Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Charmaine's Beef

Charmaine doesn't have a beef. She has THE beef. Slippy's mom, Charmaine, makes the bitchin'est roast beef sandwiches I have ever had. I'm quite the aficionado, so I know what's good. But even if I didn't make it my business to sample, analyze and critique, I would still know that those beef sammiches are some damn good eats.

I first discovered this hidden culinary gem at the annual Olter-Will Christmas party in 2007. I was casually eating a sandwich when Oma Will and her brother in-law, Cerebellum, said something so gross and so funny that I began to choke. Although I was afraid I might die, I was pleased to know that if I did perish, the last thing I would have tasted would be C-Money's roast beef sandwich.

I worked in an Italian restaurant before where they made their own beef. That shit was good. They rubbed it down in the spices, roasted it like crazy, sliced it thin and tossed it in the jus. But there is something about C-Money's that is superior. I don't know if it's her spice blend in the au jus, I don't know if it's the cut of beef that she uses. All I know is that she cooks that sucker for hours, refrigerates it over night, slices it nice and thin and then simmers it in the jus all day long.

The result is fall-apart-tender beef in a jus that has a thicker and more flavorful consistency than most au jus that I've encountered. Where most beef jus is thin and brothy, C-Money's is dark, caramelized and steeped with flavor. If regular au jus is orange pekoe tea, C-Money's jus is espresso. She won't tell me her secrets, but that's ok. She shares with me, and I can't be greedy. I can just be grateful, which I am.

Thanks again for sending Slippy over with your sandwiches on Saturday, C-Money! They were delicious and next time I want to dine with you!

10 comments:

Jude said...

WHHAA!!! but I do make a mean Lasagna!!!
It's hard if you're Irish to make the best beef sammie....but we keep tryin'.You'd think that people that loved to cook beef for 3 days could get the hang of it!!I hope in my life to bring to my FAMILY the BEST beef sandwhich....because it would be so much easier than doing that GD f-ing Turkey for the holidays!!!ALLL ABOARD!!!!!!!!!!
PS.C-Money....keep it a secret!!!

Nora said...

It's true, Mom. Charmaine's beef is the bomb. But, to be fair, I don't think you've ever made Italian beef for me before.

You do, however, kill all when it comes to thin-crust and deep-dish pizza, lamb roasts and ... well, I know you won't believe this, but even though your meatloaf falls apart, it is the most delish.

Jude said...

Meat-loaf,beet-loaf!!! 2 days later it could be the base for a 6 story building....but as a good American,,,,,I keep trying...why, I don't know,....'cus I gotta ....

Nora said...

Are you still using like ten eggs?

Jude said...

Ten eggs and 3 cups of Sakrete and the bastard stills falls apart...but the Moses loaf still is TASTY...it's gotta be something in the AIR???? Somanabitch parts down the middle every time!!!

Slippy said...

Well to tell you the truth that is the only dish Charmaine makes that is noteworthy. But, it is so worth suffering through other garbage for the occasions of the Italian Beef.

Nora said...

I'm more or less a one-trick pony, myself.

Ratherto said...

I LOVE meatloaf!

Nora said...

Jude thinks just because hers doesn't maintain its structural integrity that it isn't the most delicious. I say, it's not the loafiest meat, but it is the tastiest.

Jenn said...

OMG! My mouth is WATERING!!!