Spiedie Sandwich History and Recipe

Spiedie Sandwich (SPEE-dee) – If you find folks who know of spiedies, they are most likely originally from Binghamton in Broome County, New York, or they know someone who is.  Broome County is in New York’s Southern Tier, southeast of the Finger Lakes and just north of Pennsylvania.

Spiedie Sandwich Photo Credit: Tim Turner from “Weber’s New American Barbecue Bible.”

People who live in the area eat them at restaurants, from street vendors, buy from supermarkets, and even make their own at backyard cookouts.  Spiedies have been completely integrated into the food culture of the region, and natives who have moved away from the area have been known to have commercial spiedie sauce shipped, by the case, to their new homes.

If you don’t want to make your own sauce you can also buy Lupo’s Original Endicott Style Spiedie Marinade Sauce or Salamida Original State Fair Spiedie Sauce and Marinade from Amazon Affiliate Links.

History of Spiedies, Spiedie Sandwich:

The name comes from the Italian spiedo meaning kitchen cooking spit.  Originally made from lamb, they are now made with virtually any meat.  It is chunks of lamb, pork, chicken, beef, or venison that has been marinated for days in a tart sauce and then grilled on a metal skewer, usually over charcoal or gas.  The traditional way of serving is between sliced Italian bread with extra sauce poured on top.  The Spiedie, skewer and all, is then inserted in sliced Italian bread.  The bread is used as a sort of mitt, wrapping around the meat.  Pull out the skew and you then have a wonderful and delicious hot sandwich.

An annual three-day community gathering is held featuring hot air balloons, live music, and hundreds of varieties of spiedies cooked and sold by countless vendors.  The weekend of entertainment and fun always concludes with the Spiedie Cook-Off on Sunday.

They originated with Binghamtons Italian immigrant population in the 1920s.  Augustine Iacovelli from Endicott, New York is believed to have popularized the Spiedie by introducing them in his restaurant, called Augies, in 1939.  The original sauce, which he called Zuzu, was wine vinegar, water, lemon juice, garlic and mint. His spiedies caught on so well among the local railroad workers and shoemakers that for years every little corner grocery had a spiedie stand on the street in front of it.

 

 

 

A tray of spiedies from Sharkey’s at Binghamton, NY

Spiedie Sandwich TrayPhoto credit: Tony Cenicola – New York Times

 

 

Spiedie Sandwich Recipe:
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
8 mins
Total Time
28 mins
 
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Spiedie Sandwich History and Recipe
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 pounds meat (chicken, lamb, pork or beef), cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes*
  • 1 cup olive oil, extra-virgin
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice, freshly-squeezed
  • 3/4 cup red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons sugar (granulated
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme, dried
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons basil, dried
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons oregano, dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper, coarsely-ground
  • 1 loaf French bread or Italian bread, thickly sliced
  • Metal Skewers
Instructions
  1. In a large bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, and sugar. Add garlic, bay leaf, red pepper, thyme, basil, oregano, salt and pepper; stir until well blended.

  2. Place prepared meat in a large re-sealable plastic bag set into a shallow dish. Pour marinade mixture over meat and close bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for a least 24 hours and up to 3 days; turn bag occasionally to distribute marinade. Remove meat from refrigerator and let stand in marinade at room temperature for 2 hour; drain, reserving marinade.

  3. Spiede Sandwich meat marinading

  4. Preheat barbecue grill.

  5. Thread 4 to 5 cubes of meat onto each metal skewer. Place onto the prepared hot grill and cook approximately 8 to 10 minutes or until done to your preference, basting with reserved marinade. Remove from grill and serve immediately.

  6. Spiedie Sandwich meat grilling

  7. To serve, fold the bread over the contents of the skewer and pull the skewer out, leaving the meat sandwiched within the bread.

  8. Spiedie Sandwich assembly

  9. Makes 6 servings.

Recipe Notes

* Use boneless and skinless chicken breasts, pork tenderloin, top round steak, or leg of lamb.

 

If you don’t want to make your own sauce you can also buy Lupo’s Original Endicott Style Spiedie Marinade Sauce or Salamida Original State Fair Spiedie Sauce and Marinade from Amazon Affiliate Links.

