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Today's Poll: Is Beef on Weck NYS's signature dish?

By Howard B. Owens
Frank Penna Jr

Beef on wick is a weatern NY thing. Fish fries and white hots you can order from western NY to the Syracuse area. Wings are now universal. Besides the reuben in NYC, corned beef on rye is a signature dish as is beef brisket and pastrami.

Sep 12, 2013, 10:01am Permalink
Amanda Richenberg

I grew up in Elmira, NY....I'd never even heard of a beef on Weck until I moved to Batavia so I'd say it's more of a regional signature dish not a state signature dish!!

Sep 12, 2013, 12:05pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

Most of the sandwiches mentioned enjoy a regional market. Beef on Kimmelweck roll is indeed the product of Buffalo and as noted is not well-known outside WNY. The Reuben sandwich is likely sourced to a NYC delicatessen (some dispute to that assumption) and has a more widespread fan-base in the state. If we were aiming at foods other than sandwiches, I think NY-style pizza or Buffalo-wings would be better choices for a NY signature dish. Returning to the arena of sandwiches... Three more universal NY-inspired options: the Pastrami sandwich, the Club Sandwich and the Ice Cream sandwich. A pastrami on rye sandwich was almost certainly invented in a NYC deli. The Club Sandwich is reputed to have originated in the clubhouse at Saratoga Springs. The ice cream sandwich was born on NYC streets, the creation of a pushcart vender who put ice cream between graham crackers.

Sep 13, 2013, 2:09am Permalink

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