French Dip

The french dip sandwich is composed of a french roll dipped in meat juices and filled with slices of roast beef, pork, ham, turkey, or lamb. Philippe Mathieu, a French immigrant, created the “french dipped sandwich” in 1918. The proprietor of a Los Angeles sandwich shop, Philippe the Original, Mathieu accidentally dropped a roll into the roast drippings as he prepared a beef sandwich for a hungry policeman. The policeman later returned with several friends, all requesting “dipped” sandwiches. It is not known whether the sandwich was named for the french roll on which it was made, for the Frenchman who created it, or for the police officer, whose last name was “French,” but its popularity quickly spread. The french dip sandwich continues to be served at Philippe the Original and at restaurants nationwide.