National French Dip Day

History of National French Dip Day

Cole’s Pacific Electric Buffet, situated in Los Angeles, is one of the first restaurants that served the popular French Dip sandwich. And National French Dip Day marks the 110th anniversary of Cole’s restaurant, which opened on November 12, 1908.

French dip is a roast meat sandwich where the juices of the roast meat are collected and served separately as a side dish to the sandwich. The sandwich is then dipped in the gravy. Cole’s began serving the French dip sandwich in 1908. The sandwich was specially prepared for a customer, who had sore gums and could not chew his roast beef sandwich. The customer asked the restaurant’s chef, Jack Garlinghouse, to moisten the sandwich bread with some roast meat juice. Soon, more and more customers started asking for the same sandwich, and it became one of the top-selling dishes of the restaurant.

Cole’s is one of the first restaurants that came up with the idea of serving roast beef juice with their sandwich. However, another popular restaurant Philippe’s claims that its owner, Philippe Mathieu, is the inventor of the sandwich. Since both restaurants have been operating since the early 1890s, it is still difficult to identify the original creator of the sandwich.

National French Dip Day timeline

1930

The Sandwich Starts to Gain Popularity

French dip recipes start appearing in American print media.

1989

Cole's Pacific Electric Buffet Gains National Recognition

Cole's is proclaimed a Historic-Cultural Monument of Los Angeles since it is one of the few businesses still in its original location.

2007

Coles Gets a Massive Renovation

Coles gets transformed by its new owner, a corporation, and reopens in December 2008.

2018

French Dip Day Becomes a National Holiday

The first National French Dip Day is celebrated to mark 100 years of the restaurant and sandwich.

National French Dip Day FAQs

When is National French Dip Day?

National French Dip Day 2026 falls on Thursday, November 12. It’s the perfect mid-week treat to break up your routine with a savory sandwich.

Who invented the French Dip sandwich?

The invention of the French Dip sandwich is famously disputed between two Los Angeles restaurants: Philippe’s The Original and Cole’s French Dip. Both claim to have created it around 1908, often due to an accidental dipping of bread into meat drippings.

What makes a French Dip sandwich unique?

The defining characteristic of a French Dip is the thinly sliced roast beef served on a French roll, accompanied by a side of ‘au jus’ (French for ‘with juice’) for dipping. This savory beef broth is what gives the sandwich its distinctive flavor and experience.

Is the French Dip actually French?

Despite its name, the French Dip sandwich is an American creation, originating in Los Angeles in the early 20th century. The ‘French’ likely refers to the French roll used, or possibly the French immigrant founder of Philippe’s The Original.

National French Dip Day Activities

Organize a sandwich-making contest

Making a superb sandwich is an art. On this National French Dip Day, organize a fun sandwich-making contest with your friends. You can make it more challenging by setting a time limit or adding a mystery ingredient that must be used in the dish

Try out an authentic French dip sandwich

The French dip sandwich recipe is more than 100 years old. Still, it is not readily available in mainstream fast food joints. Therefore, on this National French Dip Day, visit some less explored restaurants in your city that serve authentic French dip-style sandwiches. Enjoy it in true American style by soaking up the sandwich in piping hot beef juice (au jus).

Bake French bread

Baking is a therapeutic activity, and French bread is one of the main ingredients of French dip sandwiches. French dip tastes best when made with French loaf, and nothing tastes better than homemade bread. All you need is some flour, yeast, and oil to make some delicious artisan bread from scratch.

5 Facts About Roast Beef That Will Blow Your Mind

French people think the English love beef

In the ongoing rivalry between the two nations, the French started calling the English ‘rosbifs’ because the English often had roast beef for their main meal on a Sunday.

The perfect match

Englishmen used to serve Yorkshire pudding as a starter with roast beef.

A ballad on roast beef

Henry Fielding has written a patriotic ballad called ‘The Roast Beef of Old England.’

Open fire roast

Old Englishmen used to cook roast beef on open fires.

The rich ate beef

During the Middle Ages, eating beef was a sign of wealth and success.

Why We Love National French Dip Day

People learn about authentic French dip recipe

Today, the French dip sandwich is not served the way it was in the early 1900s. The National French Dip Day is all about the authentic French dip sandwich that was served in L.A. during the 1890s. The recipe and serving style of the sandwich, however, has evolved with time. Today, restaurants serve it with mustard sauce and a dipping bowl of hot roast meat juice on the side.

Tourists get to try popular American sandwiches

American sandwiches are not as well-known as other American fast food dishes among the locals or tourists. By dedicating an entire day to an American delicacy like the French dip sandwich, more people can become familiar with it, and the unique story behind its invention.

It encourages people to try healthy fast food items

The majority of burgers and sandwiches can be quite fattening as various spreads like mayonnaise, butter, and cream cheese are used to make the sandwich moist and flavorful. The French dip is an alternative to regular burgers and sandwiches, as it only comes with the juices of the roasted meat as a dipping sauce.

National French Dip Day dates