French Dip Sandwich
I’ve partnered with SocialStars and Schick Hydro® to share some awesome everyday man moments. This tasty French Dip Sandwich is easier to make than you think…and it’s sure to chase the winter blues away! #MakeItEpic
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I still remember the trip like it was yesterday. I was seven years old, and we were taking a family trip back to East Texas to visit my grandparents. My uncle and aunt were also coming over to spend a few days, and I couldn’t wait for the five-day marathon of puzzles, games and chocolate chip cookies. Yes, cookies. (You know the rule: there are no rules at Grandma’s house!)
Although I was born in Texas, we moved to Charleston, SC when I was young. The trip back to Palestine, Texas was my first time traveling by plane, and I made the most of it! These were the days before all of the extra safety precautions, and I remember the pilot of one of the planes inviting me up to see the cockpit while we were in the air. As a 7-year old kid, this was pretty much the greatest thing ever! He even gave me an “honorary pilot’s badge” that I wore proudly for the rest of the trip.
However, my favorite part of this trip was getting to see my uncle. He was my “fun uncle.” You know what I mean, right? Everyone has that crazy fun uncle who teases you, plays games with you and generally just allows you to get into all sorts of trouble of which your parents don’t approve. He had been telling me for weeks how he had a new card game for me to play when we got to Texas. It was called 52 Card Pickup, and it sounded like a blast!
Have you guys ever played 52 Card Pickup? It’s one of those games that you only play once. Basically it involves one person (in this case, my uncle) standing up with the deck of cards. That person then bends the deck in an arc and proceeds to let the cards fly in every direction across the floor. Then the other person (in this case, me) gets to pick them all up. Fun, right?
Despite the fact that 52 Card Pickup was a gigantic let-down, that trip still holds a special place in my memory. I remember waking up early every morning and running around the house while everyone else got ready. My grandfather would sit down with a cup of coffee and do the crossword puzzle while my grandmother got ready for the day. Then they would switch. My grandmother would pick up the crossword puzzle where grandpa left off while he would go shower and shave. Funny enough, I still remember the smell of my grandfather’s shaving cream. I have no idea what brand it was, but he used that classic shaving cream with a brush and a ceramic container full of shaving soap. Isn’t it funny the memories that you hold on to across the years?
This is the 2nd post in a series about epic man moments. (The first post featured Cajun Dirty Rice. Click here to check it out if you missed it!) I know that trip back to Texas when I just seven years old is hardly a man moment, but it was still very much epic. Now that I’m older and appreciate all foods (not just Grandma’s chocolate chip cookies), I love traveling back to Texas. Texans know how to cook (and smoke) delicious meat.
French Dip Sandwich
Thanks to the 3-feet of snow on my smoker right now, I can’t get out and smoke a brisket or make pulled pork right now. But that’s fine. Instead, I grabbed my cast iron pot and cooked up this delicious roast. I’ve always preferred sandwiches over a fork-and-knife meal, so I sliced that roast up into thin slices and served it on a crusty loaf of French bread…complete with au jus for dipping, of course!
My sister had her first child last year, and I’ve decided I am going to be Funcle David. I’m going to be the uncle who spoils her and then sends her back home to Mom and Dad. I’m going to be the uncle that lets her eat ice cream for dinner. And, yes, I’m going to be the uncle who teaches little Blakely how to play 52 Card Pickup. That’s how to be an epic uncle!
Did you make this French Dip Sandwich at home? Leave a comment, or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog)!
French Dip Sandwich
Ingredients
- 3 cups low-sodium beef broth
- 1 medium yellow onion sliced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 3 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp dried rosemary
- 1½ Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 2-3 pound bottom round or chuck roast, trimmed
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 1½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 large baguette
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 275°F.
- Using a large Dutch oven, add the broth, onions, garlic, Worcestershire, soy sauce, rosemary and flour; whisk all ingredients together.
- Rub the beef roast evenly with the brown sugar, black pepper and salt. Place roast in the Dutch oven, cover and cook at 275°F for 1½-2 hours, or until very tender. (Note: Cooking time varies considerably based on size of roast. The internal temperature for a medium-rare rump roast is 145°F. I usually cook mine until internal temperature reaches about 150°-155°F, but that's personal preference.)
- Remove roast from cooking liquid and let rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, strain the cooking liquid into a medium saucepan. (Tip: Save the cooked onions for the sandwiches—they’re full of flavor!) Boil for 10 minutes.
- Using a very sharp knife, slice the brisket thinly against the grain.
- Slice the baguette into 4 pieces horizontally and then slice each piece in half to create a bun.
- Layer the sliced beef onto the bottom half of each baguette bun. Top with the cooked onions (optional).
- Serve with the reduced cooking liquid (au jus) for dipping.
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I keep seeing these on the food network when they show sandwich restaurants, but nowhere here in the UK sells them, so I am going to have to make it myself. Now I know how 🙂
Oh man…I can’t believe no-one in the UK sells French Dip Sandwiches, Dannii! These things are amazing. It’s pretty much thinly sliced roast beef on a crunchy baguette bun…and the key is the au jus dipping sauce. Give this a shot at home…you’ll be hooked!!
Haha – 52 Card Pickup sounds FUN-TASTIC indeed! Now I cannot wait for my sis to have kids or my cousin to bring his down so I can try out the “epicness” of 52 Card pickup! 🙂
Btw – with every juicy beef recipe you post, my resolve that I don’t like beef ebbs a little! Soy sauce and Rosemary and brown sugar – what a combo!
Haha…sorry to wear down your resolve, Shashi! Actually, you should keep that resolve up…because that just means more sandwiches for me. 🙂 And, yes, 52 Card Pickup is quite the epic game. Well, at least for one of the players…not so much for the other one. Haha!
