If you’re a fan of Italian beef sandwiches, you’ll want to pay attention to Hofherr Meat Co. in Northfield, a suburb just off the Edens Expressway.
Renowned food writer shares his journey in search of the perfect Italian beef, leading him to a butcher shop that typically doesn’t serve sandwiches at all.
Years of tasting various Italian beef sandwiches had left him unsatisfied, as he had yet to find one better than a B+.
This quest began during the height of “The Bear” mania, where the writer was producing a podcast focused on Italian beef sandwiches.
In a twist of fate, his long-standing relationship with the Hofherr team would play a significant role in developing the sandwich of his dreams.
Sean and Arielle Hofherr, alongside their knowledgeable team, embraced the challenge to engineer what they humorously dubbed the world’s greatest Italian beef.
Over the course of three weeks in late 2022, they tested various recipes to find the perfect combination.
This involved a departure from using the standard ultra-lean bottom round, opting instead for the more flavorsome chuck roll, a beef cut that is fattier and more succulent.
Rather than cooking the beef to a well-done finish, the Hofherr team decided on a pinkish medium, ensuring a juicy result.
When orders are placed, the beef is then warmed in a savory jus, avoiding the mistake of serving dried-out, stringy meat.
A pivotal element of the sandwich is the giardiniera, and the Hofherr team was in luck.
Mikey Soler, a firefighter who also works at Hofherr’s, has been making giardiniera for generations, learning the craft from his grandmother.
Soler’s recipe, passed down through his family, requires a three-year aging process for the giardiniera, allowing it to develop a unique depth of flavor.
With the passing of his father, Steve Soler, Mikey continued this fourth-generation family tradition at Hofherr Meat Co., where rows of giardiniera wait to complement the sandwiches.
On December 3, 2022, Hofherr’s debuted the Italian beef sandwich, with a goal of selling 100.
By 2:30 p.m., the sandwiches were sold out, garnering rave reviews on social media from those lucky enough to try them.
Fast forward to 2025, the second season of “Poochie & Pang” focuses on sandwiches, and Italian beef is a must-mention for any Chicago sandwich series.
In the premiere episode, Poochie and the writer return to the beloved Hofherr Meat Co. to delve deeper into their winning sandwich.
Spoiler: It still holds up to the lofty title of
image source from：nbcchicago
