“Sandwich King” Mauro’s gifts include great recipe for Thanksgiving leftovers

Jeff Mauro, the charismatic and talented chef who rose to fame as host of Food Network’s “Sandwich King,” has seamlessly blended his love for food and family with his entrepreneurial spirit. Mauro was classically trained at the Kitchen Academy of Los Angeles and is known for his signature passion for sandwiches.

Jeff is a true ambassador of Chicago’s vibrant food scene. As the CEO of Mauro Provisions, he’s elevated his culinary passion into a thriving business that champions high-quality ingredients and creative flavor combinations. 

From his commitment to his family and community to his continued influence both the sandwich world and the broader food industry, he truly embodies “all of the ingredients of a good sandwich.”

Food Network success was not instant for Jeff. After several projects and attempts at breaking into the television food scene, Mauro’s career finally skyrocketed when he won Season 7 of “The Next Food Network Star,” leading to the debut of his own show, “Sandwich King.”

His fun-loving personality and passion for creative sandwiches captured the hearts of viewers nationwide. He would go on to host several other Food Network shows and make special appearances both nationally and internationally.

Yet, despite his growing fame and success, Mauro has always remained deeply connected to his roots. As a proud Chicago native, he made the intentional decision to raise his son in the same neighborhood where he grew up. Emphasizing the importance of family, gathering and tradition, Jeff credits these values and the tastes and smells of his childhood, in shaping the chef, parent and husband he has become. For Mauro, staying close to home was not just about proximity – it was about giving his child the same connection to the rich cultural heritage that he experienced as a kid. His strong sense of belonging and deep connection to Chicago ultimately inspired him to create his own giardiniera company, Mauro Provisions, as a tribute to both his family and the city's culinary traditions.

While Mauro’s success as the Sandwich King had already brought him widespread recognition, he still felt a strong desire to create something truly authentic – something that would showcase his love for high-quality ingredients and bold flavor combinations that capture the essence of his beloved city. As the first chef to ever prepare giardiniera on the Food Network, it was a natural progression for him to merge his love for Chicago with the city's signature flavors – Italian Beef and giardiniera (a spicy, tangy pickled vegetable relish packed in vinegar or oil). His passion for giardiniera runs so deep that he even named his beloved guitar “Guitar di Nera,” a playful nod to how his love for food and his passion for creativity are intertwined. Through Mauro Provisions, he has successfully infused his love for Chicago with innovation to share Chicago’s iconic flavors with the rest of America.

Mauro Provisions has found that new way to share its products, partnering with United Airlines to feature their artisanal offerings on the airline’s Bistro on Board menu. Passengers will soon be able to enjoy Mauro’s high-quality products during their flights. To kick off the collaboration, Jeff Mauro's signature cheeseburger is the first featured meal, topped with his original Honey G Pepper Relish (a spicy honey-infused giardiniera), Taylor Street Cheese Sauce, and Black Powder Rub.

Reflecting on the partnership, Mauro says, “It’s the most organic natural thing that I could have done, to partner up with United, Chicago’s hometown airline.” This new venture brings a taste of Chicago to the skies and highlights Mauro Provisions’ mission to expand its reach with locally inspired food. The cheeseburger will be available for four months, after which he has created a breakfast sandwich, followed by the eventual addition of Italian Beef bowls. With endless possibilities ahead, this collaboration captures Jeff’s creativity and enthusiasm for taking his culinary ideas to new heights.

Despite the busy demands of being a CEO and his own brand ambassador, he still makes time to nurture his natural passion for performing. His love for the stage remains as strong as ever. In addition to hosting his podcast “Come on Over”, where he shares his love for food and family with special guests, Jeff also formed a neighborhood dad band called the Jewel Bags. What began as a casual block party performance quickly gained momentum, leading to gigs at various bars and venues around the city. The 11-piece band plays a blend of classic rock, pop hits, original songs, and forgotten favorites, bringing high energy and nostalgia to each show. Recently, they've added a horn section to further elevate their fun, crowd-pleasing set list. Their most recent performance was at Joe's on Weed Street for a Halloween show, and their next gig will be at Robert’s Westside the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. (Tickets available at https://www.facebook.com/events/527528446651002?_rdr) Come out to enjoy the music—but don't forget, that turkey won’t cook itself on Thursday!

On Thanksgiving Day,stay on the “Mauro Mobile” and enjoy a heartfelt, Mauro-inspired meal by bringing the warmth and flavors of Chicago to your holiday feast. Incorporating Mauro Provisions' spice blends into your Thanksgiving meal can offer a fresh take on traditional dishes.

With a variety of options to choose from, you can easily enhance your spread. For a savory, unexpected smoky twist, try the Black Powder Craft Seasoning on your turkey. If your side dishes are in need of a little mood enhancer or you want to surprise your guests with something more unconventional, Mauro Provisions offers spice rubs inspired by familiar potato chip flavors like BBQ, Sea Salt and Vinegar, and Cheddar Jalapeno, which are perfect for adding extra flavor – Sea Salt and Vinegar Brussels sprouts, for example, are sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

To bring a taste of Chicago to your table, Jeff Mauro's Giardiniera spice rub offers a unique way to capture the city’s signature flavors. These blends are a simple way to add some creativity to your holiday meal while reflecting Jeff’s passion for food, family, and the rich culinary heritage of his home town.

Jeff Mauro’s journey from “Sandwich King” to successful entrepreneur and TV personality is a testament to his passion for food, creativity, and his deep connection to his Chicago roots. Whether he's bringing the bold flavors of the Windy City to the airwaves or the dinner table, Mauro’s dedication to quality and innovation shines through in everything he does. From the kitchen to the stage, Mauro continues to share his love for flavor, family, and creativity in every aspect of his life.

Visit https://mauroprovisions.com/page for locations where Mauro Provisions are available.

No story about the “Sandwich King” would be complete without a recipe for “the greatest leftover thanksgiving sandwich in the world of all time.

Thank you to Jeff Mauro for the share!

Stuffing Waffle Open-Faced Leftover Turkey Sandwich

Courtesy of Jeff Mauro

4 cups of leftover stuffing

1-3 cups of chicken stock

Leftover Cranberry Sauce

Leftover Turkey

Leftover gravy – Warmed

Fresh Sage – Chiffonade and fried in oil until crispy

Sunny side up egg

6 slices of bacon lardons, crisped up in a pan

Preheat waffle iron. I use a mini round waffle maker. The rounded shaped waffles work best for stacking.

In a large mixing bowl, add one half cup of stock to stuffing at a time, until the mixture is wet, but not liquid. It should have the consistency of a meatball mix, and should be able to be rolled into a ball.

Lightly oil or spray waffle iron and depending on shape/size of mold, place a nice-sized disc of wet stuffing onto hot waffle iron. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Remove and repeat if leftover stuffing mix remains.

Heat gravy in a small sauce pot. Take off heat and place slices of cold turkey in hot gravy to reheat and rehydrate.

Make a tower with a layer of stuffing waffle -- schmeared with cranberry sauce. Top with a couple slices of warm gravy-kissed turkey, then a nice sprinkling of crispy bacon lardons. 

Top with 1 single sunny side up egg and garnish with crispy sage, sea salt and cracked black pepper.