Saturday, February 26, 2011

Weekend Cooking..The Perfect Cheesesteak?



I am really not a big sandwich eater, but if you read my blog, you might not know that. Several times over the course of my Weekend Cooking posts, it seems that I have written about favorite sandwiches and this week are we going to take a look at what is maybe my very favorite...The Cheesesteak.

The cheesesteak is a Philadelphia classic and every fan has their favorite cheesesteak emporium. Famous is the competition between two Philly shops, Geno's and Pat's, but in my mind, without question, the crown of best cheesesteak belong squarely some 60 miles west, in Atlantic City, at the world famous White House Subs. You have never heard of the White House? Well, let's take care of that!

To my mind there is a Philadelphia style cheesesteak, which is ok, and then there is a perfect cheesesteak, the White House cheesesteak, which is very, very good.
Some things are the same. The meat used is usually very, very thinly rib-eyed steak that is fried on a griddle, usually chopped up with a metal spatula as it cooks. Sometimes it is cooked on a bed of onions, so the meat does not dry out and become overly done. But from the minute that you put it on bread, the differences take over. In Philly, they use a softer, torpedo shaped roll, a soft roll, often the Amoroso brand. Eeek! No, a really good sandwich deserves a really good roll and in the Atlantic City area that means a fine, fine bread like those found at Formica's Bakery, conveniently located just down the street from the White House. A whole sub will use the full, thin, long loaf of bread, a 'half' will be...well, half a loaf, about 12 inches long. Firm, chewy, delicious and able to stand up to the hot, moist ingredients of a cheesesteak without falling apart.

Then there is the cheese. Many places in Philly offer Cheese Whiz or American cheese on their cheesesteaks. Oh, heavens, that is so, so wrong. The cheese must be real provolone cheese. Period. Cheese Whiz is an abomination.

Now, some variations are allowable. Fried peppers, certainly those aforementioned fried onions, may be added. Sometimes tomato sauce is added, making a pizza cheesesteak. Messy, but good. For beef haters (you poor people) there are chicken cheesesteaks, where the chicken is also chopped up as it cooks. For non-meat eaters, at many places you can get a hot veggie sub, where a variety of veggies, like spinach, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, onions are fried up, topped with cheese on the grill, with the split roll tented over it for a minute to melt the cheese then slid into that lovely Formica roll. Personally, I am a fan of the cheesesteak hoagie, where the cooked meat and cheese, cooked on that White House grill that has seem countless sandwiches ahead of yours, are topped with fresh tomato and lettuce, hot peppers on the side, all wrapped in white paper, and slipped into a brown paper bag for you to take out.
Perfection!

They do serve other subs and I am sure they are quite good. I know the Italian is excellent, bursting with a variety of cold cuts and cheese and there are also turkey and tuna and a whole board on the wall listing others I have never had..because how can I not get the cheesesteak when I am there??
The White House is an Atlantic City institution, with photos of countless celebrities that have eaten there over the decades lining the walls. And speaking of lines, you will often find one in the summer, winding out the door as people wait to snag one of the booths inside. The pace inside can be frantic and to tell the truth, I often find the people who work there rather intimidating. Best to call in your order ahead when they are busy, and have someone circle the block in the car as someone else runs in to get that fragrant paper bag, full of cheesesteak goodness.
Did I mention perfection?



This is my contribution this to this week's Weekend Cooking.
"Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend."
Be sure to check out the other entries this week. As always, hosted by Beth Fish Reads.


21 comments:

  1. I love, love, love a good cheesesteak. I have never had one with the Cheese Whiz stuff (thank the lord), but I have had them with American cheese. The American is not horrible, but I'm with you. *must* be provolone. I need me the onions in my Philly cheesesteak, and I agree the roll is important.

    One of our other favorites is a the cheeseteak stromboli. OMG yummmm. And shoot. Now I know what I want for dinner.

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  2. Daniel and I had our first ever cheesesteaks when we were in Philly early this month. Everyone told us to skip Pat and Geno's and go to South St. (I think it was Jim's, but not sure). Quite an experience - but not something I could eat more than once a year!

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  3. Yow, Cheez Whiz? Is that really a food or a chemical concoction? Of course in Podunk, it's hard to find anything that even remotely sounds this good. Your pic made my mouth water . . . . must be time for breakfast. Have a good weekend!

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  4. The last time I was in Philly was the first time for my husband and son. One of our missions was to find a great cheesesteak. When we walked into the diner and started looking at the menu, the owner chuckled at us and then proceeded to order for us. I'm not sure where we were, but we all thought our sandwiches were delicious.

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  5. I had a great philly cheesesteak at a restaurant years ago in Okoboji, IA. Really. It sounds just like you described but I've searched for it since and found poor substitutes. Never been to Atlantic City but it might be worth the trip.

    Chez Whiz is not cheese-blech. I can't even deal with American.

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  6. Looks like a good authentic cheesecake!

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  7. oh, yum! when we went to philly last year we had a cheesesteak at the ritz hotel which was pretty good too!

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  8. Cheez Whiz is not food. When I see it poured over nachos or sandwiches that is a place where I don't want to eat.

    I've never had a cheesesteak. I know, I know, I should get out more! But in Chicago where would I even find a good one? I do know where all the good beef stands are though!

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  9. I am sure there are some pretty good ones in Philly...and yes Marie, The Ritz Carlton might have one. I mat be staying there in the near future and if I do, I will check it out.
    But for me, the key is the bread. Did I mention that they pull out some of the center of the roll to make a nice nest for the fillings..I find it hard to do myself but it makes sense.

    oh yes Beth, you are so right about a cheesesteak stromboli. but honesty, I am more forgiving about a stromboli. not sure I ever met a stromboli I did not like....

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  10. Haha! Yes, I've seen cheese whiz on cheesesteaks and I agree it's absurd. Provolone all the way. I'm not sure where to find good cheesesteaks down here in Texas but yum...you've got my mouth watering!

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  11. My mouth is watering. I haven't had a good Philly Cheesesteak in a very long time and Atlantic city is totally doable for me. Thanks for this tip. Of course, the more southern part of the Jersey shore is loaded with Philadelphians (not what you see on TV) who love their cheesesteak.

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  12. yes, we have lots of Philly folk, especially in the summer. What can we do? ;-)
    But we have the better cheesesteaks.

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  13. Never heard of cheesesteaks! Thanks for educating me. :-)

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  14. OMG! White House cheesesteaks sound so good!!! My mouth is watering! :-) I cant' believe anyone would put something other than provolone cheese on one. Yuck!

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  15. I have never had a cheesesteak-this does look good.

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  16. That looks like a yummy sandwich. Sounds much messier than the rather tidy sandwiches we get in the Midwest!

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  17. I want me one of these! No one around here sells this kind of sandwich and they always sound so,so yummy!

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  18. Well, I'm not going to fight with you about cheesesteaks until I've sampled your nomination for the best. Then I'll get back to you.

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  19. you try it...and then let me know you you think wins the Crown....and if it has Cheese Whiz...well, I will be upset.

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  20. Philly cheesesteaks are a favorite around here. We have been to Philly to get the originas but, all the restarants around us carry them on their menus.

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