Springfield's Celebrated Horseshoe Sandwich

Book excerpt: "In a town famous for its politics, one local favorite moves unchallenged across party lines. Open-faced, piled high with fries and slathered in cheese sauce, the Horseshoe Sandwich has represented Springfield cuisine since 1928, when it first came out of the Leland Hotel kitchen. Tour the restaurants that have kept the tradition alive for almost a century, including bygone eateries like The Mill and contemporary stalwarts like Darcy's Pint. Sample secret recipes while following the horseshoe trail through Central Illinois and across the country. From the "Clydesdale Challenge" to the biggest and strangest incarnations of the shoe, Carolyn Harmon and Tony Leone provide a comprehensive history of this delicious dish."--