Food Extremes, the Bad Side: Welcome to Italian Beef

A few days ago I wrote about a good food extreme of mine, namely eating organic, locally produced foods. But I also promised a look at the dark side, something I love to eat even though I know it can’t be good for me.

Italian beef, thinly sliced beef made in spicy juices and then dipped in those same juices before serving, is a Chicago specialty. I’m Italian-American, but grew up in New York and so had never seen Italian beef sandwiches until I moved to Chicago. But I have since become an ardent fan of a variation known as the combo, half beef and half Italian sausage.

The best I can estimate, the calorie count for one of these monsters is about 660 but I’m guessing that estimate, found online at DietFacts.com, is on the low side.  Add in fries at my favorite beef stand, Al’s, and lunch exceeds 1,000 calories easily.

Knowing the calories involved, I tend to eat Italian Beef sparingly. Last Friday, though, I took my work team out for lunch to a new Al’s near our office. We’ve been having a rough time at work, like so many people in this seemingly endless recession, so I thought the outing would do us good.

Al\’s combo and fries

It did, morale wise, but it also cost me 2.2 pounds when I weighed in Saturday morning, pounds I have not been able to lose this week despite a weekend of digging and planting in my yard along with painting. My wife knows the sound of me weighing in after a trip to Al’s…ooohhh the beef….

Editor’s note: Regarding daily weighing, it is important to remember that water retention and elimination can alter your weight by a pound or two overnight. The trend over a week will help you to keep it in perspective.

A brief addendum here: Al’s is my favorite Chicago beef stand but you may have seen it go head-to-head on the Travel Channel’s Food Wars against Mr. Beef with Mr. Beef winning. I didn’t believe the results. Maybe Mr. Beef got some sympathy votes since NBC late night host Jay Leno has repeatedly said he’s a big fan.

John