‘Operation Coleslaw’: Pittsburgh Restaurant Rises to Beck 300 Sandwich Challenge
- Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:48am by
Scott Baker
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Last week Glenn Beck dropped into Pittsburgh (where your Blaze managing editor lives) for the big “Broke” stage event that was simulcast to movie theaters across the country.
During the radio show in the morning, Glenn & Company devoured a few of the sandwiches sent over to the studio by Primanti Bros. For those not familiar, a Primanti’s sandwich is a Pittsburgh staple distinctive by the inclusion of cole slaw and fries inside the sandwich.
The radio show brunch triggered some last minute brainstorming for the evening’s stage show. Glenn decided he wanted more sandwiches. Like 300 of the them. And this all had to happen in a hurry. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tells us how it all came together:
Moments after Beck’s 2 p.m. call, Operation Coleslaw swung into action.
“The first thing we did,” Smith recalled, “was panic.”
The second thing was to establish an operations base. The Primanti Bros. on Cherry Way, Downtown, was chosen because it could assemble Beck’s sandwiches exclusively after its early 5 p.m. closing time.
A three-member sandwich special ops team — headed by Mike Mitcham, general manager of Primanti’s Market Square location — was deployed with orders to rapidly fire every weapon in the arsenal.
To say those orders were followed to the letter is an understatement.
“We started around 5:15 and finished around 7:15,” Mitcham said. “We made 170 cheesteaks, 130 capicolas and the big one.”
The “big one” was an enormous fish sandwich that Beck wanted to use during his performance as an onstage prop representing the federal budget. His intention was to illustrate how the budget could be trimmed by removing fries.
The special ops loaded the sandwiches into Mitcham’s Trailblazer and sped down Grant Street toward the Benedum. Tensions briefly mounted as the trio encountered traffic from fans late for the Penguins game at Consol Energy Center, but they pulled up at the backstage door moments before showtime.
Mission accomplished.
You can read the rest of the account here.
For the record, here is a little history of the Primanti Bros. sandwich:
Back in the 1930′s, Joe Primanti opened a cart in the Strip District selling sandwiches to truckers on the go. It was decided that he should expand to a small restaurant on 18th Street. The hours were 3am to 3pm to accomodate truckers and the like. His brothers, Dick and Stanley, joined him along with nephew John DePriter who was the cook.
According to John, “One winter, a fella drove in with a load of potatoes. He brought a few of ‘em over to the restaurant to see if they were frozen.
I fried the potatoes on our grill and they looked pretty good. A few of our customers asked for them, so I put the potatoes on their sandwiches.” And the rest is history. The Primanti Sandwich: a true taste of Pittsburgh.
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Comments (106)
heavyduty
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:58pmYou all had better watch your comments, Michelle is watching the Blaze. Because Beck continually uses these types of props on his shows. But after saying that, I would like to suggest that you send a couple hundred down here to Texas. Sure looks good in the pic. You see when we are called to do something pretty much impossible AMERICANS always come through.
Report Post »Decade of Greed
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:48pmFor those of you unfortunate enough to not live in the Pittsburgh go here. But remember, you can make the sandwich at home, but the true experience is in Pittsburgh. http://www.milspouse.com/primanti-bros-sandwich.aspx but want to try
Report Post »UPSETVET
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:35pmI love all kinds of sandwiches and would love to try one of Primanti’s. In my opinion a full course meal doesn’t satisfy your hunger as well as an oversized sandwich. The fies in the sandwich takes it to another level. My favorite is a “Ruben”, made with cornbeef, swiss cheese and sauerkraut on rye bread with an ample amount of horse radish sauce. YUMMY !
Report Post »swimmerella
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:29pmSo hilarious that an operation involving Glenn revolves around food. I love it.
Report Post »WBOB
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:14pm* drooling profusely *
Report Post »ErinLindsey
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:41pmI was at the show…in a movie theatre…in Omaha, Nebraska! When Glenn started pulling out the sandwiches they just looked so good, and then Glenn said they were “Michelle Obama’s worst nightmare”. I know I have to try one now.
My aunt is from Pennsylvania (Tower City…I think?) I need to ask her If she’s going back to visit family and see I can convince her to drive the 200+ miles to grab me a sandwich and fly it back to me…if she can get it past the TSA screeners.
I’m starving now. Hopefully someday I can try a Primanti sandwich before Michelle Antoinette Obama has her husband write an Executive Order to make them illegal.
Report Post »JSforest
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:21pm“His intention was to illustrate how the budget could be trimmed by removing fries.”
Removing the fries from a Primanti’s sandwich?
Blasphemy!
Report Post »Noonien_Soong
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:12pmDon’t you wish the Goobermint could act as fast. Obama should take note and not dilly dally in making decisions.
Report Post »UberJim
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:10pmThe Government could never pull this off. Only a capitalist pig. Go pigs
Report Post »wolverine
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:07pmI will bet the sight of that meal sent Michelle right up the wall keep up the good work
Report Post »Highland
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:25pmFrom the looks of Mooshelle, she‘s been sneaking Primanti’s for years.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 4:29pmwe have a big black angus named Mooshelle. she will make wonderful steaks. with all this talk of civil war coming, maybe we should lock up all of our hogs named Mohammed and Allah.
