All posts by Mike Cunningham

Election 2020 – Pick Your candidate by cheesesteak order.

It’s Election Eve. And if you haven’t voted for the president yet, and you need additional help, you have come to the right place.

Because why wouldn’t you make the most important decision this century based on a cheesesteak blog that hasn’t been updated in 12 years.

So who has chosen what?

According to TheDailyMail, the current sitting President chose a steak from Dalessandro’s in Roxborough back in September. Although I’m sure it was ordered by staff and not the President himself. On the campaign trail in 2016, President Trump was seen ordering a steak from Geno’s in South Philly.

The Democratic hopeful, native Pennsylvanian Vice President Joe Biden chose Pat’s in 2010 ordering a Whiz Witout. Keeping a home in Delaware he has been known to venture to Capriotti’s a fine sandwich shop with a fine steak and of course it’s Thanksgiving classic The Bobbie. Back in 2010, Biden revealed he would sell cheesesteaks at his law school in Syracuse after bringing them back from his home in Delaware.

So if you are voting for your president solely on their cheesesteak preference and expertise. You really only have one choice.

Still waiting to hear the Vice Presidential candidate choice of steaks are. Feel free to drop us a line and let us know.

And go vote.



Retire the Cheesesteak? Puh-lease…

Wanna rile up the citizenry in Philadelphia? Mess with the Cheesesteak. Philadelphia’s favorite sandwich is also our most controversial food choice. More controversial than the Water Ice vs. Gelati debate. More controversial than McNabb vs. Kolb. Although, probably not as controversial as Graziani vs. D’Orazio.

Karen Heller wants us to replace Philadelphia’s signature sandwich with the Roast Pork with Broccoli Rabe.  Now, we’ve been tracker Karen Heller over at HammRadio.com for a while now.  In fact, we roasted her in the earliest stages of our blog.  It was that kind of rant that has made hammradio.com famous.  Okay, not really.

Look don’t get me wrong, I understand her point.  Also, I do adore a Roast Pork with Sharp Provolone with some Broccoli Rabe.  And the fight between Councilman Bill Green and Councilman DiCicco seems quite silly.  But the Cheesesteak is synonomous with Philadelphia.  And believe me, even if you were going to replace the Cheesesteak, don’t tell me controversy wouldn’t brew with Tony Luke’s or John’s Roast Pork or DiNics or Chickie’s.  

Besides, I have this really cool domain name, CheesesteakGuru.com.  And Roast Pork guru doesn’t sound right. Or does it? 

May 2008 Cheesesteak: Pat’s versus Citizens Bank

I know I’ve said before that I only enjoy one cheesesteak per month.  But sometimes a party in Fairmount and a call to get cheesesteaks is made.  That would do it right?  But what happens two days later when there’s a rain delay at the ballpark and you are starving?  Well, there’s the cheesesteak stand.  And that’s how you eat two steaks in a weekend.  So which was better?

Let’s go to the tale of the tape

Category PATS CBP
ORDER American Wit — This keeps the line moving at 2am. Cheesesteak with Fried Onions — The Aramark employees know of two kinds of steaks. With onions or without. How do they know the difference? The way it’s wrapped.
ROLL Solid roll. Fresh. The steak was kept in a heater that looked like a refrigerator. The bread was quite soggy from the humidity.
CHEESE The American cheese was cold and not melted. The trick? Hold the roll together around the hot meat. Bingo. Cheese is melted. The American cheese was melted and intermingled with the meat. If this trick is learned or just happenstance from the heat machines.
MEAT The reason I don’t recommend tourists get steaks from Pat’s and Geno’s because i don’t think they are prepared for the meat to be sliced so thick. It’s an acquired taste. The meat on my steak was excellent. My buddy Waynes a little grisly. Good for me. The meat that didn’t have cheese intermingled was a little dry. Fortunately, the moist roll cancelled that out.
ONIONS Quite fresh. Actually, I have no thoughts on this. I just remember there were onions here. And plenty of them. Quite fresh. Actually, I have no thoughts on this. I just remember there were onions here. And not enough of them.
Verdict Pat’s wins in a close race. The key? I wanted a second steak. But the line had gotten much bigger at that point. So I gave myself a pass. I shared a steak earlier in the year with my mom. And it was okay. But not as good as the steak today. The cheese was the difference maker here. Good job by Aramark. I will get to Rick’s and Tony Luke’s before the season is out. But remember only ONE steak per month!