Illinois Just Made the Italian Beef Its Official State Sandwich, and ‘The Bear’ Got a Thank You Note From the Capitol

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Summary

  • The Illinois General Assembly officially named the Italian beef sandwich the state sandwich of Illinois on May 20, with the resolution explicitly crediting The Bear for bringing international attention to the dish
  • The Bear actor Corey Hendrix, a Chicago native who plays Gary “Sweeps” Woods, was present at the Springfield Capitol for the proclamation, where a food truck served complimentary Italian beef outside the building
  • The fifth and final season of The Bear premieres June 25 on FX and Hulu, making this moment one of the more unusual send-offs a TV show has ever received

The Illinois state legislature has officially declared the Italian beef sandwich as the state sandwich. They also want the TV show The Bear to know its popularity helped make it happen! On May 20th, lawmakers passed a resolution specifically mentioning the show’s role in bringing the sandwich back into the spotlight. Corey Hendrix, an actor on The Bear and a Chicago native, was at the state capitol to accept a framed copy of the resolution.

The resolution itself is remarkably well-written for a state law. It beautifully explains how the Italian beef sandwich began in early 20th-century Chicago, within the city’s working-class Italian immigrant neighborhoods, and celebrates it as a symbol of Illinois culture. It also highlights how the show accurately depicted Chicago’s food scene, its immigrant history, and the hardworking, innovative spirit of its people. To top it off, a food truck offered free Italian beef sandwiches outside the Capitol building – a detail that makes you wish all legislative sessions could end so deliciously!

Actor LaRoyce Hawkins, who plays Gary “Sweeps” Woods on the show and is a Chicago native, attended an event celebrating the series alongside Illinois state representatives Rick Ryan and Dave Vella, and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. The show was filmed for all five seasons in and around Chicago, famously using the Mr. Beef restaurant on Orleans Street as both a filming location and the inspiration for the fictional “Original Beef of Chicagoland.” The show’s strong connection to the real restaurant and city gives the recent celebratory proclamation a heartfelt, authentic feel, rather than simply appearing like a publicity stunt.

The fifth and final season of The Bear premieres June 25 on FX and Hulu.

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2026-05-21 12:56