 

Spiedie Sandwich



Comments from Readers:

I was just introduced to your website recently and stumbled across the Spiedie history and recipe.  A number of years ago (about 30 or there about) I was on a business trip to Endicott, New York and was told of these wonderful sandwich delicacies that were indigenous to that area.  My traveling partner raved about the time he spent there at IBM and the lunch items available in the local facilities.  I was in a state of wild anticipation of our arrival and the opportunity to sample the fare.  As it turned out, we LIVED on Spiedies for the entire time we were there.  The only respite was breakfast which consisted of coffee and a Danish at the hotel.  We had beer and Spiedies for every other meal for four days.  What a wild adventure! When I returned home, I brought a case of Spiedie sauce with me.  The folks that I worked with from the New York area around Binghamton bought the sauce and had us all over for their versions of the sandwich.  Great times.  Thanks for the trip down memory lane.  Bob Devon, Lake Elsinore

 

I was just reading through your explanation of Spiedies and noticed you mention an annual “Spiedie Cook-Off with a recipe contest.”  I’d just like to pass along that it is a bit more than that these days, it is 3 days of community gathering, hot air balloons, live music, and hundreds of varieties of spiedies cooked and sold by countless vendors.  The weekend of entertainment and fun always concludes with the Spiedie Cook-Off on Sunday.  Last year’s event drew between 100,000-120,000 people and will be held again this weekend (annually the first weekend of August).  Despite the fact that it originated from Italian families of Binghamton and Endicott, and that every local ethnicity seems to have put its signature on it in some form, and that the Spiedies have adapted to popular tastes… i.e.  Buffalo Chicken Spiedies (like chicken wing sauce), Blue Cheese Spiedies, Philly Cheese Spiedies etc. . . just some of the more popular varieties at local restaurants.  The Lupo family seems to be the dominate commercial spiedie people with two groups of the family owning two separate competing restaurant chains – The Lupo’s Charpits and Spiedie & Rib Pits.  Commercially, Spiedie Sauce from local companies can be found on shelves of Wegman’s, Giant, A&P, and Price Chopper Supermarkets over much of the Mid-Atlantic states now.

 

Categories:

Beef Sandwiches    Food History    Lunch    Mid Atlantic    Sandwiches History   

Comments and Reviews

86 Responses to “Spiedie Sandwich History and Recipe”

  1. John Schaefer

    Good history and recipe! I do not add mint and use apple cider vinegar, but equal to red wine vinegar. I also add 1/4 tea of red pepper flakes, or Tobasco sauce for some heat. I lived in Vestal, J.C., and Endicott for years and I think this is the best rendition of my favorite food from there. It is best paired with some Genisee Cream Ale, a slice of pizza and slip on your Endicott Johnson Bunny Slippers! P.S.: lookout for those Vestal Virgins!

    Reply
    • David Jackson

      Lmao!!

      Reply
  2. Carolee Pezzuti

    My husband Bob was born in Endicot in 1934. He is famous with his family for his spiedies. He does use fresh mint. He also uses lamb. He thinks it’s abomination two use anything else. I like this recipe and I might try it.

    Reply
    • Jean Carrington

      I agree ! Lamb is the only meat for speedies !!

      Reply
    • D. Russell

      I agree that lamb is the best! My uncle used to marinate a leg of lamb during the week and it was a family spiedie cookout every Saturday in the Summer!

      Reply
  3. Michalski bridget

    Grew up in Horseheads NY and loved the speidis at “Chef Italia” with the donkey in the back of the restaurant!

    Reply
  4. Bill Getson

    I had never even HEARD of Spiedies until I moved to Vestal NY, (Binghamton, Endicott, Johnson City, NY area) after accepting a posiiton wth (BM Endicott. My new friends IMMEDIATELY decided to invite us over to try their famous dish SPIEDIES. The showed us how to take the skewer off the grill, place a Split Italian Bread Slice around the end of the skewere and slide the meat onto the bread. The meat was coated either with the Spiedie Sauce that the meat was marinated in or just plain ordinary Ketchup. Then, just fold over the bread around the meat and ENJOY, especially with a can or bottle of beer. I guarantee you that I had MORE THAN ONE spiedie that day, and have enjoyed them ever since. We either make our own marinade or we can buy Lupo’s in oour local Publix.

    When we invited our family from the Duryea, PA area to drive up to visit us, we told them that we would be having a “special” lunch that day. So, after cooking several skewers of Spiedies and breaking out the Italian Split Bread, we passed the skewer full of roasted Lamb (most likely) around to our family, but “Uncle Al”, didn’t think the would be interested in trying them. After some “cajoling”, he finally agreed to try ONE. After he chugged THAT one down he ASKED for another, and eventually had THREE (3) that day, himself. So, from Not being interestd to ENJOYING them, obviously, “Uncle Al” became an afficianado with out even realizing it and initially, against his will. He NEVER refused another Spiedie the remainder of his life.

    I’m getting hungry for a “batch” of them right now.

    Bill Getson
    Melbourne, Florida

    Reply
    • Carl Stables

      A friend of mine tells a story of when his family moved to Owego, next town east of Vestal, and their neighbors invited them over for Speidies. He took his dog, Speedy, and they both hid in a closet until it was explained to him, he was four or five.

