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ISM 2003 - Cologne
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ISM 2002 - Cologne
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ISM 2001 - Cologne
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On The Shelves
People
The Great VinCenzo Beef-Off
Let it not be said that we do not take our food seriously here at VinCenzo International. It may be genetics, it may be culture, it may be madness. But all things culinary, both of the gourmet and greasy spoon variety, are a frequent topic of conversation and debate in our offices. So it should come as no surprise that when the subject of the best Italian Beef sandwich came up, tempers flared. The only solution? A no-holds-barred-winner-take-all-loser- goes-home-crying-Beef-Off.
The Big Vincenz at the counter of his preferred establishment, Mr. Beef.
The Italian Beef, for those not in the know, is a beefy concoction unique to Chicago. There are establishments in other cities that may claim to serve Italian Beef, but trust us... they do not. Imagine thinly sliced beef simmered in broth and seasonings, stuffed into a sliced roll, optionally topped with sweet and/or hot peppers, and possibly taken for a quick dip in its simmering juice. It is not a sandwich. It is a work of art.
The VinCenzo staff has always been divided into two distinct camps. On the Mr. Beef side, CEO Keith Armato and VP of Sales Joe Marlovits. Mr. Beef is the undisputed winner of the charm competition, what with its quirky name and self-proclaimed "Elegant Dining Room," regularly earning the praise of talk show host Jay Leno. This battle, however, is about taste, and on taste alone shall the sandwiches be judged. In the opposing corner, Al's Italian Beef, purported to be the best by Web & Multimedia Director Dominic Armato. Dominic has claimed that the secret to Al's success is an exceptionally good homemade giardinera, and greasy fries more succulent than your run of the mill beef stand variety. Potatoes, however, are not part of the equation in this battle. The Great VinCenzo Beef-Off is about beef and beef alone.
Mr. Beef's famous "Elegant Dining Room"
The rules are simple. Each judge receives one half of each sandwich, identified only as Beef A and Beef B. Sweet peppers are on both. Hot giardinera is optional, but must be applied to both or neither, and the peppers must be matched with the corresponding beef. After beef consumption, voting will commence. The sandwich earning the most votes will be revealed, and crowned beef champion. Oh, and one more thing. Anybody requesting ketchup for their beef sandwich will be immediately disqualified from the voting process without any chance for reinstatement, and will forever be a target of ridicule and scorn at VinCenzo. No joke.
Al's owners... how could guys like this not serve you the best beef in town?
At the appointed time, members of VinCenzo's staff as well as friends and family from far and wide arrive to take their place in beef history. Huge sacks of beef sandwiches dripping with juice are plunked down on the table, and the slicing and tasting commences. The judges are instructed to keep their beef-related comments to themselves, so as not to color the opinions of their fellow tasters. After twenty minutes, the beef has vanished and voting commences. The title of Chicago's Best Beef rests in the greasy hands of these sixteen souls.
Chaos ensues as 16 judges arrive to consume mass quantities of beef sandwiches.
When all is said and done, though almost anticlimactic, the battle is, in fact, no battle at all. In the end it's Mr. Beef by landslide... a margin of 14-2. "I didn't like that the Al's beef was shredded," explains Logistics Manager Susannah Manheim. "I grew up with Mr. Beef, like I grew up with the Cubs, and my allegiance will never change," says Marlovits. Mr. Beef even earns the vote of Al's strongest proponent, Dominic. "I still maintain that the best beef I've ever had came from Al's, but I can't take anything away from Mr. Beef. If we're talking about the beef on the table, it's no contest at all."
Mr. Beef even earned the vote of Al's staunchest defender, Dominic.