Beefathon VI - Far South March 11, 2006

BEEFATHON VI IS ON!

Yes, it's really going to happen.

The Far South Beefathon will be Saturday, March 11th. Our backup date in the event of a blizzard is the following Saturday, March 18.

Details on route, timing, etc. will be worked out. First, here's a preliminary list of places which were suggested on the Beefathon V/VI thread.

On May 7, 2005 Dickson suggested for Far South beef places:

JJ Sausage 10500 S Western
Marnell's 849 Halsted Chicago Heights
Pete's 7843 S Stony Island
(can we get an Old Fashioned Donuts stop in here?)
Pop's 10337 S Kedzie

This was based on earlier comment by Rene G (3/28/2005) and others. You can find the discussion at: http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3239&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Now it's up to the group to recommend additions/deletions/changes to the list. For example, which Pop's should we go to? This is discussed near the end of http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3239&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=60

Everyone is welcome to chime in. This will probably be the last Beefathon before the Grand Beefathon where we'll hit the high spots of previous Tours de Boeuf.

Let's hear it.

I'm in, but I'll leave it to others to make additional suggestions since I am more or less far south side illiterate when it comes to beefing opportunities.

Shouldn't you try BOTH Popses?

Mike G said

Shouldn't you try BOTH Popses?

The thought crossed my mind. Based on experience our upper limit is 5 or 6 places in one Beefathon, so it's certainly possible.

The decision will depend on whether other places are nominated, timing, distance, etc. I don't know the far south side well, so I'll go with whatever the group wants.

I'm very disappointed to have to miss this one. One of my oldest friends is getting married that day. I asked him if he minded if I showed up late because of a "beefathon", and he gave me a blank stare. Sometimes I wonder why we're still friends.

I am in, George. I think I should get the scores for Beefathon V posted, too, don't you?

D Dickson wrote:

I am in, George. I think I should get the scores for Beefathon V posted, too, don't you?

I agree.

Glad you'll be there.

The scores are up, and the reports from Beefathon V split out here http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=45120#45120

I just got out of the hospital, which is why it's taken me so long to respond.

I'm definitely in, along with my husband. I also know where we can get some great ice cream afterwards.

If we have to choose a Pop's, I'm voting for the Homewood location. Someone here (not me) has eaten at both and said they prefer Homewood. I personally prefer it because it's two minutes from my house.

If anyone is hungry for Mexican food after the beef-a-thon, you should know it's only about 20 minutes from Marnell's to Amancer Tapatio in Joliet!!

Suzy

Mike G wrote:Shouldn't you try BOTH Popses?

I would highly suggest going to the Pop's on 127th and Harlem. I think this one is much better than the one on Kedzie. You're so close--might as well.

George R wrote:On May 7, 2005 Dickson suggested for Far South beef places:

JJ Sausage 10500 S Western
Marnell's 849 Halsted Chicago Heights
Pete's 7843 S Stony Island
(can we get an Old Fashioned Donuts stop in here?)
Pop's 10337 S Kedzie

I only went to JJ’s once. I was disappointed that it replaced Nello’s, a pretty good place, but it exceeded my (lowered) expectations. I think there’s another JJ’s on 87th that could be worth a try, who knows?

I’ve been hoping to try Marnell’s for years. About all I know is it was rated highly in Pat Bruno’s 1986 book, Chicago’s Food Favorites. Unless someone can come up with good reason not to go, I’d consider it an essential stop.

Pete’s Italian Beef on Stony & 79th closed last year. There are other Pete’s around but I’m not sure which are the officially sanctioned ones and which are the renegades. While I think one of the Pete’s could be an interesting stop for those wanting to try the gamut of styles, including perhaps the definitive “ghetto beef,” I feel fairly confident in guessing it wouldn’t make too many top ten lists.