      Reply
  5. Roddy J Dryer

    I was born and raised in Endicott, growing up with spiedies being a part of life. But I left the area long ago and haven’t had spiedies since. I’m glad I found this recipe. I recall rosemary being in some recipes but I also recall numerous versions here and there, such as the one once sold by what (I think) was called Billy’s Meats. I’m still slightly surprised the trend hasn’t moved farther and around.

    Reply
  6. Darien Sumner

    I lived in Elmira for two years, but ironically never had a spiedie until a (regrettably short-lived) spiedie shop opened up in Greenfield, Massachusetts. I felt like a fool when I discovered what I’d missed!

    Reply
  7. Nicoletta Caforio-Sine

    Many fond memories of watching my dad make lamb spiedies and setting up outside Kelly’s in West Endicott and selling them for $.25. Always added fresh mint.

    Reply
    • Scott lockwood

      I actually had your dads spiedies lamb ones back in 70s before it was Kelly’s went
      West Endicott park and wold eat them as a picnic treat

      Reply
    • Scott

      I actually had your dads but I think it was before building became Kelly’s back n 1970s

      Reply
    • Sue (Hess) Sadlon

      Is this the second Nikki Caforio who taught in the Triple Cities?? Small world…

      Reply
  8. Gerald Vlasak

    I grew up enjoying Spiedies. The “Lupo’s” sauce can be bought online and “State Fair” at major grocery stores such as Kroger’s. Both are said to be great. Many new varieties such as South-west are available.

    Reply
    • Mike lynch

      Do you have a brother,Ralph if you do I know you guys from the 60’s when we were all in sokols. Good hearing from the old days.

      Reply
  9. Tim Scott

    I grew up with spiedies at Augie’s on Nanticoke Ave in the 60s when Augie was still running the place. Went to Pancho’s too – then in Vestal below the long gone viaduct on Main St. Wonderful and genuine – lamb only with a slice of Italian bread (no rolls). When I left the east coast, Pancho gave me a recipe close to his. Took me 5 years to figure out what he left out. Never heard of Sharkeys until years later, but he didn’t invent them. Aside from the name being clearly Italian (from skewered meat), Spiedies’ ancestor Arrosticini is still served in Abruzzo (lots of sheep flocks) where the Iacovellis came from. Arrostocini are sometimes lightly marinated with olive oil and rosemary, or basted with that after cooking. Never have embraced chicken, beef or pork versions (even my own); venison is the best substitute for lamb. Oil, wine, wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, basil, mint, some more green herbs and pepper. I don’t remember any rosemary in them at all and Pancho didn’t use rosemary.

    Reply
  10. Josiah Lutcher

    Lived in NY, for years, near the Elmira area. I lived on Spiedies for a large part of my life. This article is the most accurate recipe I can find online and I’m happy to introduce this beautiful sandwich to my friends and family.

    Reply
  11. Tamara Johnson

    For a quickied recipe without all the work, I have always used Wishbone Italian dressing as my marinade for spedies. Never knew about the mint…

    Reply
  12. Rita Foran

    My family uses lots of mint and lots of garlic. And ketchup on a spiedi???? Never!!!

    Reply
    • Doug Doty

      I agree, ketchup on spiedies is sacrilage.

      Reply
  13. Sallie French

    Grew up in Binghamton, NY. I always thought that everyone in the US was eating spiedies. I didn’t realize that they weren’t until we moved to Texas. We didn’t use lamb or mint, but did use chicken and pork. That Italian bread that we bought in Binghamton was pretty good, too Over the years, I always mentioned them to my husband. We finally made some a few years ago. We order Lupo’s marinade online. It’s about time to have them again!

    Reply
  14. Buzz Spencer

    Found Spiedie marinate in MD, Fl and Tx. It is made by Rob Salamida Company. Understand he has nationalized this Binghamton treat and has a product for mail order called “Spiedie Survial Kit” for those who have had the experience in up state NY.

    Reply
  15. Jenny (Woodburn) Willilams

    I grew up in Vestal, so am very familiar with spiedis. I now live in NC and we have several grocery chains that carry Salameda’s State Fair Spiedi Sauce. Now I don’t have to make it myself anymore. We still make a trip at least once a year to visit family and always have a spiedi cookout. Somehow it’s just not the same here in the south, even with the wonderful marinade. It’s probably not having Roma’s incredible Italian bread to go with them! Wish I could arrange to be there for the big Spiedi weekend, but we’re always there in June. One of these days!

    Reply
  16. Todd Haines

    OK So I’m from Binghamton and have lived in either Arizona and New Mexico since age 10. I just might have about 10-12 bottles of Speedie sauce in my cabinet at home. It’s just possible I make them all the time. When I return for visits I buy (or cousins bring) speedies and eat them about once a day. I may have a Sharkeys T shirt in my closet (Dad used to cook them in the alley. I may get the yearly request to make them at the Christmas party (and I never get any leftover to take homeas they get scarfed up. Yeah its a thing!!

