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Category: Pennsylvania (Page 3 of 5)

Checking In at: Lou’s Steak Shop, Norristown PA

The Chris half of ayersian and Bruce are sitting at the counter, waiting for their cheesesteak and zep, when an elderly gentleman approaches the register. Says the woman at the register, loud enough for half the place to hear: “Next time you decide to use the ladies room, put the seat down!” It sounds meaner on the page than it really was. They obviously have a history. That’s life at Lou’s. There’s no such thing as anonymity. Unlike at that Italian chain, when you’re here, you really are treated like family! Continue reading

American Sardine Bar, Philadelphia PA

REVIEW

Our mini-cheesesteak tour of Philadelphia brought us to American Sardine Bar. Now we understood that the Sardine is by no means a cheesesteak joint – it’s an anti-hipster/hipster pub with a reputation for quirky quality bar food. Nonetheless we’d read that they served a mean cheesesteak done Pittsburgh-style with fries and slaw on the steak, and we felt like a beer, so here we were. And, of course, there was no cheesesteak on the blackboard menu. Continue reading

First Day of Spring Means Free Rita’s Italian Ice

It’s been an annual tradition for 23 years. On the first day of spring, all of the hundreds of Rita’s locations will distribute free Italian ice (or water ice as it’s known around Philadelphia), from noon until 9 p.m. That day, this year, is Friday, March 20th. Don’t know where your nearest Rita’s is? Check here. If you live anywhere in Eastern Pennsylvania or New Jersey we can guarantee there is a Rita’s near you. Their coverage in the rest of the country is spotty.

Chamberlain’s Roast Beef, Garnet Valley PA

REVIEW

Across much of the US, roast beef sandwiches are The People’s Choice; regardless of the local specialties, you’re likely to see some kind of roast beef sandwich on the menus, and tables, of bars and casual eateries. People love ’em. So do we. Sometimes served cold, often served hot with gravy, the meat is generally thinly sliced, and the sandwiches, satisfying as they may be, generally have a commercial quality to them; they don’t often resemble home cooking. Continue reading

Campo’s Deli, Philadelphia PA

REVIEW

As we take our first bites out of our good cheesesteaks from Campo’s we are reminded once again of one of our basic street food tenets. For hoagies, subs, heroes, or whatever you want to call the torpedo-shaped cold cut sandwiches, we want the best bread available, with good chew and well-developed flavor. For hot torpedo sandwiches like cheesesteaks, veal parm heroes, or roast pork rabe, we prefer the bread to be less assertive. Continue reading

Pennsylvania Maple Festival, Meyersdale PA, March 21st through 22nd & 25th through 29th 2015

One day in early 1947, Kate Smith mentioned on her radio show how much she would enjoy a taste of Vermont maple. The local citizens of Somerset County in Pennsylvania, inspired by this comment, sent her some of their own Pennsylvania brew. Kate’s response? In April, she proclaimed on her show that Somerset County maple syrup is the sweetest she ever tasted! And so the seed was planted for the Pennsylvania Maple Festival in Meyersdale, which was first held the following March. Continue reading

Sonny’s, Philadelphia PA

REVIEW

There’s not a lot of variables in a Philadelphia cheesesteak. In its classic configuration there’s a roll, meat, cheese, onions, and garnishes. While there’s some play in each of the five variables there’s really not much a cheesesteak joint can do to clearly stand out from the crowd, despite what most writers on the subject would have you believe. Some are better than others, sure, but we find that the day-to-day and month-to-month variation from the same joint is greater than the variation between joints. Which means your favorite today might not be your favorite if you compare tomorrow, or next month. So don’t get too bent out of shape seeking out the one place that someone claimed makes the best. Go to any of the dozen or so places frequently named and you’ll likely enjoy the results. Continue reading

LAF in the A.M. February 24th, 2015

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

 HAPPY NATIONAL TORTILLA CHIP DAY!

A Comparative View, Through Donut Holes, of Seattle and Portland

Best Pizza in CT (and, Therefore, the U.S.)

Fried Chicken: America’s Top 21

Third Saint Cupcake Opening in Portland OR

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LAF in the A.M. February 19th, 2015

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL CHOCOLATE MINT DAY!

Gus’s Fried Chicken Going National

Dining Out in Snowy Portland ME

The Best of Carolina BBQ

The Best American BBQ Cities

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LAF in the A.M. February 5th, 2015

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL CHOCOLATE FONDUE DAY!

North Carolina Sandwiches

Zimmern Does Boston

Green Dragon of Ephrata Begins Rebuilding

How Does Shake Shack Do It?

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LAF in the A.M. February 4th, 2015

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL HOMEMADE SOUP DAY!

Joe’s Steaks of Philly Opening 2nd Location

Deli Man Opening February 27

Shake Shack Coming to Bridgewater NJ

Cozy Corner of Memphis Update

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LAF in the A.M. January 25th, 2015

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL IRISH COFFEE DAY!

45 Minute Line for State College Primanti Opening

Rating the NYC Jewish Delis for Authenticity

Zimmern’s Favorite Foods in 5 Cities

Super Bowl XLIX Oyster Platter

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LAF in the A.M. January 19th, 2015

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL POPCORN DAY!

The Lake Perch King of NW Indiana

Primanti in State College

Don’t Ask for Mayo on a Muffuletta! and Other Sandwich Truths

Pizza: New-School Defeats Old-School in Brooklyn

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LAF in the A.M. January 14th, 2015

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL HOT PASTRAMI SANDWICH DAY!

Portland Pie Comes to Biddeford, ME

Braise & Brew at Middleton Place of Charleston, SC

Chicago’s Ann Sather Replaced by Giordano’s

Abner Silver, Owner of Jim’s Steaks on South St. in Philly, Has Died

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LAF in the A.M. January 9th, 2015

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL APRICOT DAY!

38 Essential American Restaurants

5 Favorites in St. Bernard Parish

A Manhattan Clam Chowder Reverie

Cozy Corner of Memphis Closed After Fire

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The Carmelcorn Shop, Easton PA

REVIEW

Are you someone who looks through a bag of potato chips to find the darkest ones? Is your favorite part of the pizza the burnt edge of the crust? Do you keep the toaster down until it starts to smoke? If so, we have a treat for you. Continue reading

LAF in the A.M. December 24th, 2014

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

El Charro New Concessionaire for Tucson’s Rillito Park Track

Greenwich, CT’s Méli-Mélo Looking to Expand

Chicago Writer Approves of Chicago Shake Shack

Graeter’s Coming to Chicago Region

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