Chalk up another accoladed for The Bear: It has played a role in the naming of the official state sandwich of Illinois.
In a proclamation Wednesday, the Illinois General Assembly named the Italian beef the state sandwich, name-checking The Bear as a reason for the delicacy’s recent resurgence in popular culture. The FX/Hulu series centers on the staff of a family-owned sandwich shop, the Original Beef, later transformed into a fine-dining restaurant (which still offers beefs at a side takeout window).
Castmember and Chicago native Corey Hendrix, who plays Gary “Sweeps” Woods on The Bear, was at the state capitol in Springfield for the proclamation and a press event that included a food truck serving Italian beef.
“We extend our thanks to the families and proprietors of Italian beef establishments across the State of Illinois in recognition of their enduring contributions to our shared heritage, and we affirm our commitment to honoring the cultural and economic contributions of the restaurants, food vendors, and hardworking Illinoisans who have kept this tradition alive for generations,” the Illinois House resolution reads. “… We extend our sincere congratulations and gratitude to the creators, cast and crew of The Bear for their extraordinary portrayal of Chicago’s Italian beef culture, for shining a national and international spotlight on the State of Illinois, and for inspiring pride in our state’s rich culinary and cultural identity.”
The same bill also designated the horseshoe — an open-faced burger covered in cheese sauce and fries that has its origins in Springfield — as the official open-faced sandwich of Illinois.
The Bear is set to debut its fifth and final season on Hulu and FX on June 25. The show filmed all five seasons in and around Chicago and used a real Italian beef shop, Mr. Beef on Orleans Street in Chicago’s River North neighborhood, as the location/inspiration for the Original Beef.
The state proclamation does not take a side on the best way to order an Italian beef, as that would likely have caused fractious debate within the legislature. (But it’s dipped with sweet peppers.)
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