    Reply
  17. Doug and Toni Hess

    You know John when I was about 12 yrs. old I remember coming to my grandma’s house and hearing about the spiedie sandwich. I remember asking my mom about it and she said and I quote” Oh honey they are just for adults get a hotdog instead!!!! When I was 16 and I moved out here after her death I finally had one. I loved them. I know that is why she didn’t want me to try them. They were more expensive than a hotdog!!!! Love the memory and spiedies. Toni

    Reply
  18. Beverly Nelson

    I can’t wait to try different receipes along with the product history

    Reply
  19. Judi Dzuba

    My father’s family, the Contento family, started a family reunion over 80 years ago. It continues today. The main entree is lamb speidies. The older members of the family get together 4 days before the picnic to cut up the lamb and mix in the family marinade. It’s my favorite part of the summer.

    Reply
  20. David Hellmann

    Every time I return to the Southern tier, the first place I stop is Lupo’s Char Pit. When I lived in Charlotte NC, Nirchi’s opened up a pizza and spiedie joint there. Way cool !

    Reply
  21. Larry Hess

    Ed, thanks for the recipe. Have tried various myself. This one looks great. Thanks for your efforts. Just visited my son in Binghamton and had spiedies the first night. Never had Lamb always loved Pork best. Larry

    Reply
  22. Bill Evans

    I grew up in Endicott NY most small bars had some old guy out side with a small charcoal grill making spiedies. The Station Inn on North St. Was a favorite.

    Reply
  23. Maggie

    Anyone remember Panchos Pit? Best Spiedies EV ER! Live in Fl now but we still make them on a regular basis. Born in Endicott and amazed these have not caught on anywhere else in the country.

    Reply
    • Tim Scott

      Maggie – Of course! I got started with Augie’s and Pancho’s in the 60’s – when the Pit was a dirt floored dump in Vestal. Pancho was a nice man. See my note above. I made some last week. Lamb only, of course (unless you’ve got venison).

      Reply
      • Becky Sewell

        Funny, but I read all the way down the page to your comment before remembering that I DO have some venison in my freezer! I shall have to try this recipe, but not today – it’s far too windy to have a BBQ in CNY, and we’re in our mandatory state-wide burn ban from 3/15-5/15. 🙁 I worked nearly five years in the ShurFine market in Union Springs (on the east shore of Cayuga Lake) and saw the Salameda Spiedies sauce on the shelf, but had no idea what it was used for. Bought a bottle of it to use for chicken BBQ sauce – somebody told me “it tastes like Cornell BBQ” – but it sure doesn’t compare with Cornell’s for that purpose! I grew up on Cornell BBQ – my dad worked 25 years at the veterinary college and we went to every summer’s lab picnic, held at the local state parks. The smell of the cooking chicken is engraved on my brain! … Guess it’s time to start another tradition, and try a spiedie BBQ.

        Reply
  24. Terri Ramia

    My 87 year old Mother still only makes the traditional lamb spiedies. Her recipe is the same one her father brought with him, when he emigrated to Endicott, from Abruzzo. Fresh mint, garlic, lemons, and of course, the leg of lamb, which has been painstakingly trimmed and cut into perfect bite size chunks. I love how you mention the “zuzu”, as that is what we have always called that delicious sauce, sprinkled on the sandwich, directly from an old glass soda bottle, with holes punched in the cap. My family is blessed to still share this tradition with our precious Mama!

    Reply
  25. Steve Dorfman

    Born and raised in Binghamton, always had spiedies at home. As a teenager drove to Lupo’s char pit on Vestal Parkway to enjoy them. Have lived in S.W. Florida for many years and shared them with all my friends. Order Lupo’s sauce online and it is shipped to my home.

    Reply
  26. Linda Dingman

    I believe the reason for mint in the older recipes is because they used lamb. Mint was usually served with lamb. We used to go to Ponchos Pit for spiedies and Auggies for pizza. My youngest daughter lives in Tn and she always has to go to Lupos in Endwell for spiedies when she comes home to visit. We make spiedies a lot in the summer. I also skewer big slices of onions and cook them alongside the spiedies. They are so good on the sandwich. How I miss Auggies and Ponchos.

    Reply
  27. Ted Pratt

    Just moved from JC to Kansas. Made up 10 pounds of Lamb and chicken for friends. Sad to say, they were such a big hit I never got any. I want to hear now is if I should open a restaurant here and chill nothing but that

    Reply
  28. Bonnie Hanyon

    I grew up in Binghamton love speidies moved to Florida but still make them often. If you ever get a chance go to the speediest fest in August in Binghamton it’s a blast. You can buy sauce at Aldo’s or public New York State Speidie Sauce.