Report Post »wai2000.com
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:07pmYum
Report Post »Hsayre
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:59pmI love Primanti Bros. sandwiches…I will have to wait till after Christmas for one.
Report Post »saskwach
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:44pmBest sammiches ever!!!
Report Post »livingfree
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:33pmOh man does that look good. Great job guys.
Report Post »OmegaMan
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:19pmOkay, fellow Pittsburghers, get your daggers out because here goes: Primanti sandwiches are overrated. The meat is lacking and usually less-than flavorful. The fries are bland and overwhelm the flavor of the sandwich. The slaw is pretty tasteless, too. It’s oil, vinegar, salt, sugar and nothing else. The bread is basic italian bread. I’ve never understood the fascination other than as a late-night drinking food. If you come to the ‘Burgh and want a truly awesome sandwich experience, there’s only one place to go – Fatheads on Carson Street in the Southside. Amazing. Get the “Artery Clogger” – its a life changing experience. 50-plus beers on tap doesn’t hurt either.
Report Post »gotea
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:25pmYeah but I can’t fit my mouth around a Fat Head sandwich, and that Chimay on tap make driving back to Oakland quite dangerous.
Report Post »OmegaMan
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:54pmI’ve always thought of it as a battle of Man vs Headwich. You don’t really try to win. It’s a war of attrition and the best that you can hope for is a stalemate. A tasty, splendiferous stalemate punctuated by exclamations of joy and wonder. Truth be told, I think that heaven tastes a lot like Fatheads.
Report Post »teahugger
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:00pmOk, so now I’m gonna have to take a road trip to try BOTH sandwiches, and see for my ownself! …can‘t be taking anyone’s word for this, ya know!
Report Post »OmegaMan
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:22pmTrust me, Teahugger, it’s no contest whatsoever. You can hit one of the Primantis downtown and get it to go and drive over to Fatheads and do a taste test. I‘ll bet any amount of cash that you’ll toss the Primanti’s sandwich right in the trash. I’m not one to recommend very many things but this is one that I just have to speak out about. One day my wife and I were coming back from the Waterfront (a nice retail shopping experience that was built on an old mill site) and we grabbed some sandwiches to take home. The smell from the back seat was so amazing that we stopped on the side of the road and ate. It was only a 15 minute drive home and we couldn’t make it. I recommend the Artery Clogger, their steak sandwich, or the Big Beefy Barbecue sandwich. Man, I have to go eat something.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 6:06pmUh, not to put too fine a point on it, Omegaman, but the recipe for coleslaw that you just rattled off (minus the sugar) is the one I grew up on. My grandmother made it regularly, as did my father. And believe it or not, I just whipped up a batch of coleslaw for my family. Truthfully, I don’t care for the creamy version, but to each his own.
Report Post »penguinette64
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 7:42pmi know. God help us, but omegaman’s right. but it’s an institution, you have to go… and thanks glenn for promoting the burgh.
Report Post »but i’d rather have a BLT from cafe raymond in the strip, even though i’m mad at him for not telling me the recipe for his quinoa salad dressing. do you hear me raymond???? lol
i think i’ll be going to fatheads before long…
lainpa
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:12pmYou can all be jealous! I can walk to Primanti’s here on Univ of PItt campus! Yum! Yum! Good choice for Hyperinflating your waistline!
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 6:02pmBraggart! ;-P
Report Post »gotea
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:09pmNews worthy yes. “American Entrepreneur Gets it Done”. I love this place and visit while in Pitt. They have alot of locations. Hard work and a can do attitude is all you need to succeed. Props to the people there. Good job.
Report Post »MissCherryJones
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:10pmAmerican (read:legal immigrant, which I’m sure the Primantis were) Entrepreneur (read:small business owner) gets it done. Amazing what Americans can do, even if it is getting a few sandwiches made :)
Report Post »knotaclu
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:01pmyou can trim the budget but dont eliminate my fries…..
Report Post »take somebody elses……
Alexandra1214
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:00pmHurry up and eat that sandwhich BEFORE … Michelle Obama takes it away from us ….. lolol
Report Post »Lantern
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:00pmNews-worthy?
Report Post »knotaclu
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:03pmyes, yes it is…..
Report Post »EgoBrain
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:52pmSometimes I need fluff stories, to keep the razor blades in the cabinet.
Report Post »pap pap
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:57amPrimanti Brothers sandwiches are fantastic. I had my first one back in 1966 and still love them.
Report Post »EgoBrain
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:33pmI’ve only seen this place, on Travel Channel.
Report Post »I drooled.
randy
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:57amGreat! Thanks Guys! Now I have to hop in the car and drive 8 hours to grab one of these sandwiches.
Report Post »I hope you’re happy.
Novamax75
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:02pmDitto except I’m from CO i think It will be a considerably longer drive… oh well let me go get my keys….
