Portillo's Italian Beef Kit, Chocolate Cake & Lou's x Portillo's Italian Beef Deep Dish Pizza

How to Prepare Portillo's Italian Beef Sandwiches

Stove top heating instructions

• Place entire contents of gravy bucket in large sauce pan.
• Heat until it reaches 180°.DO NOT BOIL. This takes about 20 minutes.
• Open beef pack and separate slices. This creates a more flavorful and tender sandwich.
• Add enough slices for 2-3 sandwiches at a time and heat for about 1 minute. Add beef in small increments as needed.
• Take temperature of gravy while heating beef. The temperature should stay between 165° and 180° for best results.

Microwave heating instructions

• Place entire contents of gravy bucket in microwave safe bowl and heat for 5 minutes. This includes any solids or spices.
• Stir contents and then heat for another 4 minutes while separating the beef slices. The temperature should be 180°. DO NOT BOIL.
• Take bowl out of microwave and add enough beef for 2-3 sandwiches and stir in for about a minute. Take temperature as you add beef.
• If the temperature falls below 165° remove beef, return to microwave and reheat for 2 minutes.

French Bread:

• Place rolls on cookie pan 2" apart and bake at 450° for 5 minutes.

Food Safety Caution: The beef and gravy in this package must be at 40° or colder upon receiving it.

How to Frost a Portillo's Chocolate Cake

1. Remove the heart shaped layer of cake from the sealed plastic bag and discard the plastic in the appropriate recycle or waste bin.

   Tip: Try to carefully remove the cake from the plastic to avoid peeling the top layer of cake away.

2. Put a dab of frosting on the 10 inch gold cake board provided.

   Cut open the frosting pouch with scissors and dab a small amount of frosting, about the size of a nickel, on the center of a serving plate or cake stand.

   • Tip: This should prevent the cake from sliding.
   • Tip: If the frosting is stiff, place the unopened pouch in a bowl of warm tap water (between 70°F - 85°F) to help soften it. Dry pouch well before opening.
3. Spread the frosting just beyond the edge of your cake.

   Using the spatula, go slow, start in the middle of the cake and spread the frosting evenly over the top and just past the edge of the top surface. The overhang of frosting will help you frost the sides of the cake.

   • Tip: You want to push the frosting gently, keeping an even hand motion. Try to avoid pushing into the cake. This can cause cake crumbs to stick to the frosting and be spread around, giving it a textured look. If you get crumbs in the frosting, simply scrape the dirty frosting off your spatula into a separate bowl.
   • Tip: Again, be generous when you start to frost. You can always scrape some off if you end up with too much, but if you start with too little, you risk pulling crumbs from the cake into the frosting, giving it a textured look.
4. Frost the sides in sections.

   Think of the cake in quarters and tackle one quarter at a time, turning the plate or cake stand as you go. Aim to get the cake covered with frosting first.

5. Smooth out the frosting or create any look you like.

   Once the cake is frosted, you can go back and beautify. Smooth out the frosting or create swirls or other textures. Remove any excess frosting.

6. Store the cake at room temperature, covered, and enjoy within 1-2 days for best quality.