Portillo's, the Chicago-based fast-casual restaurant chain, has crafted a new sandwich that exalts the city's own Pope Leo XIV, recently elected as the first United States pontiff. "The Leo," as it's been dubbed, is an Italian beef sandwich "baptized in gravy" and offered with a choice of sweet peppers, hot giardiniera, or both, ClickOrlando reported. Offered at $8.29, the celebratory menu item is now a fixture on the Portillo’s app and will be available throughout May, aligning with Italian Beef Month.
The sentimentality of the moment isn't lost on the city's residents, with Portillo's referencing a "divinely seasoned" meaty creation that correlates with Chicago's affinity for hearty flavors, according to a statement from the restaurant shared by FOX 32 Chicago. The homage is both a nod to Pope Leo XIV's, born Robert Francis Prevost, windy city heritage and the city's popular fare.
Continuing the celebration, Portillo's Perks members are being treated to a buy one, get one free regular Italian Beef offer, a gesture that fortifies the establishment's ties with local fandom and the historical election. Several of Portillo’s 94 locations, primarily focused around the Chicago area, are expected to relish in this exclusive offer.