    Reply
  29. John Hawley

    Love all my Binghamton NY people comments on the Spiedi’s. I grew up in Johnson City NY, have made my own like others and used different meats for them, but unfortunetly the main ingredient isn’t the spices or the meat….It’s the bread. I realize if you live out of town you use any Italian bread or french bread..(yuk..lol) We Binghamtonians had the privlege of having Bataglini’s bread and Lupos buns ..But I hope people from all over enjoy spiedi’s All the best!!

    Reply
  30. Walter M Kozecke

    I’ve been eating speidies since I was a toddler and I’m 70 years old now. They are delicious and your article is great except that Speidis were not invented in Binghamton but pretty close in Endicott just west of Binghamton. Predated Binghamton by a couple years!!! Thanks!

    Reply
  31. Tracie Wadsworth

    The recipe looks great! Born in Ideal Hospital in Endicott, we were raised on spiedies. It’s the only place they taste that good! This article made me miss my birthplace, a few tears.

    Reply
  32. Ron

    I wish to add two additions to spiedies:
    Spiedie Pizza and Spiedie Salad. Try it!
    As we would say in the Triple Cities; Manja!

    Reply
  33. Maridee Bell

    Grew up in Utica but had an aunt and uncle who lived in Endicott. They introduced me to this wonderful treat. Tried all different meats but love pork the beat. We always butter the Italian bread before wrapping it around the speidie! Yumm.

    Reply
  34. Mike Hallas Sr

    Been eating those little gems of goodness since the early 1970’s when my Uncle Frank and Aunt Carol moved to Johnson City, NY.

    Reply
  35. Sherri Hurley

    My favorite place to have a Spedie was outside any number of local bars. Some young man would set up his hibatchi and grill his mothers recipe to order. I grew up on the hill and was spoiled by all the great food.

    Reply
  36. Cyd Quarterman

    I first had spiedies in Apalachin, NY. My uncle Bob made them for us as he was introduced to them in Binghamton at the IBM headquarters. Now I live in GA and guess what? They sell Spiedie sauce from Johnson City in our local grocery store. So the tradition lives on in rural GA!

    Reply
  37. Edith Horwitz

    It was a favorite treat for our family. Jerry always said it was the thing he missed the most after we moved to Denver. We tried every which way to make them and never had any luck.
    Have a few when you hit the trip back east and think of us.

    Reply
  38. Jean Terryq

    I’m from Endwell NY class of 1970. Nothing like a cold beer at Whapples(spelling) and getting a spiedie from the vendor on the the the sidewalk out front.

    Reply
  39. Francesco Alessi

    So, my Uncle Tony Iacovelli (Augies son) and my father Dino Alessi used to cook these on our family outings all the time. Awesome memories, great food, and I’m kind of surprised speidies didn’t ever catch on in other parts of the country. We actually had a place open up about 30 min from me in Tampa that served them. I kept trying to go there, but I never made it… and then they closed.

    I never made them myself as my father or Tony always did… but I think it’s time I make them. I will say, there’s nothing like having them on Jim Roma’s or Battaglini bread… two of the top 5 breads I have had in my life.

    BTW, the story of Augie creating this is mostly accurate. The story I was told is that the Iacovelli brothers Augie and Camillo had a restaurant, and D’Alo sister’s (Concettina and Josephine) father owned a butcher shop in Civitella Casanova (the Abruzzo region) Italy. Camillo married Josephine, and Concettina married Giovanni Alessi. Together they all brought this food to America. Both families had restaurants at some point, but the Iacovellis continue in the restaurant business for a long time, and is why they are so tightly bound to the speidie history. Anyone else claiming to have invented or bringing them over from Italy is probably embellishing.

    Reply
    • Sandi

      Mr. Alessi didn’t Augie have another brother Alfonso? He had a chicken farm on Taft Ave. I learned how to make wine and Spedies from him. He said it was a family recipe. If not a brother do you know how they were related? Just curious. I did get to the restaurant in Tampa as I lived across the bay. Still not as good as they were at home. Thanks for your comments.

      Reply
  40. Mona Leo

    The best spiedies come from Lupo’s CharPit on Main Street in Endwell, of course. This recipe is very similar to theirs. Some “authentic” spiedies recipes include mint, which is not only gross, it’s sacrilege. A key ingredient is good-quality Italian bread, which is hard to find except in Endicott, NY. Battaglini’ and Roma’s have the best–slightly crispy crust with a soft interior. Artisanal Italian breads don’t work; they are much too dense and chewy. This marinade is delicious with any cut of meat, even if you don’t want to go through the effort to make spiedies. But they’re totally worth the work!!

