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Some sources say that the sandwich was originally thin sliced ribeye
marinated in pizza sauce (more commonly known as a Pizza Steak today) until
Pat's put cheese on it. Therefore, South Philly, especially the corner of 9th and
Passyunk, have become "Mecca" to cheesesteak loving people everywhere. It
stands to reason, then, when in the
"City of Brotherly
Love" one does not
order a "Philly Cheesesteak" or a "Philly"; they order a "Cheesesteak". It is
outside of metropolitan Philadelphia that the terms "Philly" and "Cheesesteak"
are synonymous and interchangeable.
Through the years, the "Philly" has developed into a versatile and adaptable
sandwich from its basic roots of steak and cheese on a roll. When I say roll, I
mean an Amoroso
Roll, baked only in Philadelphia! Regionally, there
are several variations. For instance, in the Midwest one will find onions,
mushrooms and White American Cheese as the norm most times. In
Wisconsin, cheddar cheese, obviously, makes for a tasty sandwich. Out west,
onions, green peppers and Monterey Jack cheese are common. Also Mexican
and southwest fare are big influences on the sandwich: olives, sour cream and
Jalapeno peppers. In California and along the Pacific Coast, the sourdough is
the roll of choice. In Texas and the South, coleslaw, baked beans and pepper
jack cheese are also found.
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