What is giardiniera? Giardiniera translates to gardener or from the garden, which makes sense because it’s essentially a garden’s worth of vegetables all pickled together in one jar.

Ashlie D. Stevens is Salon's senior food editor. She is also an award-winning radio producer, editor and features writer — with a special emphasis on food, culture and subculture.

Giardiniera sounds kind of like a made-up dish that would be served at a nationwide chain of Italian-American restaurants.To the best of our knowledge, it is not. It is, however, a food with ...

One of those included the Italian beef sandwich, which at Goodman’s Deli includes rolls from Turano Baking Company in Illinois; Chipico giardiniera from Vienna Beef in Chicago; USDA Prime top ...

Giardiniera is a classic Italian condiment that levels up a variety of foods. If you're making it at home, these are the best peppers to use.

Chicago-style giardiniera is also usually pickled for longer. According to Shay of Local Foods, making Chicago-style giardiniera is a two-step process. “First, you pickle the vegetables,” he says.

Giardiniera in Chicago is ubiquitous because of Italian beef sandwiches, says Dave Howey, owner of Al's Beef, arguably the first Italian beef restaurant in the city.

Chicago-Style Giardiniera. 2 pounds ¼-inch sliced serrano peppers* 1 pound seeded and diced red bell pepper. 1 pound of cauliflower, chopped into small pieces. ½ pound peeled and diced white onion.