Sausage Company (formed in 1925), this meal was originally introduced at weddings and banquets where the meat was sliced thinly so there would be enough to feed all the guests. It rapidly grew in popularity and eventually became one of Chicago's most famous ethnic foods: the original Italian beef sandwich. The recipe was popularized by Pasquale Scala, and a group of his associates who started small beef stands in Chicago and used similar recipes, perfecting Chicago's original Italian beef sandwich. Al Ferreri and his sister and brother-in-law, Frances and Chris (Baba) Pacelli, founded Al's Beef in 1938, and Mr. Beef on Orleans co-founders Carl Buonavolanto Jr. and Tony ("Uncle Junior" to the Buonavolantos) Ozzauto each set up shop. Other Italian beef purveyors likewise set up shop in the '40s, many obtaining their beef from Scala Packing Company of Chicago. Chris Pacelli (Baba) (founder of Al's Beef in 1938), Carl Bonavolanto Jr. and Tony Ozzauto (co-founders, Mr. Beef on Orleans in 1961), were among the group. By 1954, local restaurant Al's Beef was advertising its "Pizza, Spaghetti, Ravioli, (and) Italian Beef Sandwiches" in the Chicago Tribune. Mr. Beef's founder helped his brother, Joe Buonavolanto, open one of the first Italian beef stands outside of the city limits. Variations There are varying degrees of juiciness, depending on taste. Nomenclature varies from stand to stand, but wet or dipped means the bread is quickly dunked in the juice; juicy even wetter; and soaked is dripping wet. Most Chicago beef restaurants also offer a "combo," adding a grilled Italian sausage to the sandwich. Different eateries offer hot or mild sausage, or both. Typical beef orders are: Hot dipped: Italian beef on gravy-wetted bread and giardiniera. Hot dipped combo: Italian beef and sausage on gravy-wetted bread with giardiniera. Sweet dry: Italian beef placed on dry bread, topped with sweet peppers. Gravy bread: meatless Italian bread soaked in the juice of Italian beef, often served with peppers or giardiniera. Also known in some places as "Soakers" or "Juice-ons". Cheesy beef or cheef: Italian beef with cheese (Provolone, Mozzarella or, rarely, Cheddar); not all stands offer this. Cheesy beef on garlic: Italian beef with cheese (Provolone, Mozzarella or, rarely, Cheddar) and the bread being pre-cooked and seasoned like traditional garlic bread; not all stands offer this. Some order the "triple double," which consists of double cheese, double sausage and double beef. Other even less common variations include