The Reuben sandwich: A Nebraska original

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – Our state is the birthplace of the Reuben. On this story, we uncover that it was invented at a lodge in Omaha, and you’ll nonetheless get pleasure from that lodge at the moment.

We caught up with Steve Shern, who’s the overall supervisor of the Kimpton Cottonwood Resort. “This lodge was initially in-built 1916,” Shern mentioned. “It opened as a lodge within the ‘20′s. The proprietor, Charles Schimmel, was the operator of the property, and this was referred to as the Blackstone Resort. It operated into the 1980′s, after which was transformed into workplace house.”

By 2018, the previous lodge was vacant. “However three native builders noticed this as a chance,” Shern mentioned. The lodge was renovated and opened in November of 2020. “Not like a conventional lodge, this has a very nice mixture of the historic previous in addition to the brand new facilities you’ll count on in a premier lodge,” Shern mentioned. If you would like a terrific steak, think about a go to to the lodge’s restaurant. “We’re sitting within the Committee Chophouse,” Shern mentioned. “That is our steakhouse, and it’s extra of a contemporary steakhouse in really feel and providing.”

It seems the Blackstone Resort, which is now the Kimpton Cottonwood Resort, is the birthplace of the Reuben sandwich. “This poker desk we’re sitting at has a connection to it,” Shern mentioned. “The Reuben originates on the eighth flooring of this lodge. Mr. Schimmel was having a poker match with a bunch of enterprise individuals would usually get collectively. They’d name one another and say ‘The Committee is getting collectively.’ They nick-named themselves The Committee, which is why our steakhouse pays homage to that. At considered one of these poker matches, they have been hungry. One of many attendees, Reuben Kulakofsky, had some recent barrels of sauerkraut. Mr. Schimmel requested the lodge chef, who was additionally his brother, to go down, get some recent sauerkraut and corned beef, and make him a sandwich.” That’s when the Reuben was born. “They beloved it,” Shern mentioned. “The group satisfied Mr. Schimmel to place it on the menu at his espresso store. He then put it on the menu at his different three accommodations. In 1956, it was voted the Nationwide Restaurant Affiliation’s sandwich of the yr. Then, the recipe was printed, and that’s the way it simply took off.”

You possibly can style a real Reuben sandwich on the Cottonwood. “We curate the corned beef for seven days, the sauerkraut is recent, but in addition seasoned and blanched. The bread is domestically sourced. There’s loads of love that goes into this sandwich..”

So far as what’s subsequent for the lodge, Shern says it’s simply all about getting the phrase out and persevering with to welcome Nebraskans. “We’re actually simply persevering with the custom of being Omaha’s lounge,” Shern mentioned. “In case you are staying or not staying, and simply need one thing to do, this can be a excellent spot to return and go to.”

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