It’s a funny thing about cheesesteaks.

[rogerashton]

I work in Philly, have done off and on for nearly 30 years, and have lived in the suburbs on both sides of the river. I have never eaten a cheesesteak here in Philly. I’m a Hoagie man, myself.

But – the summer of ’91 I took a road trip west to Arkansas, my sister’s stompin’ ground. And I read the menus in diners and grills across the country.

In Washington, PA – south of Pittsburgh, a world away from Broad and Oregon – the cheesesteak was eye round roast, sliced medium, with provolone and the usual fixin’s. Sounded pretty good. But I ordered something else.

In Rockville,Indiana, in a bar with peanut hulls all over the floor, it was a hunk of sirloin, swiss, chunks of pepper and onions on a baguette. My mouth watered, but I ordered the pulled pork barbecue, which sounded even better.

In Calico Bluff, Arkansas, it was a piece of prime rib, mozarella, hunks of peppers and unions and mushrooms with a marinara sauce on top, on a sourdough loaf. Wow.

So, after living in Philly for a quarter century, I ate my first cheesesteak in Calico Bluff, Arkansas. True story!

It seems that when cheesesteaks became something of a craze, restaurateurs in other areas couldn’t believe that they were really the yukky thing they are here in Philly – or knew they couldn’t sell that to their customers, anyway. So the further you got from Philly, the better the cheesesteaks were. But I am told that word has gotten around, and that real, authentic (terrible) Philly Cheesesteaks are the fashion in places like Washington State. Too bad.

[realFedUp]

1. it must be lunchtime....

nice descriptive food chat.

[rogerashton]

3. Well, no,

but what we were offered in the faculty lunchroom was far from inspiring.

This summer's road trip is New Hampshire and Mass -- starting Sunday. Any culinary suggestions.

[zbird]

2. I LOVE Philly cheesesteaks.

I grew up in Allentown, about 45 minutes away from Philly, and cheesesteaks were a staple in our house. Great from the Brass Rail or from a little sandwich shop called Seward's right up the street from our house.

If you want truly yucky cheesesteaks, try out the crap they try to pass off as cheesesteaks in the midwest.... an elongated hamburger with nasty cheese and bland tomato sauce on a bun. Truly disgusting.

[LynneSin]

5. I hate those cheesesteaks with the real gnarlly grizzle for "steak"

Personally I think Pats/Genos should provide a free dose of Lipitor (cholesterol lowering medication) with all their cheesesteaks.

But when I took Will, Maine Mary and GOPisEvil to Genos, I wolfed mine down in about 5 minutes flat.

[KamaAina]

4. I'd move to Calico Rock, Ark., if...

....they'd make the same sandwich without the cheese, and not let it derail my Presidential campaign :-)

Think of it! Tasty sandwiches, gorgeous Ozark scenery (Calico Bluff is actually a bluff above the town of Calico Rock), and best of all...

NO ASSKKKROFT!!! Crisco Kid wouldn't get within fifty miles of a place called "Calico" Rock!! And all the tri-colored, female cats I could pet... aaahhhh...

[underpants]

6. Okay someone explain this Kerry thing to me

I must've missed it.

What happened? What did he do?

[LynneSin]

7. In a nutshell

It's a political tradition to go to South Philly to one of the 2 rival Philly Cheesesteak joints and order a cheesesteak. But unlike most places you can get a cheesesteak, these places (Pat's and Geno's) require a certain type of ordering and eating of said cheesesteak to prevent humiliation from the staff and those around you.

I'll be the first to admit they're ok for Cheesesteaks, but it's the legend that goes with it. Bill Clinton's picture hung above the ordering window at Geno's for years after his first visit to Geno's . Former Philly Mayor Ed Rendell mastered the Philly Cheesesteak technique so well that he used that trick across PA when he was running for governor (a greasy joint in Harrisburg that had a similiar reputation as the place to go after drinking and with the local blue collar crowds named a sandwich after him.)


When going to either Geno's or Pat's it's a simple ordering decorum. Tell them what type of cheese and wheter you want it with or without. IE "American without" is how I prefer to get my Cheesesteak with American Cheese but no fried onions.

Politicians who stop by either Pat's or Genos (this is like Coke or Pepsi in the Cheesesteak world of Philly) will order their cheesesteak in a traditional South Philly manner. When they get the cheesesteak they're suppose to take a big bite out of it and who cares if Cheese, Fried Onions or Hot Peppers are dripping down on your tie. It's the politicians way of showing South Philly "I'm one of you". Everyone OOOOOS and AHHHHHS and thinks what a great guy that candidate is.

No one bothered to tell Kerry about this tradition. I guess the staffers just took him there and figured it was like ordering something anywhere else in the world. So first Kerry orders it with Swiss, something you NEVER ask for at these places and then he gets kinda dainty on how he eats it.

Geno's and Pats NEVER close except maybe for XMAS and they are opened 24 hours a day. There is no dining area. Many times after a big night of drinking and dancing in Philly, me and my friends would head to Geno's or Pats for Cheesesteaks at 3 in the morning. And believe me, I've waited in long lines in the middle of December to get these things (and btw, all dining is outdoors)

So for most folks in the world it seems like a dumb tradition and you know what - they are probably right. The problem here is first, no one told Kerry the right way to do it. I'm sure if Kerry had any clue he would have picked one of the available cheeses and did the photo-op big oversized bite of the sandwich.

But the thing with Candidates, they will have to travel around the country and do really dumb things like the Philly Cheesesteak. And by doing these things according to "tradition" is the way to appeal to the folks standing there watching him/her do these somewhat bizarre traditions.

It would have been better for Kerry to have not gone to South Philly than to go there and do it wrong. I don't think any of the other candidates went there and none of them are getting bad press.

[catpower2000]

8. That pretty much sums it up...

And to the original poster: WRONG! Philly cheesteaks are a little slice of heaven (I lived a block from Pat's and Geno's).

Cat

[LynneSin]

10. You know Geno's serves Freedom Fries now???!!!

Imagine how embarassed I was to take 3 other DUers to Geno's and they have freaking Freedom Fries (I hadn't been to Geno's in years). By the time we realized they had Freedom Fries we already had our sandwiches (btw, for those reading this - sandwiches are one line, drinks and fries are a separate line).

I can't stand cheesesteaks, but give me a Pat's or Geno's and I'll inhale them in about 10 minutes flat. But everyday living I can do without em!

[underpants]

9. OK thanks

I am really not a fan of any kind of (insert food item here)_______nazi.

There is a small (9 seats) in roanoke that is like that NO KETCHUP and I have no idea why that is.

[Mandate My Ass]

11. After three whole days

The Kerry cheesesteak "scandal" is still on page one of the Inquirer web site. I guess nothing else is going on in the country or the world for the Inky to report. :eyes:

Scroll about halfway down.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/