As I pay the fuel bill and eye my woodpile on this brisk fall eve, Champ Davis sends a brief seasonal note:
The Travel Channel will feature the Den Chili Parlor on "Man vs. Food" on Wed Oct 7 at 9 pm. Also the horseshoe sandwich at another Springfield restaurant! The preview referred to Firebrand Chili as "evil"!
Ah, chili (or chilli): nothing better than a spicy, steamy pot bubbling on the stove as cold weather returns. Check the Travel Channel for your local schedule; mine says Fri Oct 9 at 8 pm for the Springfield show.
More evidence of spreading fame: the October issue of Gourmet magazine has a feature on horseshoe sandwiches and recommends three local restaurants.
To encourage discussion, here's a recipe for Springfield Chili at a site called Cooking Light. If you have other memories and recipes, send us a comment!
8 comments:
I never thought I would read "gourmet" and "horseshoe sandwich" in the same sentence. Excuse me, I feel a cholesterol crisis coming on.
Barbara
Champ called to remind us to tune in. I was shocked to see the show's host down 5 bowls of fire-brand! He must have a much younger stomach than the '58 crew that was assembled at the Den on reunion weekend. I finished my one bowl and was sweating with a mouth that had no feeling. Looking forward to a repeat at the next reunion.
Don Arenz
Champ and Jan called to remind us to watch the show. I looked for CE at the Den but could not pick him out of the crowd. I was amazed that the host ate 5 bowls of firebrand! He has a much younger stomach than the crew of '58 that asembeled at the Den the weekend of the reunion.
Don Arenz
Recipe for Springfield Horseshoe Sauce
Send to me by Bill Irwin and Andy Holman
A few years ago:
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter
3 heaping tablespoons flour
1 pint whole milk
1 pound grated American cheese
1/2 pint beer
salt, pepper, cayenne to taste
3 tsp Lea & Perrins
Make roux, add milk and beaten egg, cook till smooth, add cheese and seasonings. Always add beer last.
Joe Schweska's Horseshoe Sauce - Leland Hotel, Springfield, IL - Circa 1950-70
1 stick real butter
1/2 to 1 cup flour
2-1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp dry mustard
1-1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1-1/2 cup chopped Old English Cheese (or sharp cheddar)
1/2 pt room temperature beer
Melt butter – careful not to burn
Add flour & salt and stir to a paste. Brown just a little.
Slowly whisk in milk.
Stir in pepper, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, & cheese.
Continually stir to a smooth cream sauce.
Just before serving, stir in beer.
Sauce freezes well but do not add beer until it has been thawed and reheated.
To make Horseshoe sandwich:
Butter toasted white bread and lay side by side on plate.
Top with 2 hamburger patties or other meat such as Country Ham.
Cover with Horseshoe Sauce.
Top entire dish with french fries (aka nails in the Horseshoe)
I watched the show last night. Had never watched it before - the guy is an idiot! Anyway, I can see the challenge in eating 1 bowl of firebrand (I actually did it at the Den eons ago) but 5? I was astounded that people still actually eat horseshoes in Springfield. Our big claim to fame :-)
Barbara
Will be in Springfield over Christmas vacation. HEADING directly to a horseshoe! Doubt I´ll EVER find such a "thing" here in Germany. Heck, they do not make cheddar cheese here.
Lee
Norb Andy's (Capitol, across from First Methodist) had an excellent horseshoe. Judy Sink (Stephens Scott)'s aunt worked there, and Judy had the recipe they used. Should check with her to see if she still has it.
--Allan Stephens
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