Cheesesteak
Cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz
Origin Information
Alternate Names(s):	Philadelphia cheesesteak Philly Steak and Cheese Philly cheesesteak steak and cheese Philly
Country of Origin :	United States
Region or State :	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Creator(s) of the dish :	Created in 1930
Dish Information
Course Served :	Main course
Serving Temperature :	Hot
Main Ingredient(s) :	Sliced steak Cheese Bread
Variations :	Multiple

The cheesesteak, known outside the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area as the Philadelphia cheesesteak, Philly Steak and Cheese, Philly cheesesteak, steak and cheese, or simply a Philly is a sandwich principally made up of thinly sliced pieces of steak and melted cheese on a long roll. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ( often colloquially referred to as PA (its abbreviation by natives and Northeasterners is a state located in the Northeastern A sandwich is a food item made of two or more slices of Bread with one or more layers of a filling A steak (from Old Norse steik, "roast" is a slice of meat typically Beef. A cheesesteak without cheese is locally called a steak sandwich, or a Philly Steak in other parts of the country. The Steak sandwich is a Sandwich that is made out of Steak that has been Broiled, Grilled, Barbecued or Seared using

The cheesesteak is a comfort food for natives of the Philadelphia region. The term comfort food refers to a variety of familiar simple Foods that are usually home-cooked or eaten at informal restaurants It was invented in the city in 1930 and is considered to be a city icon along with other foods such as Tastykakes, water ice, the Philadelphia soft pretzel, hoagies, and scrapple. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Tastykake is the brandname for a line of Snack foods manufactured by the Tasty Baking Company ( of Philadelphia Pennsylvania. Italian ice is a frozen Dessert made from either concentrated syrup flavoring or fruit purees. A pretzel is a bread pastry of German origin that has the shape of a three looped Knot or twisted braid A hoagie is a style of sandwich popular in Philadelphia and the surrounding region Scrapple is a savory mush of Pork scraps and trimmings combined with Cornmeal and Flour, often Buckwheat flour

History

Philadelphians Pat and Harry Olivieri are often credited with inventing the cheesesteak by serving chopped-up steak on hoagie rolls in the early 1930s. Pat Olivieri was an Italian - American Restaurateur. He is credited along with his brother Harry Olivieri, as the 1933 co-creator of the Harry M Olivieri (born 1916 - died July 20 2006) was an Italian - American Restaurateur. The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. ^[1] They began selling the concoctions at their hot dog stand near south Philadelphia's Italian Market. A hot dog is a type of fully-cooked cured and/or smoked moist Sausage of soft even texture and flavor They became so popular he opened up his own cheesesteak restaurant in 1930. This restaurant still operates today as Pat's King of Steaks.

Pat's website calls the preparation a "steak sandwich" (not a "cheesesteak") and says that "as the years passed, both employees and customers alike demanded change . Pat's King of Steaks (also known as Pat's Steaks) is a Philadelphia Restaurant located at the intersection of 9th Street Wharton & Passyunk Avenues in . . cheese was added. "^[2] Joe Vento of Geno's Steaks, which is located directly across the street from Pat's, claims that he was the first to add cheese. Geno's Steaks is a Philadelphia Restaurant specializing in Cheesesteaks founded in 1966 by Joe Vento Geno's Steaks is a Philadelphia Restaurant specializing in Cheesesteaks founded in 1966 by Joe Vento

In 1952, Pat's added Cheez Whiz to their sandwich ingredients. Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Cheez Whiz is a thick Processed cheese sauce or spread sold by Kraft Foods.

Ingredients and preparation

Steak is typically top round, although other types are often used. A round steak is a Steak from the round section of a steer or heifer and may be known as a "rump steak" in the United Kingdom In one form of preparation, the steak is cut very thin so that it is almost translucent. The steak is placed on a lightly oiled griddle at medium temperature. A griddle is a piece of cooking equipment. In the industrial world usually it is a flat plate of metal (usually Aluminium, Stainless steel or Cast The slices are quickly browned and then scrambled into smaller pieces with a flat spatula. A spatula, also known as a Turner, Flipper and fish slice in ( British English) is a kitchen utensil with a long handle and a broad flat edge Often, the steak is placed on top of already slightly fried onions to prevent the steak from becoming over-cooked. Frying is the Cooking of food in Oil or Fat, a technique that originated in ancient Egypt around 2500BC Organicsalsajpg||thumb|right|Onions used in salsa.]]Cooked onions in frying pan Thicker slices are also sometimes used (as are chunks of frozen thin slices which are defrosted as they are cooked).

Some locations with large volumes will griddle the steak in a large pile, chopping and flipping the steak with a large metal spatula until cooked to a light brown. The thicker pieces of steak, due to their need to be cooked more thoroughly, will be set in a single layer on the griddle and flipped until brown.

