Uniquely Springfield (Illinois)-- Part 4: Horseshoes, the History and Original

You haven't truly experienced Springfield until you've eaten a horseshoe (or at least a pony shoe).  Springfield originated this concoction, consisting of thick-cut slices of bread topped with meat of some sort, then potatoes (usually French fries) and then cheese sauce over the top.

Chef Joe Schweska of the LeLand Hotel created the horseshoe in the late 1920s.  The LeLand Hotel, just up the street from the Capitol building, is now an office building, was located on the corner of Sixth and Capitol streets.

The original horseshoe was made of ham cut in the shape of a horseshoe, wedge of potato (the nails), a Welsh rarebit type cheese sauce and was served on a hot metal plate (the anvil).  (So, that's why they call it a horseshoe.  The ones I've eaten in town have never looked like that.)

--RoadDog