Why Buona Beef has a cult following

(FSB Magazine) -- Long before I moved to California and started my own business, Wizard Graphics (wgiprint.com), I spent almost two years in Chicago. It's my wife's hometown, so she introduced me to the best local food - including Italian beef.

Hardly anyone outside the city knows what it is, but in Chicago it's a religion: the most flavorful beef on a roll with pickled vegetables and hot peppers. You dip it in spicy jus, and it falls apart in your hands.

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Years ago I discovered we could get it shipped from Buona Beef in Chicago (buona.com), but that hasn't stopped us from getting a fix from Buona the restaurant the second we get to town. Last time, we stopped on the way to my brother-in-law's from the airport - only to find him awaiting us at home in his car, eager to take us out for Italian beef! Not wanting to ruin his day, we happily went for more.