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The photo is of Bettie’s plate and she likes a lot of black pepper.
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From the leftovers of the Classic Pot Roast I made hot beef sandwiches. I am not sure if this is a MidWest thing or if it is eaten in other parts of the country, though most regions have some version of a hot meat and potato sandwich. In Minnesota where we grew up they are often listed on the menus of restaurant’s as Commercials. Not sure why, but we always thought it was because they were mostly served in diners to traveling salesmen. I saw the menu for a restaurant ad in the Fairfax Minnesota paper this week and it was listing Commercials as a special on their noon lunch menu.
This nicely used up the last of the roast. I did not have quite enough gravy left so added beef stock and some salt and pepper and thickened it again with cornstarch.
There is not really a recipe for this meal, just directions.
In additional broth (your own homemade or from the store) reheat leftover beef sliced thinly. Add thickener of choice and any remaining gravy to the broth.
On the plate, lay a slice of bread, layer with the hot beef add another slice of bread on top and slice in half. Spread apart and place a serving of mashed potatoes in the middle. Cover the bread and potatoes with hot gravy and serve,
I grew up in Northern California and my father just loved hot roast beef sandwiches like this. The only thing we did different was to not have the top layer of bread. The bread was always white bread, untoasted. I remember the restaurants served the mashed potatoes in an ice cream scoop shape. Thanks for giving me a smile for a nice memory.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think most of the restaurants I remember used an ice cream scoop shape also.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten about that. Interesting that you had them in Northern California.
Was your Dad from the Midwest?
I live in Western PA and turkey, roast beef, and meatloaf sandwiches with mashed potatoes and gravy are on a lot of family style restaurants. Cheryl
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl, Guess these are more wide spread than I thought.
DeleteInteresting, fun to hear from our readers on food customs.
I'm from British Columbia in western Canada and I have been eating these sandwiches all my life. Here we only use one slice of white bread and sliced roast beef and gravy and fries or mashed potatoes on the side. We also make hot turkey sandwiches the same way. They are an old standby in cafe style resturants.
ReplyDeleteWe have thes in Illinois too. Most diners here serve a choice of three hot sandwiches with mashed potatoes. Hot roast beef, hot turkey, or hot meatloaf. Its exactly the same minus the top slice of bread.
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from all of you. Thanks, no top slice of bread though, maybe that's a Minnesota thing.
DeleteI've seen some people here in Southern Iowa eat them with fries and gravy also.
ReplyDeleteIt is always served with two slices of bread in the MidWest. You can get turkey
and pork served this way also.
Looks delicious! One of my favorites. We live in WI now between Chicago and Milwaukee. There are so many Italians here that a hot beef is always sliced beef that has been simmered/cooked in an au jus of fennel, oregano, garlic etc. then served with hot peppers, giardiniera, or sweet peppers. It's more like an Iowa French dip (but spiced) and a real shock and disappointment to the system when you're wanting a HOT BEEF!!
ReplyDeleteWell that sounds like a good sandwich Heather, but you are right, not a HOT BEEF.
ReplyDeleteIn the Amish restaurants here in Sarasota. Florida and in northern Indiana, these are called Manhattans.
ReplyDeleteHi, Wonder why they are called Manhattans. Are they mostly served in Amish restaurants? I guess I never thought of there being Amish communitiies in Florida.
DeleteHi I remember having peas on top of the sandwich, two slices of bread
ReplyDeleteStuffed with beef, pork or chicken slices & covered with gravy. Potatoes on the side. Miss the family type restaurants.
We are lucky in Iowa and most of the MidWest that most towns have family style diners. Never heard of peas on the top however.
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