Spiedie facts for kids
Chicken Spiedie sandwich
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| Type | Sandwich |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Binghamton, New York |
| Created by | Camillo Iacovelli, Agostino Iacovelli, Peter Sharak |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
| Main ingredients | Cubes of marinated chicken, pork, lamb, veal, venison or beef |
A spiedie is a yummy sandwich from Binghamton, New York. It's made with small cubes of meat that have been soaked in a special sauce. This tasty food is popular in the central part of New York State.
People use different meats like chicken, pork, or lamb for spiedies. The meat soaks in a tasty sauce called a marinade for a long time. Then, it's cooked on a grill over hot coals.
Traditionally, spiedies are served on soft Italian bread or a long roll. Sometimes, a little extra marinade is drizzled on top. You can also eat the meat right off the skewer. Spiedie meat can even be added to salads or stir-fries. The special marinade usually has olive oil, vinegar, and Italian spices. Fresh mint is often included too.
Every August since 1983, Binghamton hosts the Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally. This big event celebrates spiedies! It includes a cooking contest to find the best spiedie recipes.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The word "spiedie" comes from the Italian word spiedo. This word means "spit," which is a long rod used for grilling meat. In Italy, there's a similar dish called spiedini. It uses small cubes of goat, lamb, chicken, or beef on a skewer.
The Story of Spiedies
Italian immigrants brought the idea for spiedies to New York in the early 1920s. At first, spiedies were mostly made with spring lamb. Today, many restaurants use chicken or pork. Chicken spiedies became very popular after 1987. That's when the "chicken category" was added to the Spiedie Fest cooking contest.
Who Invented the Spiedie?
Camillo Iacovelli is said to have created the spiedie in Endwell, New York. He started serving them in 1938 at his Parkview Restaurant. His brother, Agostino "Augie" Iacovelli, helped make spiedies famous. Augie introduced them at his Endicott restaurant in 1939.
Augie Iacovelli's special marinade was called "zuzu." It was first made with wine vinegar, water, lemon juice, garlic, and mint. Later, Italian spices, olive oil, and onion were added. Augie's son, Guido, continued the spiedie business for many years.
Another person, Peter Sharak, also claimed to invent spiedies. He began serving them in 1947 at Sharkey's Bar and Grill in Binghamton. Sharkey's still says it's the birthplace of the spiedie sandwich.
How Spiedies Became Popular
In 1975, Rob Salamida was the first person to bottle and sell spiedie marinade. He started by cooking spiedies outside a local bar when he was just 16. After a lot of effort, he got a booth at the New York State Fair. He built his reputation there for 12 years. After a close call with a tornado in 1975, he decided to bottle the marinade. This made it easier and safer to sell.
In 1983, some families started the first Spiedie Fest. It was a huge success! They combined it with a Balloon Rally. The festival quickly grew and now attracts over 100,000 people each year. It's also one of the top balloon rallies in the country.
See also
In Spanish: Spiedie para niños
