A couple of weeks ago, I finally went to Philippe restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. I say “finally,” because Philippe is an L.A. institution (long-established and respected business) and I’ve heard about it from many people for many, many years.
It has been open since 1918 and the owners of Philippe claims (says, but we don’t have evidence) to have invented or created the French-dipped (or spelled, “French dip”) sandwich. It is a popular sandwich in American restaurants and it is made with sliced meat, usually beef, on a long roll or piece of thick bread. The meat is dipped or put quickly in a brown sauce to give it more flavor. As everyone knows, the French dip, like the French fry, does not come from France. We Americans just like to think we cook as well as the French. Of course, no one who has tasted a French fry could doubt it.
At Philippe’s, you order at the counter, the long flat area where the workers are on one side and the customers are on the other. You stand and wait for your order at the counter, and when you get it, you sit down at one of the long, communal (shared) tables. Here are some pictures I took while I was there. (That’s not me with the grey hair behind the man wearing the white T-shirt. I’m a little older.)
As you can see, it’s a very informal restaurant and it even has sawdust (powder wood) on the floors. In the old days, sawdust was put on the floors because it soaks up or absorbs moisture (liquids) well, such as spilled drinks. This makes it easier to clean up. These days, some restaurants and bars still put sawdust on their floors, but I’m not sure if it’s to make cleaning easier or to give their place an old-fashioned (old style, not modern) feel.
There are many old photos and pictures on the walls of famous baseball players, movie stars, and other well known people. I’m really glad I finally made it to this wonderful L.A. landmark (historic place)!
~ Lucy
That is incredible, very very old fashioned as I do not remember to see such a thing as sawdust (serrin) on the floor of a bar or restaurant in all my life, may be when I was I child….but I am not sure.
First I do not know what are you talking about till I have seen the picture and the sawdust (I love this word) on the floor.
Many years ago, I have seen at some places when some liquid was on the floor to clean up spreading sawdust first, but only at the moment of cleaning up. But it has to be very funny to step along with all these material round your feets. I like the place very much, and I may see you spent a good time at Philippe The Original.
Here in Spain, I think that sawdust is used as material to make furniture and it is called as “aglomerado” as only very expenseve furniture are make of good solid wood.
Thank you Lucy for the information I like it a lot, I would like to go to “Phillippe The Original” someday.
Today’s podcast uses this expression” It’s raining cats and dogs”. We have the same expression in Spanish. In fact, there are a lot of identical expressions in Spanish and English. What I’m wandering is whether Portuguese, Italian, French, and German languages have the same expressions. I Think is because of our Latin background. Anybody knows?
vey well really got more information about ” Philippe Restaurant in Los Angeles” i have not yet any chance to visit this but be surprised aboyt it
Miguel, you can ask Jeff about that. He told that he knows spanish.
Just write him an e-mail. We would hear an answer in the english cafe somedays.
How old are you, Emiliano? When I was a children it was quite often the use of sawdust on floor in bars and restaurants. The “aglomerado” (chipboard) is not made with sawdust. The particles of sawdust are smaller.
I wish to go one day to P. restaurant, in Los Angeles but, unfortunatelly, I am living in Toronto….so….
In France, sawdust on the floor is forbidden in shops, in the past that was often used on floor in butcher’s.
Hi Jose, I am 64 years old, and it is possible that my memories are not so good now, but I can’t remember what you say. I have to ask for it to some friends who has better
memory than me.
Where are you from, Jose? I am from Madrid, and really I do think that aglomerado was made from “serrin” sawdust mixed with something more and a kind of glue to be compacted as I said before, but sure it is another mistake because I do not understand anything about this matter.
Thank you and regards.
Food, I like food, all kinds of