye with swiss was decent and they charged like a real deli but didn't stack the sandwiches like one. The potato pancake was good but I love those and never have bad ones. As a whole it wasn't bad enough to where I wont return but I would never drive out of the way to go here. If I'm in the area I would stop by if I was craving some deli food. Its always packed so they're doing something right.


This was ok but I want to see this from a deli...


My go to sandwich in Vegas: The "Woodey Allen"-corned beef & pastrami-from Carnegie deli at the Mirage

Nhu Lan Bakery
2612 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 878-9898

Max & Benny's
461 Waukegan Rd
Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 272-9490
Website