Food Network’s Jeff Mauro and the Three Little Pigs compose ‘Italian-Chinese Symphony’

Sandwiches from around the world excite Jeff Mauro, a Food Network personality from Chicago. Nowadays, the Sandwich King that was and will be is not traveling as much around the world, but in 2024 he is planning a series of collaborations to introduce his gourmet food brand, Mauro Provisions.

One of those collaborations begins Friday, February 16th with fellow Chicago native Henry Cai of “The Three Little Pigs.” Recently opened in the South Loop (Molly’s His Cupcakes at 1150 S. Wabash), Kai has shredded his giardiniera on his signature Chinese-American fried chicken sandwich at Mauro’s. He tops his honey G his pepper his relish. Kai says that when eating giardiniera, he sometimes can’t eat all the ingredients in one bite, but this one is perfect. The finely chopped relish has chili oil, carrots, and celery evenly distributed for easy spreading.

Mix relish and honey to create a flavorful, sweet, and crunchy condiment. According to Mauro, the taste provides a “natural high” for those who eat it. The sandwich comes with relish and a thinly sliced ​​cucumber salad. There’s also Three Little Pigs hot mustard, mayonnaise and iceberg lettuce. It’s called “Hot Mauro”. Sandwiches are available for a limited time only.

“It’s like a symphony of China and Italy,” Mauro says.

Kai said that when Mauro sent him a message on Instagram asking if he was interested in teaming up, he didn’t know if he was being pranked or not. Mauro says people around the world have an affinity for different types of Chinese food. China may not have a great history of sandwich culture. Bao seems to fill that gap. But Kai combined the dishes his father had cooked for him with his own ideas. Mauro said Tsai has a “talent for fried chicken.”

“This is the kind of fried chicken sandwich I wanted to have, right?” Mauro says. “It’s well-balanced. The marinated chicken thighs and the batter are very delicious.”

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Mauro then figured out how to add giardiniera to fried chicken sandwiches with Chinese spices and toppings. “Honey G Pepper When he started formulating the relish, I knew the flavor, the quality of the fermentation, the quality of the oil. The crunch, the color, the sweetness is just right.”

Talking to Mauro about the combination of Chinese and Italian cuisine brought back memories of a Lincoln Park restaurant that opened in the ’90s called Luigi’s in Hong Kong. The restaurant started a revolution teasing customers with a menu that included pasta and pot stickers. There was also a filming location on the outskirts of Lake Zurich.

To Chicagoans, giardiniera is something of a mystical art, and companies guard their recipes closely. These days, Tsai studies the sacred alchemy of cooking her own homage to Chicago street food, combining Chinese hot pot and Italian beef. Think of Kasama’s Adobo His Beef His Sandwich as Chinese with a Filipino twist. Kai knows he needs to introduce some form of giardiniera. Perhaps he has a new ally with Mauro.

Mauro is planning collaborations with Boar’s Head Cafe and others. Please stay tuned for further information.