Kummelweck

A kummelweck, or sometimes kimmelweck or even kümmelweck, is a salty roll that is popular in Western New York. It is similar to a Kaiser roll, but topped with pretzel salt and caraway seeds. Kummelweck is commonly shortened to “weck" (pronounced "wick"), and often served in the Buffalo metropolitan area with roast beef and horseradish to form a sandwich known colloquially as "beef on weck." Along with wings, beef on weck is one of the two most distinct dishes of the region.

A typical style of beef on weck sandwich is made from slow-roasted rare roast beef hand carved to provide about 1/2 inch (2 cm) of meat on the bottom half of the roll. The cut face of the top half of the roll may be dipped in the juices from the roast. Prepared horseradish is usually provided for the diner to spread on the top half of the roll to taste. In the Buffalo area, it is common to see jars of horseradish on eatery tables that serve the sandwich, much as you might see ketchup bottles available in other restaurants.

The American restaurant franchise "Buffalo Wild Wings" is formerly known as "BW3", and this fact raises the question as to the meaning of the third 'W' in the former name. The abbreviation came from the original full name of the restaurant, "Buffalo Wild Wings and Weck". The chain no longer serves weck outside of Western New York and no longer uses the original name but does still use the extra "W" in its abbreviation.

The sandwich was featured on the PBS special Sandwiches That You Will Like.

History

It is believedwho William Wahr, a German baker, brought the kummelweck to Buffalo from the Black ForestFact|date=September 2007. German immigrants had already made the city a center of brewing.

External links

* [http://yorkstaters.blogspot.com/2006/01/3-tastes-of-region-wings-and-weck.html Wings and Weck] An essay on Buffalonian foods including a recipe for Beef on Weck
* [http://www.beefhaus.com/ Beef Haus in Wellsville, NY]
* [http://www.charliethebutcher.com/ Charlie the Butcher]
* [http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=187 Schwabl's Restaurant] Roadfood.com review of restaurant in West Seneca, NY (a Buffalo suburb) which many consider to be the home of the best beef on weck
* [http://www.beefnbarrel.com/ Beef and Barrel in Olean, NY]

William Wahr was employed by Joseph Gohn owner of the Delaware House in Buffalo NY.The following email was sent to [e-mail] to answer the question of the origin of the beef on weck.

The attached pdf file and picture describes the true origin of the beef on wick. It is taken from a menu at OMaddy's restaurant in Gulfport FL. Joe Guenther, OMaddy's owner and great great grandson of Joe Gohn obtained this writeup from an article that appeared in the Buffalo paper describing his great great grandfather's restaurant in Buffalo NY. Joe Gohn started the Delaware house during the 1901 Pan American exposition. It was located at Delaware and Delavan in Buffalo NY and he originated the Beef On Wickusing a kummelweck recipe from his German employee. In later years, with the explosion of autombile traffic Joe Gohn sold the Delaware House to an oil company who wanted that famous corner for a gas station. Joe Gohn was ingenous though and bought the building next door which was a company that made tombstones for Forest Lawn Cemetary across the street. Joe Gohn converted the building to Gohn's Tavern and continued with the beef on wick which became a hot spot especially for visitors to Millard Fillmore Hospital. Joe Gohn lived at 54 Gates Circle with his wife Bertha. They had 2 children; son Charles and daughter Florence. In later years his son Charlie Gohn would take over Gohn's Tavern.As an aside Joe and his son Charlie were instrumental in starting the famous Buffalo Trap and Field Club in Cheektowaga NY and held many trap shooting records there. Subsequently Joe Gohn sold the tavern and it became Meyer's Tavern for many years continuing the beef on weck with great popularity. Hope this finally answers the question about the origin of Beef on Wick.John Guentherfather of Joe Guenther and greatgrandson of Joseph [e-mail]