I visited the Pop’s in Homewood a couple weeks ago on my way to Flossmoor Station Brewery. I hesitate to make too much of a single visit but I have to say I prefer the one on Kedzie & 103rd both for food and ambiance (I haven’t been to any others). All I had was a Superbeef, juicy, hot. It was obscenely large and not bad except for a musty flavor that I think came from the giardiniera. It wouldn’t surprise me if that was a one-time problem and I wouldn’t necessarily rule out a visit to that branch. On the plus side there are plenty of booths, while on Kedzie most of the seating is at outside picnic tables.

I hope we can come up with some more candidates. Unfortunately my knowledge of Chicago food pretty much ends at the city limits. I have a feeling we are overlooking some of the most worthy places.

A couple years ago the Tribune rated Calabria Imports (1905 W 103rd) pretty highly. It’s a cute little Italian deli but I didn’t think the beef was terribly special. It’s not far at all from JJ’s.

Does anyone know anything about Pepino’s Italian Sausage, 940 Sibley, Calumet City? Is it still in business? Other places I’m curious about are Baldinelli (3550 W 95th; good review in Bowen & Fay) and Rosangela (2807 W 95th; mentioned by Bungalow Betty).

What are the (approximate) geographical boundaries for this event?

Please include me....sweet peppers please. And dip the meat not the bread. Thank you

O'rdirv wrote:And dip the meat not the bread. Thank you

What is this, an Italian Beef koan?

trixie-pea wrote:

O'rdirv wrote:And dip the meat not the bread. Thank you

What is this, an Italian Beef koan?

If a beef is dipped and there is noone to taste it......



Btw, trix & I are also in. Thanks

I'm probably going to join this event. I can confirm later.

Does anyone know anything about Pepino’s Italian Sausage, 940 Sibley, Calumet City? Is it still in business? Other places I’m curious about are Baldinelli (3550 W 95th; good review in Bowen & Fay) and Rosangela (2807 W 95th; mentioned by Bungalow Betty).

I know nothing more about Pepino’s except for this but I have some new information on Rosangela’s and a bit on Baldinelli’s.

Thinking beef, I stopped at Rosangela’s last Friday. Rosangela’s is really not a beef stand but a neighborhood pizzeria, in business since 1955.

Rosangela’s Neon

The nice old sign remains but the restaurant has undergone a radical makeover. It used to be take out only but now there is a separate dining room, filled with a local crowd. A friend who grew up in the area 40 years ago considers Rosangela’s and Vito & Nick’s (he steadfastly refers to it as Nick & Vito’s) to be the worthwhile pizzerias in the vicinity. The pizza looked pretty good in a south-side, thin-crust sort of way but I was on a mission and ordered a beef. The waitress asked “Red or natural?” When I hesitated for a second she answered, “Red, it’s better.”

Beef, Red, Sweet

I almost always avoid beefs with sauce but this was pretty good. Nice from-scratch beef and red sauce and good roasted peppers. It’s tough to say how this all translates into a standard Italian beef but I’d be willing to take the risk. Whether or not I make it on March 11th, I’m returning for a meatball sandwich. My waitress assured me the meatballs are made in house and are top notch. I trust her completely. As Bungalow Betty noted, beer is cheap (but selection is weak).

I passed by Baldinelli’s, apparently still in business but closed for the day.

Rosangela’s
“Bring Some Home Today!”
2807 W 95th St
Evergreen Park IL
708-422-2041
Mon-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 1pm-10pm

I think everyone's had time to comment. Special thanks to Rene G for another fine scouting report. Now it’s time for the troops to gather for the assault. Here’s the plan for Beefathon VI.

Saturday the 11th we’ll start at 11 am at Pop’s on South Kedzie. The reason for the 11 am start instead of our usual 10:30 is that Pop’s and Rosangela’s don’t open until 11 am on Saturday mornings, and I couldn’tfind a phone listing for JJ’s to check their starting time.

