Spiedie

Spiedie is a culinary icon of Binghamton, New York, a sandwich consisting of an Italian roll or slices of white bread that are filled with cubes of marinated chicken, pork, or lamb. The sandwich gained popularity during the 1940s, but its exact origins are still shrouded in mystery. The name comes from the Italian word spiedo, which refers to a kitchen cooking spit. Not unusual, considering that the meat is grilled on a metal skewer before it gets placed in a sandwich. It is believed that Augustine Iacovelli, the owner of a restaurant called Augies popularized the sandwich. The original marinade, which he called Zuzu, consisted of wine vinegar, water, lemon juice, mint, and garlic, and the sandwich quickly caught on with the local railroad workers and shoemakers. Today, people who live in the Binghamton area regularly enjoy them at restuarants, buy them in supermarkets, or get them from street vendors dispersed throughout the city.