Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: May 27th, 2022. I would like to ask you to check out the Holidays being celebrated today and let me know which holiday you most want to celebrate and why. Charlie and I want to celebrate National Grape Popsicile Day only we have to wait until David gets home to bring us some Popsiciles unless you want to bring us a box.
National Italian Beef Day is one of the many unofficial but beloved food holidays observed in the United States. National Italian Beef Day celebrates a Sandwich that originated in Chicago. Itailain Beef Sandwich has become a staple in Italian-American restaurants throughout the United States.
An Italian Beef Sandwich is composed of thin slices of Seasoned Roast Beef served on a French Roll. Italian Beed Sandwich is believed to have been created by Italian Immigrants working for the Union Stock Yards in the early 20th Century. The Union Stock Yards was Chicago’s Meatpacking district; Immigrants working there would bring home some of the tougher cuts of Beef that weren’t considered desirable by customers.
To make the Beef more palatable, they coated tthe Beef in Italian-style Herbs and Spices, slow-roasted the Beef, then slow-simmered the Roasted Meat in a Spicy Broth. The roasting made the Beef very tender, and the broth gave the Meat flavor. The cooked Meat was very thinly sliced and stuffed into fresh Bread. The Italian Beef Sandwich quickly gained popularity, eventually becoming one of the most iconic ethnic foods in Chicago.
Today, Italian Beef is made from Sirloin, Top Round, or Bottom Round Cut. The Meat is wet-roasted in broth with Oregano, Garlic and Spices, cooled, very thinly sliced, put back into the reheated Broth, and left to sit there for hours. The process results in juicy Meat in a rich Gravy.
The Beef is served together with Gravy on a long Italian-style Roll, which is usually dipped into the Broth. Depending on the juiciness, the sandwich can be dry served on Dry and dipped into the Broth.
The Italian beef Sandwich is often topped with sauteed Italian Sweet Peppers or Chicago-style Oil-based Giardiniera (a spicy relish of assorted Pickled Vegetables including Carrots, Bell Peppers, Cauliflower, Celery, and sometimes Olives or Gherkins). The Cheesy Beef (cheef) variation of the Sandwich is topped with Mozzarella, Provolone, or Cheddar.
Most Chicago restaurants serving Italian Beef Sandwiches offer an option of adding a Grilled Italian Sausage to the Sandwich, which is called a combo. The “triple double” variation of the Sandwich consists of double Beef, double Sausage, and double Cheese. Less common versions include topping the Italian Beef Sandwich with Marinara Sauce or serving the Beef on a large Croissant.
Italian Beef Sandwiches are most common in Northeastern Illinois where these Sandwiches originated, including Southeastern Wisconsin, and Northwest Indiana. They Sandwiches can also be found at restaurants, Pizzerias, and Hot Dog Stands that have been opened by Chicago expatriates throughout the United States.
National Italian Beef Day was created by Buona, the largest family-owned restaurant chain in Chicago, to promote its original Italian beef sandwich. It is celebrated in May since it is National Beef Month. The best way to celebrate National Italian Beef Day is to treat yourself to a delicious sandwich that we should spread the word about on Social Media.
National Grape Popsicle Day
National Grape Popsicle day is celebrated on May 27th to celebrate Grape Popsicles as well as the discovery of the Popsicle itself. People all around the U.S. celebrate the holiday by preparing Homemade Grape Popsicles. While the holiday is dedicated to Grape Popsicles, you can make Popsiciles in any flavor, including Lemon, Strawberry, Watermelon, Orange, and more. Invented by accident in 1905 in California, Popsicles are one of the most popular frozen treats in the U.S. People celebrate this holiday by sharing Grape Popsicles and other varieties of Popsicles today.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL GRAPE POPSICLE DAY
National Grape Popsicle Day is about celebrating Grape Popsicles. From homemade Popsicles to store-bought Popsiciles or even Popsiciles purchase from the Ice Cream man himself. Everything is about Grape Popsicles today! Popsicles are a favorite treat for kids and adults of all ages. Popsiciles are the sweetest way to bring down the heat on a hot Summer day.
Humans have enjoyed frozen desserts for millennia. The ancient Romans sent their Slaves to the Mountains to recover Ice Blocks, which would be crushed and served with Fruits, Syrups, and Spices. In U.S. history, Thomas Jefferson used to entertain his guests with Iced Sorbets when they visited his plantation, Monticello, in Virginia.
In 1905, 11-year-old Frank Epperson was on his porch at his San Francisco home preparing Soda by mixing Water with a white powdered flavor. Frank Epperson went inside but forgot to take the Soda, leaving it outside with the stirring stick still in it. During the night, the temperature dropped and, the following morning, Frank found his drink frozen to the stick.
In 1922, a grown-up Frank introduced his treat at a Fireman’s ball and this treat received great praise. And by 1923, Frank Epperson was selling his treat-on-a-stick in an Amusement Park in Alameda, California. Epperson called his frozen confectionery the ‘Epsicle’ Ice Pop. However, his kids called it ‘Pop’s ’sicle.’ Frank Epperson found the name catchy and finally patented this name in 1924 in order to share his ‘Popsicle’ with the whole world!
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL GRAPE POPSICLE DAY
- Prepare homemade Grape Popsicles to celebrate the holiday. Or you can purchase Popsicles from the Ice-cream Man.
- nvite friends over for a Grape-Popsicles party. Preparing grape Popsicles at home and celebrate the start of Summer.
- Eat Grape Popsicles for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and share on Social Media using the hashtag #NationalGrapePopsicleDay.
5 FACTS ABOUT POPSICLES
- Did you know the Popsicle was originally sold as “a frozen drink on a stick”?
- The most popular Popsicle flavor is Cherry, which is one of seven original Popsicle flavors, including Root Beer, Lemon, Banana, Orange, Grape, and Watermelon.
- The Twin Popsicle which had two sticks was introduced during the Great Depression. Two children could share one Popsicile for only a nickel.
- More than two billion Popsicles are sold every year in more than 25 varieties.
- The first ‘Ice-cream Truck’ Driver was a man in Nebraska who went around selling Popsicles to children in a horse-drawn cart.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL GRAPE POPSICLE DAY
- In summer, people are attracted to something cold. Grape Popsicles make the perfect treat on a hot day.
- What makes people love Popsicles? The fact that Poipcisces are available in a variety of flavors. Including Banana, Rainbow, and more.
- From ages six to 60 you’re never too old or too young to enjoy Popsiciles and Grape Popsicles in general, are a fun way to celebrate the pleasures of life.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
