Metro Detroit: Hazel Park’s Matt & Mo’s
Happy Friday! It’s me, your favorite Realtor, here with this week’s Fun Food Friday.
Having a son who lives in Chicago and another son who works for a group of talented chefs who worked and trained with some of the top chefs in Chicago we have a passion for their regionally influenced food.
This week we are bringing back the Italian Beef sandwich. For those of you who are not familiar with what it is…first of all WHAT? And second you need to try one, not just any one but a good one. The Italian Beef is a delicious sandwich that has roots that go back to Chicago somewhere in the 1930’s.
It consists of thinly sliced seasoned roasted beef that is simmered in au jus and served on a French style bun, dipped in the au jus (bun and all) and it typically topped with a Chicago style giardiniera consisting of sautéed hot or sweet Italian peppers. If you want it really sloppy you can ask for it double dipped and get both hot and sweet peppers.
Don’t mistake it for the French Dip which is a similar sandwich that you can find on almost any menu but they are not the same. There are only a few places I know in the area that serves Italian beef, 2nd Best on Watson in the Brush Park district of Downtown (also really good), Portillo’s in Sterling Heights near Lakeside Mall (Livonia location in the works) or Rocco’s Deli on Cass in the Cass Corridor in Midtown. But my favorite (sorry John Vermiglio), by far, is Matt & Mo’s in Hazel Park. https://www.facebook.com/MattandMos/ Don’t get me wrong, they are all good and worth the trip but Matt & Mo’s is special.
Matt & Mo’s, which started as a food truck, has the most delicious Italian Beef we have ever had. We actually found them by accident in 2017 or 2018 while on a day drinking adventure in Corktown. It was one of those days that you don’t think eating is your top priority until it is almost too late. When we decided we were going to eat nothing was open near us and we saw a line at a food truck parked the next block down so why not…let’s give it a try. We got one to split and then had to order 2 more to take home. The sandwich is loaded with beef which is cooked to perfection, thinly sliced and super tender. We got it with both hot and sweet peppers double dipped for extra sloppiness as mentioned above.
Today, they are no longer just a food truck, and are located inside Doug’s Delights Ice Cream Shop at 24110 John R between 9 and 10 Mile in Hazel Park. There is no indoor dining, just outside picnic tables…..but their food does travel well, for takeout. They also have other menu items: Italian sausages, fried 4 cheese ravioli, caprese on garlic toast, fries and of course Chicago style hot dogs. If you are really daring you can try the sausage beef combo, the Italian sausage and Italian beef sandwich. We are not sure if they still operate their food truck as well since they signed their brick and mortar lease in 2020 (a month before the Covid shutdown) but we wish they did.
This is by far one of my top 5 favorite places and I could go on and on and on but I won’t. They are a bit on the expensive side but I think you get a good product for your money. Anywhere you go you will spent $10-$15 for a meal why not get good quality food. And don’t forget to leave room for the ice cream.
Until next week…Eat Well and Enjoy Life!!!
- Keith & Teresa Becker