Cheese can be added at the last stage of griddling, placed on the bread before the meat is added, or ladled on top of the sandwich as the last step.

For adding cheese while griddling, the steak is shaped on the griddle so that the roll could cover it, the cheese is laid on top and allowed to melt for a minute, then the roll is placed over the steak and the spatula is used to scoop the entire contents into the roll.

In another method, the cheese is placed along the inner sides of the sliced roll and is either melted beforehand by a warmer or is melted by the heat of the freshly cooked steak. Lastly, pre-melted cheese or Cheez Whiz can be ladled on top of the sandwich. Cheez Whiz is a thick Processed cheese sauce or spread sold by Kraft Foods.

The sandwich is served in a long roll, typically a 6-inch or 12-inch (15 or 30 cm) loaf of Italian bread (also known in Philly as a hoagie roll). Bread is a Staple food prepared by Baking a Dough of Flour and Water. A hoagie is a style of sandwich popular in Philadelphia and the surrounding region The bread is sliced lengthwise to form a cradle, similar to a hot dog bun. A hot dog is a type of fully-cooked cured and/or smoked moist Sausage of soft even texture and flavor A bun is a small usually sweet Bread. Commonly they are hand-sized or smaller domed in shape with a flat bottom

In the Philadelphia area, cheesesteaks are often made with rolls from Vilotti-Pisanelli or Amoroso's Baking Company. Amoroso's Baking Company is a Philadelphia based family-owned company that specializes in hearth baked breads and rolls ^[3]) Locals believe there is something about "Schuylkill Punch", the nickname for Philadelphia's drinking water, that, by its alkalinity, makes the rolls distinctively flaky and airy. The Schuylkill River, most often ˈskuːkəl ("SKOO-kull" is a river in the U Alkalinity or AT is a measure of the ability of a solution to neutralize acids to the Equivalence point of carbonate or bicarbonate

A cheesesteak may include other optional ingredients such as fried onions, sautéed green peppers, and mushrooms. Sautéing is a method of Cooking Food that uses a small amount of Fat in a shallow pan over relatively high heat "Green pepper" redirects here For green peppercorns see Black pepper. A mushroom is the fleshy Spore -bearing Fruiting body of a Fungus, typically produced above ground on soil or on its food source Some menus include mayonnaise, hot sauce, ketchup, or pizza sauce (a Pizza Steak, often with mozzarella as the cheese). Mayonnaise (sometime abbreviated to mayo in American English and other languages is a thick Condiment made primarily from Vegetable oil and Egg Ketchup (also spelled catsup or catchup) also known as tomato ketchup, tomato sauce, red sauce, Tommy sauce, Mozzarella is a generic term for several kinds of originally Italian Cheeses that are made using spinning and then cutting (hence the name the Italian verb

Cheese

White American cheese, provolone, and Cheez Whiz are the most frequently used cheeses and are available for steaks at most places. This article refers specifically to one type of cheese For other cheeses of the United States see List of American cheeses. Provolone is an Italian Cheese that originated in southern Italy, where it is still produced in various shapes as in 10 to 15 cm long pear shapes sausage Cheez Whiz is a thick Processed cheese sauce or spread sold by Kraft Foods. Swiss, cheddar, and mozzarella are available at a few locations; locals, however, will often say that a "true" Philadelphia cheesesteak is never made with Swiss cheese. ^[4]

Cheez Whiz, first marketed in 1952, was not yet available for the original 1930 version, but it has come to achieve some popularity. Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

A 1986 New York Times article called Cheez Whiz "the sine qua non of cheesesteak connoisseurs. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Please do NOT add the Battlestar Galactica episode "^[5] In a 1985 interview, Frank Olivieri (Pat Olivieri's nephew) said that he uses "the processed cheese spread familiar to millions of parents who prize speed and ease in fixing the children's lunch for the same reason, because it is fast. Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) "^[6]

A recipe published by Pat's King of Steaks says, with regard to cheese, "We recommend Cheez Whiz; American or Provolone works fine. A recipe is a set of instructions that show how to prepare or make something especially a culinary dish. Provolone is an Italian Cheese that originated in southern Italy, where it is still produced in various shapes as in 10 to 15 cm long pear shapes sausage "^[7] The proprietor of Geno's, however, considers provolone or American cheese more authentic, but Pat's introduction of Cheese Whiz allowed it to quickly become a "topping of choice. "^[8]

American

American cheese, with its mild flavor and medium consistency, is another favorite on cheesesteaks. This article refers specifically to one type of cheese For other cheeses of the United States see List of American cheeses. Some places pre-melt the American cheese to achieve a Cheez Whiz–like consistency, while others just put freshly cut slices over the meat, letting it slightly melt under the heat. Cheez Whiz is a thick Processed cheese sauce or spread sold by Kraft Foods.

