Philippe Turns 100

Ramona Alvarado,50, has been working at the candy counter for the last five years, where she says hot mustard is the biggest seller at Philippe The Original, one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles and historical home of the original “French Dipped Sandwich.”  (Photograph by Jay L. Clendenin/LAT)

Clearing the communal tables at Philippe The Original  (Photograph by Jay L. Clendenin/LAT)

The back counter at Philippe The Original, one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles and historical home of the original “French Dipped Sandwich.”  (Photograph by Jay L. Clendenin/LAT)

Philippe The Original ‘French Dip’: roast beef, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey or ham, served on a French roll.  (Photograph by Jay L. Clendenin/LAT)

Philippe The Original, the downtown Los Angeles restaurant is jammed with people daily, where the specialty of the house is the French Dip, of either roast beef, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey or ham, served on a French roll.  (Photograph by Jay L. Clendenin/LAT)

Philippe The Original, in downtown Los Angeles. Established in 1908 by Philippe Mathieu and eventually sold in 1927 to Harry, Dave and Frank Martin who have kept it in their family since, the downtown Los Angeles restaurant is jammed with people daily, where the specialty of the house is the French Dip, of either roast beef, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey or ham, served on a French roll.  (Photograph by Jay L. Clendenin/LAT)

The famous mustard that is served at Philippe The Original, in downtown Los Angeles.  (Photograph by Jay L. Clendenin/LAT)

Juanita Gomez, center, has been a carver for nearly 30 years at Philippe The Original, one of the oldest restaurants in Los Angeles and historical home of the original “French Dipped Sandwich.”  (Photograph by Jay L. Clendenin/LAT)