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
Category: Pennsylvania (Page 3 of 5)
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day
HAPPY NATIONAL PLUM PUDDING DAY!
Mormon Pastrami
Mad Hungry Woman’s Dinner at Bon Ton of New Orleans
Mardi Gras Time at Galatoire’s
Tony Luke’s Coming to Manayunk (and MD and FL)
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?
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
A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day
HAPPY NATIONAL BRANDY ALEXANDER DAY!
A Ton-and-a-Half of Corned Beef
Powdrell’s of Albuquerque to Be Honored
Chicago Wining and Dining on Valentine’s Day
Revello’s Old Forge Pizza Coming to Kingston
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
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
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
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
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