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Ten-Word Tuesday. The Local Food Edition

Once upon a time in Bossy’s hometown of Philadelphia lived a cheesesteak. In fact many cheesesteaks live in Philly, and for sport, Philadelphia natives like to argue which cheesesteak is the best. Dalessandro’s, Jim’s Steaks — you could fill a sports arena with the various opinions, and in fact, here in Philly, we do just that.

But from Bossy’s point of view, the best cheesesteak has always been Pat’s.

pats-steaks-philly-iambossy

Pat’s Steaks is located in the heart of South Philadelphia, which means Rocky jogged past it on his way to the Art Museum steps. On the opposing corner is yet another cheesesteak place, Geno’s, which is arguably the best, emphasis on argue.

To this end, a couple of months ago Bossy’s son devised a taste test to determine which of these two Philadelphia mainstays, located at the same intersection, truly makes the best cheesesteak.

bossys-son-pats-steaks

The results were inconclusive. Bossy’s son’s best friend appreciated the fact that Geno’s doesn’t chop their meet to the degree that Pat’s does, and overall the taste-testers agreed that Geno’s did a better job of assimilating the cheese with the bread. However Bossy’s son decided that when the bite was perfect, containing the exact ratio of cheese to bread to chopped steak and fried onions, you can’t beat Pat’s.

Meanwhile Bossy determined Geno’s has one thing Pat’s definitely does not have:

genos-sign-window-iambossy

Bossy can sum up her city’s local delicacy, and who makes it best, in this way: Tony Luke’s Pork Broccoli Rabe with Provolone probably beats cheesesteaks.

Which is what today’s Ten-Word Challenge is all about. In exactly ten words, can you tell Bossy about your local delicacy, and where to get it?

And be sure to check back later today for the best resource list of regional food on the web!

If you missed last week’s Ten-Word challenge, go here to read about the many interesting crossroads Bossy’s council has encountered in their lives.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  4. Pierogies, halushki, halupki, and potato pancakes, found at any local church bazaar in the Wyoming Valley of NE PA. Mmmmm, I love summer in NE PA!

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  9. Two Nathan’s Hot Dogs with banana/pistachio soft serve swirl at Denny’s. From where else? Brooklyn!

    (Yeah, that was longer than 10 words….you wanna make something of it?)

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  16. Chowder (red or white) from Smitty’s (you can’t lick our clams) Clam Bar in Somers Point NJ.

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  19. Am I weird? I don’t think I have ever had a cheese steak. And my little town? It isn’t exactly known for it’s food. There are a couple of Applebee’s chains and a a couple of pizza places. I did a little dance when a sushi place opened. I wasn’t impressed though. I did like their Coconut Lemongrass soup though.

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  25. That’s one reason I don’t like Geno’s, though I always thought their steaks were tastier. I think next time I will just ask Pat’s to put extra wiz on my steak. All that said, who knows what the people at Pat’s believe about immigration….but at least they don’t advertise it.

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  26. I am originally from Maryland so our claim to fame has to be the jumbo lump crabcake. I favor a local eatery in Solomon’s Island, MD called Stoneys – my husband adores another local eatery with several locations including Annapolis, MD called Jerry’s Seafood. No matter who says they have the best crabcake one thing should always be the same JUMBO LUMP Blue Crab Meat.

    Also thanks for the heads about Tony Luke’s Pork Broccoli Rabe with Provolone, sounds divine. Speaking of Broccoli Rabe – first time I ever ate it was at a local Philadelphia eatery called Monk’s Cafe. Take about great mussels, burgers, and fries. So good!!!

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  35. What could be more local than ones own backyard? It’s yielded unbelievably delicious avocado, rose apples, pomelos, apple bananas, rare yellow strawberry guava, and currently, the best lychee we’ve ever tasted. It’s breaking my heart to leave it.

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  37. Not an entry (Cupertino CA has, what??? Other than incredibly delicious and eclectic ethnic food of all persuasions, I’m stumped) just a rousing cheer for you for publicly dissing that sign, Bossy. In Philly of all places you’d think there would be *some* awareness that we all originally came from “someplace else”!

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  40. We travel the 40 minutes south on 95 to Tony Lukes. I must say their chicken cutlet hoagie wit sharp is by far the best

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  41. Portugues Bread@ Something Natural……………
    I miss Nantucket!!!
    (painter’s backs are lovely this time of year also!)

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  49. Dinosaur Bar-B-Que pulled pork Syracuse, Rochester or NY, NY dinosaurbarbque.com

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  55. Have enjoyed reading your website for a couple of years now. Have tried to ignore all political commenting thus far. Can’t anymore. Won’t be back. I didn’t come from somewhere else: I came from here. My ancestors came from somewhere else. Legally. Then learned the language and customs. I am thankful that they did. It’s what I would do now if I emigrated to a non-English speaking country. Legally. Learn the language. Not try to turn it into the country I just left. Tolerance is good. Too much tolerance is dangerous. Have a good life, Bossy.

