French Dip : History and Origin of the Classic Sandwich
Originating not in France, but in Los Angeles, California, the French Dip Sandwich remains an American favorite, found in restaurants and diners across the land. The French Dip Sandwich, sometimes called a “Beef Dip”, is basically a sliced roast beef sandwich served on a french roll along with a bowl of hot au jus on the side which you use to “dip” your sandwich into as you eat it (and thus flavoring and moistening the sandwich to your taste). Rival L.A. eateries, Cole’s French Dip and Philippe’s, both claim to be the originators of the idea of the roast beef sandwich served au jus – the “French Dipped Sandwich”. Without a time machine, it remains tough to know exactly the true originator was!
Philippe’s story of the sandwich invention, according to their website, says that in 1918 while prepping a regular (undipped) beef sandwich for an order, the french roll was accidentally dropped in the roasting pan filled with hot juice and the customer said he would take the sandwich anyway. He liked it and returned the next day with friends for more “dipped” sandwiches. Their website calls themselves “Home of the Original French Dipped Sandwich“.
Now, over to Cole’s and their own story – again, according to their website’s historical timeline (from a few years ago, but info still available on the Wayback Machine – archive.org- and other sources) – of the birth and invention of the French Dip. They claim that in 1908, the year the restaurant opened, their house chef dipped bread in Au Jus to help soften the bread for a customer with bad gums. They call themselves the “Originators of the French Dip“.
- Philippe the Original – Read more about the history and creation of their famous sandwich.
- Cole’s French Dip – Los Angeles restaurant since 1908! Tips on “how to eat a French Dip” in four steps: 1. Spread “Atomic mustard” on your sandwich. 2. Dip your sandwich in au jus for two seconds. 3. Take a bite. 4. Enjoy! (okay, cool!).
Naming of the French Dip Sandwich
Here’s my take on the name “French Dip” : If Philippe’s was the originator of the sandwich, the name may have been derived from the original owner, Philippe Mathieu, who was a Frenchman.
OR? A second possibility: Coles was opened in 1908, at the same time as a “French Dip”, a type of garment for ladies, was soaring in popularity. Perhaps the name, combined with the fact the sandwich was on a french roll, was a play on the popular garment.
Third take — The sandwich may have simply been called a French Dip because it was served on a french roll and, obviously, dipped (in Au Jus).
A French Dip recipe
Here is a real simple Slow Cooker version adapted from the “Fix-It and Forget-It Cookbook” by Dawn J. Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good.
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3 lb. rump roast
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 beef bouillon cube
3-4 whole peppercorns
1 bay leaf
French Rolls
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Put the roast in your Slow Cooker. In a small bowl, whisk to combine the soy sauce, thyme, and garlic. Pour over meat, then add water to almost cover the meat. Drop in your bouillon cube, peppercorns and the bay leave. Cover, and cook on low 10 to 12 hours.
Remove the meat and slice. Split the rolls and dip them in the pan sauce. Fill rolls with the meat and serve, along with a bowl of
the pan sauce for dipping at table, if desired.
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