In an ongoing series, we look at some of the local dishes that are synonymous with the cities they were created in. For this edition we head to the great state of Pennsylvania and share with you the history and the awesomeness that is the Philadelphia Cheesesteak.
Philadelphia is known for a lot of cool things. They’ve got the Liberty Bell, Rocky was filmed there and the Phillies won the World Series a couple of years ago. Hell, it was even the capital of the entire damn country for a few years. But all of those pale in comparison to the awesomeness that is the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich.
Say whatever you want about the “City of Brotherly Love”, but damn, do they know how to make an awesome sandwich.
The cheesesteak is so popular that not only are there shops all across the country that make this fine delicacy specifically (Penn Station subs comes to mind), but even restaurants, from Subway to Domino’s Pizza, have it on their menus. Of course, like Cincinnati-style chili, the best way to experience it is to go to the city itself and try one.
The concept is simple. Frizzle up some delicious steak and grill it with cheese, onions and a variety of other spices. Throw it in a bun, usually an Amoroso or Vilotti-Pisanelli roll and enjoy.
Pat and Harry Olivieri used to run a hot dog stand in Philly back in the 1930s and they got the idea to serve chopped steak on a hoagie roll. Eventually, there was so much demand for it that Pat opened up a restaurant just for the sandwich called “Pat’s King of Steaks”. You can still go there today. Originally, it was served without cheese until one of the managers at the place decided to add provolone to the mix and thus, a legend was born.
If you ever go to Philly (and we’re not trying to talk you out of it), head to South Philadelphia and try the cheesesteaks at both Pat’s and Geno’s, which are located right across the street from each other on 9th street. The two have had a friendly rivalry for years and no trip to the city is complete without trying at least one of their sandwiches off their menu.
While American, provolone and and mozzarella cheeses are common on a cheesesteak, one of the more popular cheeses is, of all things, Cheez Whiz. Yes, the “processed cheese food” (which means a cheese-like food, not something you feed your cheese), due to the fact it melts so easily, can be found mixed in with some of the finest cheesesteaks in Philly.
Just don’t be like John Kerry and order yours with Swiss.
So, how do you make your own? Well, it’s not that hard. Throw some oil onto a griddle, throw on the best sliced steak you can find, add cheese and then onions and any other peppers you like (or don’t, it’s still good) and frizzle it up. Scoop it up and throw it on a bun and enjoy.
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