What began as a day to celebrate “the most Chicago food item of all,” has now expanded into a month-long celebration. The family behind the winner of our inaugural Chicago’s Best Beef Tournament, the Buonavolantos, joined forces with the Scalas and Pacellis (from Al’s Beef) to petition for a National Italian Beef Day, and this month marks its 10th anniversary.

Founding member of the family, Joe Buonavolanto Jr. joined Kevin Powell and Michael Piff on the Chicago’s Very Own Eats podcast to talk about Italian beef’s rich history in Chicago, his family’s business and how it began, Buona’s specials and promotions during Italian Beef Month and National Italian Beef Day (May 24th), Buona’s collaboration with Giordano’s, and much more! Listen below and stay tuned for a Chicago’s Very Own Eats announcement that you don’t want to miss:

Michael was also invited for a behind-the-scenes look at Buona’s original location in Berwyn with GM Sinisa Podoreski. Michael learned more about what sets Buona apart from other Chicago food businesses, how they support the communities that their locations are in, what they really mean when they say “Buona means Good”, and more as you swipe through the photo gallery below:

• Buona’s original location at 6745 Roosevelt Rd. in Berwyn, where it all began. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• How do you like your beef? Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Pull up a chair. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Buona GM Sinisa Podoreski, leading the Buona Team in Berwyn. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Ready to go behind-the-scenes at Buona. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The tools. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• And more tools. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Chilling in the fridge. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Buona’s homemade Giardineira. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• More ingredients from Buona’s authentic recipes. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• For slicing the beef. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Might need to get one of my own. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Getting to know the Buona employees across the Chicagoland area. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Getting a hot dog order (no ketchep). Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• How the process to making your Buona beef sandwich begins. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• First goes on the mozz. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Then the beef. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• A layer of hot peppers. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Then a layer of sweet peppers. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• A craftsman with his work. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The Buona Beef beauty shot. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Oh, and they have pasta too! Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The team at Buona in Berwyn! Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• Go Mustangs! Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• The Buonavolanto Family shows their appreciation to customers on their way out of each of their locations. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio
• On the way out, a customer stopped to tell me about how he remembered back when there was a gas station here, and how much he loves coming to visit this spot. Photo by Michael Piff / WGN Radio

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