    Reply
  41. Mona Leo

    SPIEDIES
    (authentic recipe from Lupo’s CharPit, Endwell, NY; this recipe was given by Johnny Lupo to my Aunt Arlene decades ago. It’s still the gold standard for spiedies!)

    One 8-9 pound leg of lamb (an equivalent amount of chicken, beef, or pork can also be used),
    deboned and trimmed. Cut into large enough cubes for skewering and place in a large
    bowl.
    Good quality Italian bread

    Juice of 2 fresh lemons (about ⅔ cup)
    ⅔ cup cider or wine vinegar
    1 cup oil (I use olive)
    6 cloves garlic, chopped
    2 Tbsp. dried parsley
    2 Tbsp. dried basil
    Pinch of oregano
    2 tsp. salt
    1 tsp. garlic salt
    ½-1 tsp. pepper

    Whisk marinade ingredients well and pour over cubed meat. Mix thoroughly. Cover (or pour into a large Ziploc bag) and refrigerate 2-3 days. Mix occasionally.

    Place desired number of meat cubes on metal skewers. Grill over a charcoal fire, turning for even browning, until slightly charred on the outside of cubes. Slide meat from each skewer onto a slice of good quality Italian bread. No other condiments or seasonings are needed (or desired).

    Reply
  42. Marcia Conklin Bauchle

    My family ran a guest farm, Outlook Farm, just south of Windsor, NY, near Binghamton. My dad, Ed, delivered milk to the schools in the Triple Cities for Dairylea. Every Saturday night when the guests arrived in time for supper, we would have a BBQ which was hot dogs, our own organic burgers and spiedies, which he brought home every Friday night. We also had potato salad, macaroni salad and my dad’s homemade ice cream! The people who came to the farm LOVED the spiedies and most of them had never had them before. I live near Watkins Glen now but I raised my kids on spiedis and some of them eat them often. I make them WITH mint. It’s in the ingredients in Rob’s State Fair Marinade!

    Reply
  43. Ob1canobeans

    During a visit to Owego many years ago, my sister introduced us to Lupo’s Spiedie marinade. It became a favorite but impossible to find in SW Florida — until now. Publix carries it in the salad dressing aisle. Whoopee.

    Reply
  44. Butch Robertson

    Born in Endicott raise in Texas. Spiedies are to die for. Endicott is not only famous for being the home of IBM but also spiedies. Never can get enough of them

    Reply
  45. Barbara Cisz

    I was lucky enough to grow up in Endicott. Anyone from the area needs to see the movie “The Rewrite.” So many references to the local history including Speidies. I stumbled on this movie only recently, and stars Hugh Grant and Marisa Tomei.

    Reply
  46. douglas r. aldrich

    Please send me the recipe so I can save it.Thanks

    Reply
  47. Michael Pupilli

    No one in Binghamton uses beef on Spedies. No one.

    Reply
  48. Kathy

    Grew up around the corner from Augies & Kelly’s bar
    Spiedies were like burgers for us and we had neighborhood summer cookouts always with Spiedies. If need a fix today go to Lupos on Main st in Endwell

    Reply
  49. LInda (Snow) Lopos

    Grew up in Endicott. Always went to Pancho’s Pit, literally a “pit” near the sidewalk, close to the bridge on the street that crossed over to Vestal. Dessert was ice cream from Pat Mitchell’s, which was close to Pancho’s. I also remember eating Augie’s pizza (or occasionally Camillo’s). Can’t find that kind of pizza anywhere in GA, nor good Italian bread like Roma’s! Really miss this hometown food!

    Reply
  50. rik dunham

    So I was first introduced to this little delite back in 1982 while visiting my brother at Broome CC. We would bar hop and grab a bit from a push kart. I now live in Salt Lake City, Utah and use the sauce that we can get at a Smiths Grocery store for salad dressing. The stuff is great.

    Reply
  51. Maribeth

    I just want to say that putting ketchup on spiedies is sacrilegious. Please don’t do it. An Angel dies somewhere in cooking heaven. 😂

    Reply
  52. Ed Griswold

    I grew up in Binghamton and really miss the spiedies and other outstanding food. I remember going to Sharky’s and getting steamed clams, spiedies and, a cold Geneesee Beer. I am retired Army and was working in Afghanistan just after we went in to the country. we had our own safe house and did our own cooking. I asked one of our Afghans to get me some lamb cubed no bone. He knew exactly what I wanted. For bread we had baguettes. Some of the guys said “I don’t like lamb.” I told them you won’t taste the lamb. Almost 10 pounds were finished in 2 hours.

