Go Midwest, Young Man

Just in time for Spring Training, a sprinkling of snowbird favorites land in the Valley

If South Florida is considered the unofficial sixth borough of New York City, then the Valley of the Sun has always been a magnate for Midwesterners. From Chicagoans to Columbusians (or is it Columbi?), Greater Phoenix is awash with formerly-frozen transplants from our nation’s heartland. Even better, they’ve brought their Italian beef sandwiches and frozen custards with ’em.

Most recently, we learned that the famed Chicagoland sandwich shop, Al’s Beef is coming to North Scottsdale. Opening next month in the same strip mall that housed the late, sometimes-great Prickly Pear Fresh Mexican, Al’s has been serving up its signature thin-sliced, jus-dipped beef hoagies since 1938. Named one of America’s best sandwiches by both Travel & Leisure and Esquire, top this delicious dietitian’s-nightmare with Al’s homemade Giardiniera mix and pair it with some fresh, hand-cut French fries. Can’t wait for a month? Satisfy your Italian beef cravings today at longtime Valley fav, Luke’s of Chicago with locations in Phoenix and Scottsdale.

Meanwhile, Wisconsinites are all churned up about the recent arrival of Culver’s here in the Valley. Famed for its cooked-to-order butter burgers and frozen custard sundaes, Culver’s has been described as the Midwestern version of In-N-Out Burger. We won’t go that far, but it is darned good (except for the crinkle cut fries, which look and taste just like Ore Ida oven fries). Instead, make like a true cheesehead and order a side of Dairyland Cheese Curds, a deep-fried delicacy that literally squeals when you pop it your mouth.