Overview
- The Illinois General Assembly passed a resolution on May 20 naming the Italian beef the official state sandwich and designating the horseshoe as the official open-faced sandwich.
- The resolution explicitly thanked the creators, cast and crew of The Bear for bringing national and international attention to Chicago’s Italian beef culture.
- Chicago native and Bear actor Corey Hendrix attended a Springfield press event with State Rep. Rick Ryan, where a framed proclamation was presented and free Italian beef was served from a food truck.
- The Bear filmed in and around Chicago and used Mr. Beef on Orleans Street as the inspiration for the show’s sandwich shop, and the series’ fifth and final season is set to premiere on June 25.
- Lawmakers described the move as symbolic promotion of Illinois culinary heritage, a nod to the sandwich’s early-20th-century Italian immigrant roots, and a publicity boost that could benefit local restaurants and tourism.