Posted on 01/11/2023 11:29:13 AM PST by DallasBiff
If you ask anyone from Pittsburgh about the history of the city's beloved "Pittsburgh sandwich," they all tell you the same things: It dates back to the 1930s. It was originally a lunch for rushed steelworkers on a quick break from the mill. Its most recognizable feature—french fries and coleslaw piled inside the sandwich—came about so that workers could have their whole lunch at once, sides and all. Lauded food historian Donna Garbaccia wrote that the sandwich was likely made this way for the men who "carried their lunch to the mill." It's a mythology near and dear to Pittsburghers' hearts—modern blue collar workers feel pride in their city's most nationally known food, and both current and former residents can recall the glory days of their great American city with a great American sandwich.
(Excerpt) Read more at saveur.com ...
Anyway, had my first Primanti's in the 70's with my dad, since he had business to do in the strip district.
Fell in love with the slaw, cabbage, vineger, and a little bit of sugar and pepper.
Still can't eat cream based cole slaw.
I’ve never heard this mill story. Primanti’s was a restaurant in the strip district that serviced truckers and was open all night but not all day.
I went there after concerts at Heinz Hall. I remember standing in line with other concert/theater goers and the truckers until the doors opened around midnight.
“My god what a leftist article.
Anyway, had my first Primanti’s in the 70’s “
Their source is ... Primanti’s!
And what is leftist about the article?
How is the article leftist?
Putting slaw and fries on your sandwich is a classic southern sandwich
Yankees try and steal everything
I had my first one in the 90’s. I agree with you.
oh, no Mr. Bill! ... No “evidence” to support folk lore!
If truckers ate it originally, but steel workers made popularized it and made it famous, that doesn’t debunk the story. Maybe Leif Erickson had the first one.
Pittsburgh Steelworkers are true gourmands - they also invented the Pittsburgh Steak
Neither did I, it seems like some millenial made it up from whole cloth.
The strip was always produce and flowers.
I never heard the mill story either. Always heard it was for the truckers, which makes more sense. My dad worked in the mill and my mom packed his lunch. All the mill workers I ever saw brought their lunches from home. There was nowhere to actually go eat (I think there was a small shop for sodas and coffee where my dad was) and no one’s lunch time was long enough to actually walk all the way to the parking lot off site, and drive somewhere to go eat, and get back in time. In fact “lunch” was pretty much whenever one had some down time between tasks to go to the shanty and eat.
The article is silly. What’s next? The Philly Cheese Steak is a right wing conspiracy made up by Frank Rizzo.
it sounds about as appetizing as Cincinnati chilli.. Nah, Id rather eat at white castle.
I know, lefties always try to destroy iconic American food traditions.
I thought it was late night cooks betting each other what the drunks wouldn’t eat.
Millennials sounds about right. It had to be someone who didn’t remember Pittsburgh as a mill town.
I agree that servicing mill workers makes no sense. How could a mill worker make it to the strip district, eat at a restaurant and then get back to work on time?
I like sandwiches. I like fries. I like coleslaw. But I like them separated.
I woulda thought it was Brunswigher.
I like the empanada story better.
A lot of no talents write for pathetic web sites and are just trying to grind out an article for $5.00. Not even real click bait anymore. Pathetic.
“seems like some millenial made it up from whole cloth”
Remember, Biden is originally from Scranton, it could have been him that invented it, he has a history of telling “tall tales”.
Ping.
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