Beef on Weck–Another Local Delicacy

On our travels we have sampled many local delicacies.  Local foods are something we have enjoyed very much:

Texas – BBQ

Memphis – BBQ

Myrtle Beach – Calabash

Savannah – Paula Deen’s

Space Coast – Rock Shrimp

Tampa Bay – Cuban

Indiana – Deep Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwich

North Carolina – BBQ

Lancaster – Shoofly Pie and Oatmeal Pie

Philadelphia – Cheese Steak

Maryland – Crab Cakes

New York – Thin Crust Pizza

New England – Whole Lobster and Lobster Roll

Acadia – Ice Cream Filled Popovers

Prince Edward Island, CA – Mussels and Clams

Digby, Nova Scotia, CA – Scallops

Quebec, CA – Poutine and Euro Hot Dogs

Vermont – Maple Syrup Jelly Beans

Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, CA – Shepherd’s Pie

Well, we found another local delicacy in Western New York State – Beef on Weck.  We started seeing it pop up on menus in this area so Gary ordered it up for lunch one day.  Beef on Weck is thinly sliced roast beef on a Kaiser-type roll that is topped with caraway seeds and sea salt.  It is served with a cup of au jus and a thimble of horse radish.  The weck part comes from the German kummelweck roll.  It apparently came to Western New York States with German immigrants and was a favorite of the German immigrants who worked on the construction of the Erie Canal.

In researching Beef on Weck we came up with a very interesting kernel of information.  The original name of the restaurant chain, Buffalo Wild Wings was Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck.  We had wondered a time or two why Buffalo Wild Wings is referred to as BW3’s when there are only two W’s in the name.  To quote the late Paul Harvey, “know you know the rest of the story…….”

Our south/north travel loops over the next years will move progressively westward.  We cannot imagine that we will see again the amazing diversity of foods that we have in the east.  But we will be looking.