Springfield, Illinois Horseshoe

I am originally from Springfield, Illinois. The signature dish of Springfield is the famous Horseshoe. What is a Horseshoe you ask? It's a two pieces of bread, hamburger patty, cheese sauce, and fries layered. 
There are lots of different variations of Horseshoes all around town depending on where you are eating. I even heard that our local Steak n Shake diner has their own version of it.

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives did an episode where they featured Charlie Parkers Diner from Springfield, IL and their horseshoes. Diners, Drive-in's and Dives

Here is some history on the Horseshoe:

The original Horseshoe Sandwich was served on a sizzling metal plate (known as the Anvil). Two thick-cut slices of bread were toasted and added to the plate. Then a thick slice of ham, shaped like a horseshoe, was added, to it a Welsh rarebit cheese sauce made of white sharp cheddar, and then just before serving, fresh-made French fries were added as the (nails) in the horseshoe. The secret to this sandwich is the delicious cheese sauce.
Today's sandwiches now offer either a thick fried ham steak or two large hamburger patties, and the cheese sauce is poured over the fries.
The name of the sandwich comes from the shape of the ham with the fries representing the horseshoe nails, and the heated steak platter as the anvil. If you order a Pony Shoe Sandwich, it is the same thing, but a smaller or half a Horseshoe portion (usually one slice of toast).
The "Horseshoe" or variations of it soon became a popular item in many Springfield restaurants. Today, every restaurant and chef serving this sandwich, seems to have his or her own secret cheese sauce recipe.
The sandwich was created in the late 1920s by chef Joe Schweska at a Leland Hotel in Springfield, Illinois located on the corner of Sixth and Capitol (now an office building). The Leland Hotel, the leading hotel of Springfield, was built in 1867, and has housed hundreds of prominent Americans. The structure is five stories high and contained 235 rooms.

  You can find out more here: What's Cooking America 

The secret is in the cheese sauce. You can use any kind of french fries, bread and any kind of meat you wish for the base. 

You layer it as such: 
Bread (usually toasted)
Hamburger on top of bread
French fries (better when homemade)
Cheese sauce (recipe below)  

Top Secret Cheese Sauce: 

2 tablespoons butter

2 tablespoons flour

(or equal parts of each depending on how much you're making)
1 cup milk
Half a container of velveeta cheese (you can use sharp cheddar too)
1/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
black pepper (or to taste) (optional)
secrets: dash of nutmeg, dash of smoked paprika, and some Worcestershire sauce.

Now you'll have a taste of something unique to my hometown!