CHICAGO, Il. () — The accolades for Pope Leo XIV are pouring in. One Chicago restaurant has named a sandwich after him.
This week, the sandwich chain Portillo’s unveiled a new menu item called “The Leo.” This sandwich features Italian beef served on a roll that is dipped in gravy and adorned with sweet or hot peppers.
Bruce Lemasurier, a manager at Portillo’s, explains that this addition to the menu is a tribute to a renowned figure from the Chicago area. “As Chicagoans, we are immensely proud and excited about our city’s representation at such a prestigious level, and we wanted to honor and celebrate that achievement alongside our fellow Chicago residents. ‘The Leo’ showcases our iconic beef sandwich, which involves roasting the beef for four hours and then immersing it in our unique spiced gravy twice. This double-dipping process, which we liken to a ‘baptism,’ is central to the concept of ‘The Leo,’ as a nod to the Pope. It’s all about honoring him and celebrating within our Chicago community. Our city can take pride in this, and it’s a delight that we, through Portillo’s and Chicago, can share this tribute with the world.”
If you want to try The Leo, you need to hurry. It’s only on Portillo’s menu through the month of May.