Pop's, 10337 S Kedzie, Chicago 773-239-1243
Rosangela’s, 2807 W 95th St, Evergreen Park 708-422-2041
JJ Sausage, 10500 S Western, Chicago
Pop’s, 18328 Governors Hwy, Homewood (183rd & Governor's Hwy - Cherry Creek shopping center) 708-647-9999
Marnell Drive In, 849 S. Halsted, Chicago Heights 708-754-1164

If anyone has suggestions for changes speak up now. I’ll be away from Wednesday to Friday. After Tuesday Dickson will sort things out.

Laissez Le Boeuf Rouler

Are we gonna go to Cupids?

Me too please.

Count me in as a definite Maybe. The 11th is my sister's 30th birthday, and I have ot work around the dinner we have planned for her.

Flip

So far it looks like we have:

George R
Dickson
SteveZ
sdritz x 2
O'rdirv
VI x2
Lolita
Pigmon & Trixie Pea
Josephine

and maybes(?)
Flip x2
Bruce


Anyone else?

Anyone planning on carpooling, or need rides?

edited to reflect updated planned attendees

I'm really bummed that I'm going to miss this. I'm praying for a major snowstorm

Dickson,

Add 1 more maybe to the list. The GF just informed me she'll be in town.

Flip

Me for sure, dickson, and don't forget about Pigmon and Trixie-Pea!

I'm also planning to be there. Am driving from Evanston and can offer rides to as many as 3 people.

With the normal last minute attendees (GWiv, Hammond, Rene, etc.) we should have a pretty good showing. Unless EC gets his evil wish.

I sure hope some of these places turn out to be neglected gems. Otherwise, we may end up with the best places being mostly places we tried on the very first Beefathon, and the rest was just filler in the interest of being thorough.

One of these days I may sit down and review all the scores at one time and see if there has been any noticeable trend, such as overall scores going up, or down. I am curious as to whether we have become more or less critical over time, or just kept it pretty steady. Personally, I know my standards for beef sandwiches have gone up as I have learned more about what makes a good sandwich, and identified more common defects which I now watch for. So I think I have become more critical, though I do not know whether that has been reflected in the scores I give.

But I will be giving very low scores to the bread from now on, to protest the pitiful Gonnella/Turano rolls we have to tolerate. Chicago deserves better rolls:!:

Visited Johnnies a couple of weeks ago to deliver the GNR award, and the sandwich was not as wonderful as it had been recently. Not quite as dark and rich - an excellent sandwich, but not a blissful one.

I'd love to be added (+husband) as a definite maybe. I would have to meet you later at Pop's (Homewood) and Marnell's (I'm a Heights girl originally, you know). This is exciting!

My cell phone # is 630-399-9172. Anyone who wants to meet up with us can give me a call to gauge our progress. I usually will answer, if the cell phone gods are smiling upon me.

I just returned from another beef reconnaissance mission. I wanted to do it earlier but didn’t feel like walking around in the rain the previous two evenings. There’s some bad news on the southern front.

First, JJ Sausage at 10500 S Western has been closed for a year and a half now. Taqueria Valparaiso is in its place. I think (but am not certain) the JJ’s on 87th is gone too. The guys at the taqueria told me JJ’s moved to Dolton. I don’t know whether JJ’s is worth a special trip but here’s some information (unverified!) I was able to find:

JJ’s Sausage
1320 E Sibley Blvd
Dolton IL
708-841-8704

Second, I thought Baldinelli’s (3550 W 95th) might be a good replacement but it’s out of business as well. The old signs are still up but the building is for lease. That’s too bad; it sounded like a good place.

I stopped at Rosangelo’s (very crowded) for a meatball sandwich and a beer. Not the worst thing I’ve ever eaten but really nothing special.

Thanks RG, sounds like you are on your own Beefathon (the shadow Beefathon).

I have got JJ's on the list, and it looks doable, but we will also ask for recs at the stops to see if they have anything we should try.

This also could be the Beefathon of distraction. There seem to be a number of non-beef stops on my radar anyway - including a GNR preso at Cunis with the Ritz gang & I have a small interest in retrying Georges Rib House in Harvey.

But the beef is the focus, of course - gotta get started now