 Roast beef dipau jus, with french fries | |
| Alternative names | Beef dip |
|---|---|
| Type | Sandwich |
| Course | Main |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Los Angeles,California |
| Created by | Multiple claims |
| Main ingredients | Baguette,roast beef,beef broth |
| Variations | With cheese |
AFrench dip sandwich, also known as abeef dip, is a hotsandwich consisting of thinly slicedroast beef (or, sometimes, other meats) on a "French roll" orbaguette.
A popular variation is to top withSwiss cheese, onions, and a dipping container ofbeef broth produced from the cooking process (termedau jus, "with juice").Beef stock, a lightbeef gravy, orbeef consommé is sometimes substituted. The sandwich is most commonly served with a cup on the side, into which the sandwich is dipped as it is eaten, although this is not how the sandwich was served when it was originally developed.[1]
The sandwich is anAmerican invention, with the name seeming to refer to the style of bread.[2]
Two Los Angeles restaurants have claimed create the French dip sandwich:Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet[3] andPhilippe the Original.[3][4] 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 sandwich is served "wet", where the cut faces of the roll are dipped in the hot beef juices before the sandwich is assembled, while at Cole's it is served "dry" with a side of beef juices. The sandwich can also be requested "double dipped", where the entire sandwich is dipped before serving, at either establishment. Both restaurants feature their own brand of spicy mustard.[4]
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.[3] Neither restaurant cites any period references. A 1929 reference inMechanix Illustrated (which cites the dish at the Dugout) may be the first mention of the dish in print.[5]
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 did not 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,[6][7] 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.[3]
