Just this past weekend, I was a victim of the weather and stuck at the Philadelphia airport. You can learn a lot about a city when stranded for hours. What is the one major thing I learned: Cheese Steak. This sandwich can be found in almost any sandwich shop, but one city can take all the credit for this scrumptious concoction and that city is Philadelphia. How did Philadelphia come up with this sandwich is as interesting as the sandwich itself.
The origin of the Philly favorite is well known. In the early 1930’s, Pat and Harry Olivieri operated a hot dog stand in South Philly’s Italian market. One of the brothers made a quick lunch for himself by placing thin steak meat and grilled onions on a roll. There is nothing more appetizing than the perfume of grilling onions. This sweet smell attracted a cab driver and he asked to buy one. Well, word spread and soon the Olivieris were selling more steak sandwiches than hot dogs.
Several years later cheese was added and the credit for the cheese varies from restaurant to restaurant . In 1940, Pat’s King of Steaks at 9th Street and Passyink Ave was opened by the Olivieri’s and its still there today. Across the street from Pat’s is the rivals Geno’s. Both will provide this month watery goodness 24/7.
Now, if you ask a native from Philly, you will not get a consensus, but what they all seem to agree on is the contents: a fresh Italian roll, shaved beef (usually rib eye), girlled onions and provolone cheese or cheese whiz. Seeing as I didn’t leave the airport, I did not go to Geno’s or Pat’s but I did go to Jack Duggan’s Pub in Concourse A. I am sure this Philly cheese steak was not as good or as cheap as the original, but it did hit the spot while waiting for my next flight. It also gave me a sense of history that only a food can bring to an area. It definately will make me a take a weekend trip to explore the city and get the real thing!