quote:

Originally posted by Jim2903

I recently noticed signs at Wendy’s locations here in the Chicago area announcing Italian beef. Not sure why they would even bother trying to offer this Chicago specialty when you can swing a cat in almost any direction and hit local chains and mom-and-pops doing beef the way it ought to be done. It might fly at Wendy’s locations far away from here, to serve Chi-town expatriates who have no other choice or the uninitiated looking for something different. Admittedly, I haven’t tried Wendy’s Italian beef, but I don’t see the need. Seems to me anyone in the Chicago area would write off this offering sight unseen (and untasted).

McDonalds has lobster rolls in NE during the summer months. Same idea. Although, admittedly[:I] I tried a lobster roll from McDonalds.

so, maybe, it’s for the tourists, who say, "hey, what the heck – I haven’t the time to stop at a real place while passing by chicago at 70MPH."

They had NY pizza in NYC, too.

Serioulsy, though, I think it’s just another way the local FF joint can appear to be linked to the local flavor.