Provolone

Mild, unaged provolone is almost universally offered. Provolone is an Italian Cheese that originated in southern Italy, where it is still produced in various shapes as in 10 to 15 cm long pear shapes sausage However, a Los Angeles reporter claimed that "provolone is the cheesesteak cheese, preferably an extra-sharp provolone with a distinctly savage bite. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West ". ^[9]

Other cheese

A few establishments have begun offering the new low-fat cheeses as health-conscious alternatives.

Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry requested Swiss cheese on a cheesesteak from Pat's during a visit to Philadelphia. The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. } John Forbes Kerry (born December 11 1943 is an American Politician who is currently serving his fourth term as the junior United States Senator This article describes a kind of cheese produced primarily in Canada and the United States. ^[10] Mozzarella cheese is also used, but mainly as a "pizza steak" and is rarely used as a regular steak.

Television chef and food scientist Alton Brown recommends Mimolette, a French cheese with a similar color and texture to cheddar. Alton Brown (born July 30 1962 in Los Angeles, California, United States) is an American food personality cinematographer author aircraft pilot and Mimolette is a cheese traditionally produced around the city of Lille, France (where it is also known as Boule de Lille) and also in some areas of Cheddar is a large Village and Civil parish in the district of Sedgemoor in the English county of Somerset. His Chain of Bull Cheese Steaks recipe uses Mimolette and offers no suggestions for alternatives. Mimolette is a cheese traditionally produced around the city of Lille, France (where it is also known as Boule de Lille) and also in some areas of

Variations

Numerous variations on the basic cheesesteak theme are offered by various vendors.

A steak sandwich topped with pizza sauce and sliced or crumbled mozzarella constitutes a pizza steak, which is often placed briefly in a pizza oven or under a broiler to melt and lightly brown the cheese. Pizza (ˈpiːtsə, in Italian:) is a popular dish made with an Oven -baked flat generally round Bread that is covered with tomatoes or a tomato-based A broiler is a type of Chicken or Turkey raised specifically for Meat production Some establishments offer sliced pepperoni as an optional topping, to make a pepperoni pizza steak. Pepperoni is a spicy Italian-American variety of Salami usually made from pork and beef It is a descendant of the spicy salamis of Southern Italy [1][2]

A Western cheesesteak has barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese, and bacon. Barbecue sauce (also abbreviated BBQ sauce) is a Liquid flavoring Sauce or Condiment ranging from watery to quite thick consistency Cheddar cheese is a relatively hard pale yellow to off-white and sometimes sharp-tasting Cheese from the English village of Cheddar, in Somerset Bacon is a cut of Meat taken from the sides belly or back of a Pig that has been cured, smoked, or both

A cheesesteak made with chicken is called a chicken cheesesteak, can be served with honey mustard. Or with buffalo wing sauce and bleu cheese dressing, which is called a buffalo chicken cheesesteak, drawing culinary inspiration from two cities in the United States. Buffalo wings, chicken wings, hot wings or wings are Chicken wing sections (called Wings or "flats" and drummettes [3]

Stephen Starr's Barclay Prime steakhouse offers a $100 cheesesteak sandwich made with Wagyu beef, seared foie gras, and black truffle shavings, accompanied by a glass of champagne. Stephen Starr is the owner of several restaurants in Philadelphia New York City and Atlantic City refers to several breeds of Cattle genetically predisposed to intense marbling and to producing a high percentage of oleaginous Unsaturated fat. Champagne is a Sparkling wine produced by inducing the in-bottle Secondary fermentation of Wine to effect Carbonation. [4]

Cultural etiquette

"How to order a steak" sign at Pat's.

Some South Philadelphia cheesesteak stands provide a defined protocol for ordering, consisting of the desired cheese and whether fried onions should ("wit") or should not ("witout," "widdout") be added. A common order in South Philadelphia is "Whiz, wit", meaning a cheesesteak with Cheez Whiz and fried onions. South Philadelphia Nicknamed "South Philly" is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north the Delaware River "Wit" (or "wid") is an approximation of the South Philadelphian pronunciation of "with," which is how the word is actually spelled on some menus. For example, "Give me a provo wit," is an order for a cheesesteak with provolone cheese and fried onions on top. ^[11] Orders for additional toppings, such as sautéed mushrooms or peppers, are typically done through a change of the name of the sandwich; i. e. "I'd like a pepper whiz wit", for a sandwich with peppers and onions and Cheez Whiz.

