What is the origin of the Steak Bomb? Is it actually a New England creation?
If you do some basic online searches, you'll find that the actual origin of the steak bomb sandwich is considered largely to be a question, although a few contenders have claimed to have been the inventor. However, they fail to offer evidence of their claims, and offer no specifics on the timing of the invention. In general, it seems many believe the steak bomb was probably invented sometime in the 1970s.
If you do some basic online searches, you'll find that the actual origin of the steak bomb sandwich is considered largely to be a question, although a few contenders have claimed to have been the inventor. However, they fail to offer evidence of their claims, and offer no specifics on the timing of the invention. In general, it seems many believe the steak bomb was probably invented sometime in the 1970s.
For example, some claim the Steak Bomb was invented by Louis' Lunch, located in New Haven, Connecticut, which also claims to have invented the Hamburger. However, even their website does not make that claim about the Steak Bomb, and their Menu doesn't even have a Steak Bomb listed.
I chose to take the researcher even deeper, to see if I could find any more details on the origins of the Steak Bomb, and I was surprised by what I found. I've confined my article to references from the 1970s, to the initial mentions of the steak bomb. However, my research extended further, but I didn't find anything that would change my conclusions.
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The earliest reference that I found to a "Steak Bomb" was from a restaurant in Montreal, Canada in 1970! And the second reference I found was not until 4 years later, in a New Hampshire newspaper. Could the Steak Bomb have been invented in Canada? It certainly is possible, and maybe the idea spread south into New England. Maybe the concept of the sandwich, for whatever reason, wasn't embraced much by Canadians but caught on like fire in New England.
The Montreal Star (Quebec), June 8, 1970, provided a lengthy review of 8 take-out restaurants in Montreal, including Monkland Submarines, at 5626 Monkland. The reviewer ordered "foot-long sandwiches in once-crusty, now soft French rolls." One sandwich was the “Steak bomb,” which was placed in quotations, seeming to indicate it was something new. The sandwich, which cost $1.30, consisted of “thin little pieces of steak mixed with pepperoni, mushrooms, cheese and capicolli, lettuce and tomatoes.” It's interesting to see the addition of pepperoni at the beginning of the known history of the Steak Bomb.
The next mention of a Steak Bomb was in the Portsmouth Herald (NH), June 1, 1974. There was an advertisement for The Big Scoop, located in Rye, New Hampshire, which was an ice cream and a snack bar that had opened in April 1970. The 1974 ad mentioned that they offered a “Steak Bomb,” but no description was provided. This was their first ad which mentioned they served a Steak Bomb.
Steak bombs in California? The News-Pilot (CA), January 30, 1975, published an ad for V & J’s, a restaurant offering pizza, Italian and sandwiches. The ad also featured “Eastern style steak sandwiches” including the “Steak Bomb” but no description was given. So, it seems they believed the Steak Bomb originated on the East Coast, although that might actually only be where it became most popular.
Steak Bombs in Colorado! The Denver Post (CO), April 9, 1975, wrote about the opening of Jay’s Sub Shop. The co-owners grew up in New York City, and eventually moved to Denver. One of the owners, Robert Crane, stated, “The safest place to eat a steak bomb is in the bathtub.” The article also noted that, “The giant steak bomb, fashioned from pressed steak, cheese, peppers, mushrooms, oil and vinegar and oregano, on a large roll, is the most popular item on the menu.” No salami or pepperoni was included in this creation. Three years later, the Denver Post (CO), March 15, 1978, noted that the giant steak bomb at Jay’s Sub Shoppe included, “Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, hot peppers, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and oregano.”
The Concord Monitor (NH), September 17, 1976, presented an Ad for Don Lyn, a restaurant which offered “Famous Roast Beef” and “World’s Famous Steak Bomb.” No description of the steak bomb was provided.
The Daily Item (MA), October 23, 1976, presented a school lunch menu for Marblehead which included a "Steak Bomb." During the next two years, the newspaper would also include mentions of a "Cheese Steak Bomb" and "Pepper Steak Bomb." It's curious as to the composition of the "Steak Bomb" as it usually included cheese and peppers.
The next mention of a Steak Bomb was in the Portsmouth Herald (NH), June 1, 1974. There was an advertisement for The Big Scoop, located in Rye, New Hampshire, which was an ice cream and a snack bar that had opened in April 1970. The 1974 ad mentioned that they offered a “Steak Bomb,” but no description was provided. This was their first ad which mentioned they served a Steak Bomb.
Steak bombs in California? The News-Pilot (CA), January 30, 1975, published an ad for V & J’s, a restaurant offering pizza, Italian and sandwiches. The ad also featured “Eastern style steak sandwiches” including the “Steak Bomb” but no description was given. So, it seems they believed the Steak Bomb originated on the East Coast, although that might actually only be where it became most popular.
Steak Bombs in Colorado! The Denver Post (CO), April 9, 1975, wrote about the opening of Jay’s Sub Shop. The co-owners grew up in New York City, and eventually moved to Denver. One of the owners, Robert Crane, stated, “The safest place to eat a steak bomb is in the bathtub.” The article also noted that, “The giant steak bomb, fashioned from pressed steak, cheese, peppers, mushrooms, oil and vinegar and oregano, on a large roll, is the most popular item on the menu.” No salami or pepperoni was included in this creation. Three years later, the Denver Post (CO), March 15, 1978, noted that the giant steak bomb at Jay’s Sub Shoppe included, “Lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, hot peppers, oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and oregano.”
The Concord Monitor (NH), September 17, 1976, presented an Ad for Don Lyn, a restaurant which offered “Famous Roast Beef” and “World’s Famous Steak Bomb.” No description of the steak bomb was provided.
The Daily Item (MA), October 23, 1976, presented a school lunch menu for Marblehead which included a "Steak Bomb." During the next two years, the newspaper would also include mentions of a "Cheese Steak Bomb" and "Pepper Steak Bomb." It's curious as to the composition of the "Steak Bomb" as it usually included cheese and peppers.
The Lebanon Daily News (PA), March 3, 1977, presented an ad for the Colebrook Tavern which mentioned a “Pepper Steak Bomb,” again with no description provided.
The Sun (Lowell, MA), March 28, 1977, had an advertisement for Espresso Pizza, which sold a Steak Bomb for $1.25/$1.75. No description was given.
The Valley News (NH), July 12, 1979, printed an ad for the Skyline Lounge, offering a “Steak Bomb. Homemade roll, with sauteed peppers, onions, mushrooms covered with melted cheese.” No salami or pepperoni was included.
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It's fascinating that the earliest reference I found to a "Steak Bomb" was from a Montreal restaurant in 1970, and that I didn't find another one until 1974 in New Hampshire. That's a significant gap, and it makes me lean toward Montreal as a possible origin for the Steak Bomb. The concept then could have spread south, into New England. More research into the Steak Bomb in Canada is needed.
The lack of references doesn't mean that Steak Bombs didn't exist then, but it seems to indicate restaurants weren't doing much to promote the sandwich, except maybe word of mouth. And the concept would be hard to spread unless it was more public knowledge. Somehow, in 1975, word had reached California about the Steak Bomb, claiming it was an "Eastern style" invention. During the 1980s, the Steak Bomb would be seen in a number of other states across the country, and not just in New England.
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