The History Of The Reuben Sandwich

On Sprung On Food, host Kae Sprung talks with actor and writer Drew Droege about the history of the Reuben sandwich. They break down what makes a great Reuben, corned beef or pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss, buttery rye, and dressing, then investigate the sandwich’s disputed origin stories: Omaha’s Blackstone Hotel poker-night tale tied to Reuben Kulakofsky and a 1956 national sandwich contest win, versus Manhattan’s claim connected to Arnold Reuben and early 20th-century deli culture. The episode also explains Thousand Island and Russian dressing histories, traces the Reuben’s rise in mid-century diners and delis, explores spinoffs like the Rachel and Reuben egg rolls, and highlights pop-culture appearances and modern promotions.You can follow and support this week's guest, Drew Droege here:https://www.instagram.com/drew_droegeSee behind the scenes photos and video here: http://instagram.com/sprungonfood Check back for new episodes, and make sure to also subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@iamsprung You can also learn more and follow Kae Sprung here:Website: http://katherinesprung.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamsprung TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@iamsprung Looking for half off your first 2 months to help make your own podcast? I recommend Riverside and Descript. You can find links below to sign up*:Riverside: https://riverside.cello.so/kbhJQ48RO1SDescript: descript.cello.so/4oB9cH6HfXHAbout the show:Sprung On Food is a digital and podcast series, hosted by Katherine "Kae" Sprung, an award-winning pastry chef and food and media entrepreneur. This season, we're talking about favorite foods- the history behind them and the role they play in the world today. Each episode features a special guest to talk about their favorite food, and help comment on the historical origins and pop-cultural and modern society moments tied to that food. Its food history meets food pop-culture, a dose of education, with sprinkles of comedy.*Please note that I'm an affiliate and might receive a commission from the links. If you plan on signing up for either app, please consider using the link to help support a fellow creator!00:00 Meet the Reuben00:43 Childhood Favorite02:57 Best Reubens Today03:58 Why Size Matters05:31 Reuben Origins Setup06:27 Omaha Poker Legend10:07 Receipts and Tall Tales12:40 Peppermint Ice Cream Claim14:01 New York Origin Drama16:30 Manhattan Deli Theory18:12 Could Both Be True21:24 Food Trends and Records22:50 Dressing Origins Explained25:27 Improv and Making Dressing28:31 Reuben Goes Mainstream29:27 Imitators and Variations29:51 Why We Love Reubens31:30 Reuben in Pop Culture33:06 Final Thoughts and Farewell