    Reply
  53. Jennifer Fox

    Lived in Endwell back in the early 60s. My Dad would take us to Sharkies. Sharkies was the only spiedie joint at the time. It was a dive, but we loved it as kids. Mom didn’t like the place so it became our go-to-haunt when Mom wasn’t around for dinner. They had a disk type bowling game that we were allowed to play. Back then, spiedies were only made with lamb.

    Reply
  54. daniel aikens

    spiedies rec from my family endwell:parscley( salt & pepper vinegar oil curry power bay leave thyme and fresh mint)
    sauce during cooking half cup olive oil half cup vinegar 3cloves of garlic salt &pepper pieces of lemons an juice simmer to combined ingredient uses over meat while cooking

    Reply
  55. Chris Miller

    How Funny, everybody’s comments are the same things I would hear my Pop say as I grew up – born and raised in NY, my dad made California home after completing his tour of duty in the Korean War – I used to wonder why he would ALWAYS say ” I grew up in upstate NY.. near Binghamton.. in the Endicott-Johnson City area.. Vestal, NY – its i n Broom County” I heard a lot about IBM and Endicott Johnson Shoe factory.. and of Course something called a “Spiedie” from Pancho’s Pit.. In 1979 I had my very first Spiedie.. and I was sitting in Pancho’s Pit too.. the reason I remember the Date is because the day we flew out of LAX, is the same day the FAA Grounded all DC-10’s bcz of the crash at O’Hare airport the day before – anyway in the Mid 70’s my Pop couldn’t understand why the Spiedie had not made its way to California yet – so he Opened a place in Norwalk, Ca. named “The Spiedie” it was in a great location – but only people from the upstate region would order a Spiedie – he sold other stuff too, Burgers and Fries, Mexican Food etc.. so the Spiedie never caught on in So Cal.. one Question, around that time (1980) there was a “certain place” to go if you wanted Pizza, and a “certain place” to go if you wanted Veal – to die for – anybody??

    Reply
  56. Gus Guley

    Putting ketchup on a Spiedie is an abomination! Have to say the use of Thyme in the recipe is somewhat hinky too.

    Reply
  57. Carol

    I was raised in castle creek and our family enjoyed them I remember a guy coming over and he said you don’t have to refrigerate them that the vinegar cooked them anybody know about that

    Reply
  58. Joel Gray

    I grew up in Newark Valley, a very small town about +/-20 miles from the Binghamton/Johnson City/Endicott area, in the 60’s and 70’s. I remember many a teenage night loading up cars to make the trip to Lupo’s Char Pit for a spiedie sub. The only thing that could cure a case of the munchies 😎 Ah, the memories.

    Reply
  59. Kurt Swanson

    From Elmira, every weekend take a drive to Endicott, live in Cape Coral FLORIDA, found your recipe,got 5# lamb,made the marinade,GRILLING THEM SAT..EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
    • Nancy

      I hope they turn out great, let us know.

      Reply
  60. Larry G Birt

    Too bad you can’t get your facts right: Spiedies ORIGINATED in Endicott, NY , N O T Binghamton!!!!!!!

    Reply
  61. S.D. Murphy

    I grew up in Vestal, NY, and remained in the Bingo/Triple Cities area until I was 30 (mid 80’s). If you have bingo in your blood then you have spiedies in your blood. I can remember my father cooking spiedies on the grill all summer long.

    As I became a young adult, I can remember eating spiedies as much as possible all summer long, every summer. And they HAD to be served on a slice of that beautiful Italian bread from the area, and, a 16 oz Genesee cream ale.

    Wikipedia says they were invented by the Iacovelli brothers Agostino (Auggie) and Camillo in Endicott, NY. I can remember when I was about 10, in the 60’s, my paents used to take my brother and I out to eat at Auggie’s restaurant in West Endicott. I can remember the rotund, happy Auggie always used to come over and say hello to us.

    The Iacovelli family eventually started a chain of Italian restaurants in the area, featuring their own food line, “Chef Italia”. They sold it in grocery stores in the 70’s. Alas, I believe all those restaurants are gone now.

    I believe the original spiedie was made with lamb. Eventually pork and and beef were used. Deer hunters in the area (my high school friends) made venison spiedies. In my opinion, chicken spiedies are unauthentic and are for wimps.

    Best spiedies in the area IMHO:
    – Sharkies (they’re still open)
    – Lupo’s Char Pit (they had a walk in shop (Hi Suzie Lupo) in Endwell, now supplies only)
    – Pancho’s Pit (probably out of business)
    – Thirsty’s on the south side

    My job has taken me all over the US,… MA, GA, FL, TX, CA, AK, HI. Never found any spiedies and never found any Italian bread as good as Bingo’s (there is a Roma’s bakery in Cary, NC)!

