Philly Cheesesteak

It’s a beautiful thing that, in this country, everyone can have an opinon. Want to see freedom of speech exercised? Just ask a few people in Philly who has the best cheesesteak.

As far as the media is concerned, it comes down to Pat’s or Geno’s. As far as the construction workers, the students, the hairstylists, the office workers, the park rangers and dog walkers are concerned, there are no crowned kings.

There are deli shops and steak shops and sandwich stands and hot trucks all over the city and most of them offer their own version of the city’s favorite icon. Maybe it has to do with which stand is closest to your work, or maybe it’s your personal feeling about the kind of cheese used, but everyone has a definitive preference.

I have to say that I’ve had some good hot truck sandwiches, and that the Pat’s, Geno’s, Rick’s, Jim’s debate is sound and possibly never-ending. But the best steak I had was brought to me by a friend from D’Alessandro’s in Roxborough. The beef was tender, the roll was fresh and chewy and didn’t sog-out. Sometimes the cheese overpowers, but not with this one. And the onions didn’t taste like grill oil, they were sharp with an inch of sweetness.

I must admit, on the journey I did stray and fall in love with the other sandwich of the city: the roasted pork sandwich…particularly at Chubbies (5826 Henry Ave).