Al’s Beef

There are rules to eating this iconic Chicago sandwich, and they go like this: First, unwrap your Italian beef (you ordered peppers on it, right?) and spread out the paper like a tablecloth. Grab your sandwich with both hands and hold it in front of you, keeping your elbows on the table. To take a bite, lean toward the sandwich; do not, under any circumstances, move the sandwich toward you. Doing so will only lead to juices spilled onto your clothes—and if you’re simultaneously working on a messy side of cheese fries (which you should be), you don’t need the added risk.