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  64. My ten word Tuesday response fails word limits – Sorry Bossy.

    Because – I’m with Bossy as far as Geno’s. Except that I won’t eat beef, or whatever other red meat substance from which “cheese steak” is made. Which brings me to another point – how come Bossy didn’t get derailed about “What is *cheese steak* exactly?” That is precisely the type of thing Bossy would ask!

    The sign is bad. Also, why is “Speak English” in quotes? Is it like air quotes? A joke of some sort? A snide commentary? I do not know.

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  72. Okay, I have to tell this story.
    Our favorite Mexican restaurant is owned/run by immigrants. One night we were in there and there was a table of 16 next to us. The children were running wild. The adults were taking turns standing outside the front door smoking. One of the women ordered a “chimaneychangey”. The waitress asked her to repeat what kind of “chimaneychangey” she would like. The woman rolled her eyes and said “the normal kind.” When the poor waitress left the table the woman said to her friend “I wish when they come to this country they’d learn to speak the langige”.

    My teenager said under her breath – “I wish she’d learn to speak the langige.”

    Guess the folks at Geno’s don’t care for tourist dollars do they?

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  74. I’m torn … between agreeing with Michele about Georgia’s boiled p-nuts … and the super, fabulous Portuguese rolls I bring home by the suitcase-full from Palmer’s Supermarket in Darien, CT …

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  80. cliched rivalry Pepe’s and Sally’s. Pepe’s known for white clam pizza.

    Oddly, Americans abroad are renowned for speaking English not the native tongue of the land they are visiting, truly believing that slowly and loudly helps.
    Also skirt flouncing exiter Sheryl -how do you know the non-English speaking immigrant is illegal.? The immigration officer that made me write my English sentence had worse English than I did. My sentence was “I came here today by bus and train”. Rocket science !!!! There was a spelling error on the 5 question test that they gave me.
    And my last cynical comment is ; it’s absolutely amazing how everyone’s ancestors were the perfect immigrant. The country must have had zero crime, zero unemployment and zero other languages to be heard. Amazing!

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  84. Chicago: hot dog from Woofy’s, pizza from Lou Malnati’s.

    St. Louis: salad from Pasta House; toasted ravioli from Culpeppers; concrete from Ted Drewe’s, gooey butter cake (my favorite bakery closed but it’s everywhere).

    I hope I don’t encounter a similar sign when I go to France this summer or I’m in trouble.

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  86. If I found a similar sign in a non English speaking country, it wouldn’t bother me. I wouldn’t be able to read it.

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  91. Jims jims jims jims jims jims jims jims jims jims

    And people who put up a sign insisting that others speak English really ought to make sure they have mastered it themselves. Those quotes have no business being there. The panda says, “No.”

    I’d really better learn some Italian before I go to Rome this summer.

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  93. Can I second Dawn in Austin? oh my lordy Torchy’s queso is my favorite food in my home away from home city of Austin.

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  96. Wow, more politics than poi today!!! And violators of 10 word tuesday!!! I’ll violate too…..crab and spinach quesadilla they took off menu @ Boathouse in Conshy….and as far as the politics, whether you agree w/ Joey Vento or not, he has the 1st ammendment right to say it, just as Bossy has the right to boycott his business if she doesn’t agree w/ him, and if he doesn’t choose to accept tourist dollars, that’s his choice too. While I see Joey Vento’s point and agree w/ him, I also go out of my way to speak spanish if it helps someone understand, because it’s hard to be in a place that doesn’t speak your language whether you are a tourist or here illegally, and who says they aren’t trying to learn?. Can’t punish all for the sins of a few, and I hope when I travel somewhere, and fumble at my attempts to speak their language, they are kind to me. Joey V’s just frustrated at the illegals and the financial stress it puts the country into. Bossy, I won’t stop reading 🙂

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  98. I already commented but just wanted to put my additional two cents in. I think Geno’s is referring to the whole Wit and Wit Out, maybe? It has been so long I forgot how to order at Pat’s. : )

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  99. Strawberries and asparagus. Not together, of course. Any local farm.

    So, that was 10 words, but needed to qualify – I am in Southern Oxfordshire, UK. Our local strawberries and asparagus right now are AWESOME.

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  107. St. Louis–for toasted ravioli or any Italian food skip the chains and go straight to The Hill. Adrianna’s is my favorite!

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  108. Best.Indian.Food.Ever. Hema’s Kitchen off Devon in Chicago. Love it. Even my Indian American mother in law loves it.

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