Reuben sandwich
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Reuben or Reuben sandwich is a grilled or toasted sandwich made with corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and either Russian dressing or Thousand Island dressing. It is typically made with rye bread, though originally it may have been served on pumpernickel bread, and is often served with potato salad on the side.
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[edit] Origins
The origins of the Reuben are disputed. One account holds that Reuben Kulakofsky (sometimes spelled Reubin, whose last name is sometimes shortened to Kay), a grocer from Omaha, Nebraska, was the inventor, perhaps as part of a group effort by members of Kulakofsky's weekly poker game held in the Blackstone Hotel from ca. 1920-1935. The participants, who nicknamed themselves "the committee," included the hotel's owner, Charles Schimmel. The sandwich first gained local fame when Schimmel put it on the Blackstone's lunch menu.
Descendants of Arnold Reuben, owner of the now defunct Reuben Restaurant on 58th Street in New York City, also claim the invention. They maintain that Reuben created the sandwich in 1914 to serve to Annette Seelos. Supporters of this version of the invention claim that Seelos was at that time starring in a silent film opposite Charlie Chaplin. This is suspect as documention of Seelos's performance in a 1914 Chaplin film has not been found.
The Reuben Kulakofsky version of the invention appears more widely accepted. This acceptance may have grown after being mentioned in the movie Quiz Show, although as a further embellishment in the film it is asserted that the sandwich was invented to win a contest. The oldest known Reuben artifact is a menu from the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln, Nebraska, from 1937. Also, in an article published in the Omaha Evening World-Herald in 1965, Ed Schimmel (son of Charles Schimmel, Blackstone Hotel owner) claims to have visited the Manhattan Reuben Restaurant where he ordered a Reuben only to discover that "they had never heard of it."
[edit] Variants
Thousand Island dressing is sometimes substituted for the traditional Russian. The Reuben has many variations, including a sister sandwich, the "Rachel," which is made with pastrami or turkey instead of corned beef (and sometimes cole slaw instead of sauerkraut). A Georgia Reuben is made with turkey and cole slaw. The names of the various Reuben variations are dependent upon the region, and there are many approaches to a Reuben derivative. Most of them include a type of meat, cabbage product, a cheese, and a dressing. Almost all variations are grilled, with the exception of the monte cristo that is dipped in sweet batter and deep-fried.
[edit] References
- Claiborne, Craig. "Whence the Reuben? Omaha, It Seems." The New York Times (May 17, 1976).
- McMorris, Robert. "Omaha Saw Invention of Reuben Sandwich." Omaha Evening World-Herald (September 11, 1965).
- McMorris, Robert. "Just When You Thought Reuben's Roots Were Safe." Omaha World-Herald (January 31, 1986): 2.
- McMorris, Robert. "This Reuben Explanation Seems Hard to Swallow." Omaha World-Herald (July 24, 1989): 2.
- History of Reuben Sandwich
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
- Reuben Realm In-depth reviews of Reuben sandwiches from dozens of restaurants.