During the 2004 presidential campaign, candidate John Kerry ordered a cheesesteak with Swiss cheese in South Philadelphia. This article is about the Presidential Campaign of John Kerry, U } John Forbes Kerry (born December 11 1943 is an American Politician who is currently serving his fourth term as the junior United States Senator This article describes a kind of cheese produced primarily in Canada and the United States. According to the Philadelphia Daily News, "reporters snickered," because "in Philadelphia, ordering Swiss on a cheesesteak is like rooting for Dallas at an Eagles game. The Philadelphia Daily News is a Tabloid newspaper that began publishing on March 31, 1925, under founding editor Lee Ellmaker It isn't just politically incorrect; it could get you a poke in the nose. "^[12]

In 2005, before Super Bowl XXXIX, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney turned down a cheesesteak wager by Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell in the traditional pre-Super Bowl bet between leaders of the states represented in the game. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville Florida, to decide The Commonwealth of Massachusetts ( is a state located in the New England region of the northeastern United States. Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell (born January 5 1944) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. professional American football, the Super Bowl is the Championship game of the National Football League (NFL Rendell later told reporters, "He said the cheesesteak had no nutritional value. Nutrition (also called nourishment or aliment) is the provision to cells and Organisms of the materials necessary (in the form of food to support "^[13]

Famous locations

Among the many Philadelphia cheesesteak eateries, Pat's and Geno's Steaks are the best known (and most publicized). Pat's King of Steaks (also known as Pat's Steaks) is a Philadelphia Restaurant located at the intersection of 9th Street Wharton & Passyunk Avenues in Geno's Steaks is a Philadelphia Restaurant specializing in Cheesesteaks founded in 1966 by Joe Vento The rivals are located across the street from each other on 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia. South Philadelphia Nicknamed "South Philly" is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north the Delaware River ^[3][8]

Many Philadelphians proclaim allegiance to a particular steak shop as the maker of "the best" cheesesteak. There is much lively debate to be had in Philadelphia over what makes one establishment's cheesesteak better than another's. Street vendors also prepare and sell cheesesteaks from trucks and carts in and around the city, especially on the larger college campuses.

Pat's grandson, Rick Olivieri operates Rick's Steaks in the Reading Terminal Market. Reading Terminal Market is an enclosed Public market found at 12th and Arch Streets in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

As Patti LaBelle notes, "when we were growing up, Llona and I always went to the same little shop to get ours—this twenty-four-hour hole-in-the-wall that made the best ones in Philly. "^[14]

Best of Philly award winners

The following are winners of the Best of Philly awards from Philadelphia magazine.

Best Cheesesteak

• 2007: Steve's Prince of Steaks^[15]
• 2006: Johnny's Hots^[16]
• 2005: Tony Luke's^[17]
• 2004: Cosmi's Deli^[18]
• 2003: Chicks Deli^[19]
• 2002: Chink's^[20]
• 2002: Lorenzo's Pizza^[21]
• 2001: Pat's Steaks^[22]
• 2000: Geno's Steaks^[23]

Variations of Best Cheesesteak

• 2007 Best Cheesesteak Update 2007: Bliss^[24]
• 2007 Best Cheesesteak, Suburbs: Garrett Hill Pizza^[25]
• 2006 Best Cheesesteak, updated: Deuce Restaurant & Bar^[26]

Cheesesteaks elsewhere

In other parts of North America, many sandwich shops offer their own versions of the cheesesteak. Pat's King of Steaks (also known as Pat's Steaks) is a Philadelphia Restaurant located at the intersection of 9th Street Wharton & Passyunk Avenues in Geno's Steaks is a Philadelphia Restaurant specializing in Cheesesteaks founded in 1966 by Joe Vento However, according to Pennsylvania Governor and former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell, cooks outside Philadelphia can't produce an authentic Philly cheesesteak because, "first, they use good meat. Edward Gene "Ed" Rendell (born January 5 1944) is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. You need the fattiest, stringiest meat to get a proper taste. . . The second mistake is, they use real cheese. Real cheese doesn't melt like Cheez Whiz. Cheez Whiz is a thick Processed cheese sauce or spread sold by Kraft Foods. . . And third, when they fry their onions, they actually drain off the grease. You can't do that. "^[27]

Another missing element in most cheesesteaks outside Philadelphia is the use of Vilotti-Pisanelli or Amoroso's rolls, which are used by most cheesesteak places in Philadelphia. Amoroso's Baking Company is a Philadelphia based family-owned company that specializes in hearth baked breads and rolls ^[3] There are, however, some restaurants outside of Philadelphia that have Amoroso rolls or dough shipped to them.

See also

• Steak sandwich
• Louis' Lunch

References