    Reply
  62. Francis Allenza

    Had my first spurrier sandwich in Plattsburgh NY. Restaurant menu said spiedie originated in Abruzzi, Italy.

    Reply
  63. Nathanael Reese

    Thanks for the history and recipes! I grew up in Vestal (1970 grad), and one of my favorite treats growing up was when Dad would take us to Poncho’s Pit for spiedies. This was during the years the overpass to Endicott was built and used. We also used to go to Knickerbocker’s roller skating rink some Saturdays in those days (an hour or two reprieve for my folks from two hyperactive offspring!) , and my dimming memory tells me the stop at Poncho’s was part of the package! One of the coolest things about it was the long skewer pit where you could see and smell everything happen!
    At any rate my birthday is coming up and I have a hankering for this old, good memory fave! People say “oh that’s just like shish-kabob”. Not. Just plain- not! Thanks again and God bless the Spiedies fellowship.

    Reply
  64. Jiri Nechleba

    “I’m from Endwell NY class of 1970. Nothing like a cold beer at Whapples(spelling) and getting a spiedie from the vendor on the the the sidewalk out front.”

    It was Waples Bar on Main Street in Endicott (close to the intersection with Nanticoke Ave.) There was an old guy who would grill speidies out front. The guys inside would come out to get one and go back in to have it with their beers. Those were good. I was born at Ideal Hospital and lived close by (Edwards St.) UE class of ’74.

    Reply
  65. Carl Hayner

    Grew up in Endicott NY moved to California 1963. I was given Augustine Iacovelli original recipe dated 1929, from my grandfather Porter! I have made this dish at least a thousand times and some people go lamb eww, then after tasting they want the recipe! Now for the bad news! I just made a batch with six pounds of cubed lamb and marinate! It’s my bday Sunday I will be 70 years young! Speidies Birthday friends what more can you ask for? Hemet California

    Reply
  66. Bill Friedah

    Francesco, I agree with your comments wholeheartedly and any reference to Binghamton as the home of spiedies is sacrilage . I remember a bar in Endicott that had an old guy out front with a 55 gallons rum cut in half serving charcoal cooked spiedies for $.25 each. Have a few beers and spiedies and your night was made. Circa 1962.

    Reply
  67. Tom

    My friend Paul and I used to drive from Scranton pa to Binghamton to drink we were 18 years old and we ate lots of speedies.. I am 72 live in Texas now I still make speedies. I like veal and beef no mint

    Reply
  68. Paul Goldwin

    Lived my high school years in Binghamton (West Junior and BCHS ). Panchos Pit and Sharkeys were my main speidie haunts. The last time I went to Panchos was when my mom died during a blizzard and I took those family members who made it in for the funeral to the restaurant. It was a little “home cooking” to make a sad time a little more bearable. Sorry Panchos is now closed. I bought some bottles of speidie marinade and introduced speidies to South Bend Indiana. I will always miss the speidies but The Little Venice is still there. They may have moved farther up Chenango St.but the food is still great. Go Bulldogs!!!

    Reply
  69. Richard A Desrochers

    WE lived in Vestal for 12 years and also enjoying Panchos Pit with speidies. The best. Our daughters just gave Lupos marinated for Fathers Day. We will have a great time go back to 1966 – 1978.

    Reply
  70. uncle Bone

    Sharkey’s had the best spiedies , but is now closed for good. Does anybody have a good copycat recipe for sharkey’s spiedies. If you do, please send it to:
    curda55124@aol.com

    Reply
  71. Samantha Tiponya

    Was introduced to spiedies by my former in-laws in Owego. Everytime we visited we had massive piles of spiedies and I loved them. (In-laws and the spiedies both). But the spiedies we had then, as well as the ones I still make 40 years and two marriages later always included a can of beer in the marinade. It was usually a mx of lamb, beef, and in a pinch pork. No mint, but lots of garlic and that essential can of beer (rich dark lager preferably). I guess that was a variation unique to my in-laws back then since I have never found a recipe anywhere that was like it. *sighs* Really miss that area and the Pennsylvania Amish farm we also visited to buy farm fresh butter from on each trip.

    Reply
  72. Michele Iacovelli

    Agostini Iacovelli was my grandfather & Camillo, my great uncle. The spiedi has been an intrical part of our history & family FOREVER! Francesco Alessi, God rest his soul, is like family & spot on in his reply. Our relatives came from the same Abruzzese region of Italy – Civitella Casanova.
    Augie & Camillo were both more than ‘immigrants’ from Italy – rather two very successful business men who laid the groundwork for many that followed & even take credit for its origin to this day. This gastronomic sensation has been part of the Iacovelli legacy for almost 100 years…the spiedini aka spiedi (lamb – the original specifically) is alive & well & will live on with the Iacovelli family forever ♥️

    Reply

Leave a Reply