National Italian Beef Week

National Italian Beef Week celebrates the Italian beef sandwich, a Chicago-style favorite made with beef that is slow-roasted for four hours, thinly sliced, and served on freshly baked French bread, according to Portillo’s 2019 announcement. Sandwiches may be ordered dry, with extra gravy, or dipped, and topped with sweet or hot peppers. Some versions include cheese, while a combo pairs the Italian beef with char-grilled sausage.

Portillo’s is identified as the event’s organizer and has marked the week with different dates and promotions. A 2018 observance ran from May 21–27, while the 2019 celebration ran from May 25–June 2, according to a contemporary account and Portillo’s announcement. In 2024, Italian Beef Week was observed May 20–26, when Portillo’s and Lou Malnati’s brought back a limited-time Italian beef deep-dish pizza. Portillo’s described the collaboration as a pizza topped with its slow-roasted Italian beef, sweet peppers, or giardiniera.

How to Observe National Italian Beef Week

Celebrate by enjoying an Italian beef sandwich and choosing the style that suits you: dry, with extra gravy, or dipped, plus sweet or hot peppers. You can also try the Italian beef deep-dish pizza described in Portillo’s announcement, or share your own Italian beef-inspired rhyme—the 2018 celebration included a rhyme challenge connected to order numbers.

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