You totally have to be the Funcle. You have to spoil the kid, play with him, and be just that fantastic person he can’t wait to see.
Being the fun uncle is the best thing in the world. You get only to good part (games, fun, etc) and leave the boring stuff to the parents.
About that beef brisket…all I can say is L to the E to the GIT!
#WolkpackEats #WolfpackUncle
Haha! I suspect you speak about Funcle wisdom from experience, Mike! I’m perfectly happy doing all the fun stuff, and then leaving the rest of the stuff to my sister. Haha!
I see why that card game was only played once! Who wants to pick 52 cards off of the floor? LOL! Now about this sandwich; it looks delicious! I’m definitely a fan of French dips, but never thought to make one at home. Yet another recipe you have me adding to my list. 🙂
Haha…I suspect your list of things to make at home is like a mile long, Tamara! I know my list is always growing…there’s just not enough time in the day to make it all. (Or days in the week to eat it all, either…haha!) Yup, 52 Card Pick Up is epic. For the Funcle. Don’t tell my niece the secret to this game, mmmkay? 🙂
Unfortunately, both of my parents were only children, so I had no funcles… *sniffle*
However, I did have a godfather that I called Uncle Bob, and HE taught me how to play 52 card pickup. Ahhh, yes… the thrills of being young and naive. 😉
I’ve got to get my hands on a seriously delicious French dip like yours. I made them last Fall (a slow cooker version.. you know.. that appliance that I can’t stop talking about, or using) and haven’t stopped craving them since!
That’s so sad, Becca! Every kid needs a Funcle! Since you didn’t have one, can I be your honorary Funcle? I’ll feed you full of treats and teach you how to play 52 Card PickUp…
And yes, French Dips are totally addicting. Just looking at these pictures again is making me want to go make it again for dinner. Too bad we ate it all…
David, haha I remember 52 card pick up!!! It wasn’t my uncle but my brother who did that to me! 😛 oh man, my husband would die for this sandwich!! delicious!! and have fun with Blakely! you should teach him how to bake! 😛
Haha…now wouldn’t that be fun! Teach lil Blakely how to bake…and then send her home to my sister. I think that actually would be a win-win for everyone. I might have to wait until she can walk, though…just a hunch. 😉
FRENCH DIP AND MONTE CRISTO SANDWICHES ARE MY TWO MOST FAVORITE. I DON’T RECALL WHO TAUGHT ME 52 CARD PICK-UP. MY DAD’S YOUNGEST BROTHER WAS MINE AND ALSO MY SON’S FUNKLE. HE WAS MY UNCLE SHORTY AND MY SON’S UNCLE SCOOTER. MY SON COULD NOT REMEMBER SHORTY FOR SOME REASON. MY UNCLE JUST LAUGHED. I MISS HIM SO MUCH.
It sounds like Uncle Shorty was a special guy, Tamara! Everyone deserves to have a Funcle who teaches them how to play 52 Card PickUp. Ooo, you mentioned Monte Cristo Sandwiches…I might have to add that to my list. That’s another one of my favorites, too! Thanks so much for commenting. Happy Monday! 🙂
Oh man that sandwich looks to die for!! And that dipping sauce is just the cherry on top of an amazing sandwich!! Pinned 🙂
Thanks, Christina! I couldn’t agree more! A French Dip Sandwich without au jus is like a fancy cocktial without a cherry…it’s just not allowed! 🙂
French Dip is my favorite kind of sandwich. That meat looks sensational!!
Thank you so much, Renee! We finished off these sandwiches a few days back, and I’m already craving them again. They’re so easy and tasty to make!! 🙂
“The trip back to Palestine”
I legit spat water on my screen- I was like…No. David’s not there. Then I read the next word. It reminded me of the time I was upstate and you guys had places named ROME and ATHENS. Oh man.
oh 52 pick up. what a game you’re uncle had you playing. Better than one of mine who made my sister and I play the ‘silent game’. It’s as riveting as it sounds. This sandwich though- Brisket > pastrami.
Hahaha…I wish I had a video of you spatting water on your screen! Tell me about, though…Americans are so unoriginal with our town names. Rome, Athens, Syracuse, Palestine, Paris…I mean, c’mon! Although the historian in me kinda likes the older references.
And the silent game. I remember it so well. It’s the parents’ way of turning that childhood sibling rivalry against each other. (thinking to myself: I will not lose to my sister. I will not lose to my sister.) All the while, my parents are enjoying some quiet time for a change. So rude!
Living in Los Angeles home of the (supposedly) Original French Dip, I love this. I love it even more because I’m a man. GREG
PS Yes, I’ve played 52 Pick Up, but really. I don’t get it.
haha…Greg, you crack me up! “I love it even more because I’m a man.” Heck yes!! Although I must admit that my wife loved these sandwiches, too. (Sshhh…we’ll keep that as our little secret, though.) And 52 Card Pick Up…it’s great for one person, not so much for the other. 🙂
Now you’ve made me sad…I don’t have a “fun uncle”. My life has been thus far incomplete! But this sandwich just might make up for it! Thank you for my daily dose of Man Food!
That’s what I’m here for, Lindsey…your daily dose of dude food. Also, I volunteer to be your Funcle since you didn’t have one. Funcle Dave is here to teach you how to play 52 Card Pick Up. He’ll also spoil you and then send you home. 🙂
That’s only moderately creepy, Dave!!! lol! (And, for the record, I am actually laughing out loud!)
Wait! Are you calling me creepy? I try to do something nice for my friends, and they call me creepy. Thanks a lot.
For the record, I reread my comment…and I guess it does sound a little creepy. Unintentional. But creepy nonetheless. #Oops #SorryBoutThat