Report Post »EgoBrain
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:04pmNow I have to drive 1000 miles, to grab one, doggonit.
Report Post »Oh, God!
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:05pmCan you grab one for me also? Since I live in Texas, there is no way I could get there in 8 hours.
Report Post »Highland
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:07pmYinz can‘t do no better than a Pri’manni’s sammmich, ‘n’at.
Report Post »EgoBrain
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:34pmOh God, I’ll grab you one, but it will cost you 2 months supply of rice and flour.
Report Post »And a candy bar.
Camo Pants
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:09pm@egobrain
Report Post »$24 candy bar for a $5 sandwich?! WTF D:
I’ll give you 3 if you get me a XL wich without slaw >.>
EgoBrain
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:52pm@Camo~ I think I’m getting ripped off here, but I’ll do it.
Report Post »mpa
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 5:53pmFor anyone closer to Florida than Pittsburgh, there are three locations there: Ft. Lauderdale, Oakland Park, and Sunrise. Now get out there and chow down some fries and peppery cole slaw.
No other sandwich will satisfy you again after having eaten a sandwich made, “the Pittsburgh way”, from Primanti’s.
I‘ll also reiterate what other’s have testified to. If you are planning on ordering without the fries or slaw, be prepared to be looked upon as the nutcase that you are.
Report Post »GardenoftheGods
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:57amI’m sorry & sad that I missed both the show & THE SANDWICH….maybe the sandwich more than the show!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:13pmit was a good show
Report Post »BeckFan1964
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:56amOMG that sandwich looks so good!!!
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:38pmCan’t hardly compare to the apple I had for lunch…..right!
Report Post »98ZJUSMC
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:41pmWe tried to replicate it at home. Failed, but it was still good!
Report Post »G.W. Dobbs
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 4:43pmGlenn Beck is very THOUGHTFUL and considerate. THREE HUNDRED
Report Post »SANWICHES. Who else would have thought it?
Alvin691
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:54amThanks, now I am hungry.
Report Post »Down2TheC
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:59am+1 Can I get pie with that?
Report Post »neversaynever
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:01pmditto
Report Post »BetterDays
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:15pmBelieve you me, after a Primanti’s, you don’t have room for Pie!
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {mix art}
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:17pmSandwich special operations team; that is an interesting concept.
The restaurant itself is an idea of American innovation; try out an idea and if it works make money off of it. Nothing wrong with that.
Report Post »RightWrite
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 12:41pmThe beauty of the fries in the sandwich is that Michelle Obama can’t regulate out the side of fries. Next thing you know, the first lady will try to regulate potatoes — watch out for a tax on potato-salad, or outright banning of garlic mashed potatoes with my prime-rib. Wouldn’t it be funny if they tried to regulate salt…oh crap!
Report Post »Humdingerofaspringer
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:07pmNow I’m hungery, too. http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/kZqhWMbHJ5hNOqW0
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:17pmLeave it to the fatty fat fatso to make a point using food.
THANKS Glenn, for making us all hungry!
Report Post »Shurmus
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 1:24pmGO STEELERS!!!
(This is Bulljack…Shurmus is asleep…ha!)
http://www.slugbuddies.com
Report Post »Camo Pants
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:08pm“+1 Can I get pie with that?”
Me to, but make it apple pie. :)
/Just ate lunch and is still hungry
Report Post »independentvoteril
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:14pmYou should have been at the movie theater, you could smell the sandwiches..LOL.. and I didn’t have time to have dinner before the show so I was drooling.. all I had was popcorn no comparison..
Report Post »spendthrift
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:37pmAnd a Milkshake….
Report Post »Decade of Greed
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 2:42pmHaving eaten here once I can give you one piece of advice. Don’t order the sandwich without cole slaw. I don’t like cole slaw so I ordered it without. I did eventually get what I wqnted but not without some loud and good-natured ridicule for my blaphemous request. Love Pittsburgh, Love Primantis GO STEELERS!
Report Post »Room 101
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 4:45pm@decadeofgreed
Too funny about the cole slaw. My wife and I visit her friend and her family in Pittsburgh… the friend ordered her Primanti Bros. “without all that s^&t on it”… the waitress was not amused! I would not ever visit Pittsburgh without a trip for a pastrami at Primanti’s. That, and the blueberry pancakes at Isaly’s West End are a must when we make the trip down.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 8:11pmMethinks Beck is trying to turn us into foodaholics, just to get back at Obama. Now I am salivating miserably like Pavlov’s dog. Food break for me.
Report Post »TheBMT
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 9:49pmI have tried to make it at home, but its not the same. I got to go there to experience that.
Report Post »susanjmaki
Posted on December 6, 2010 at 11:32pmPittsburgh is a magical city! I went to college there, and enjoyed many a Pramanti’s sandwich in the wee small hours. Pittsburgh also has “steak salads”, tasty salads with sliced beef steak and fries stacked on them. It is also where the klondike ice cream sandwich was invented. A wonderful city!
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