Monday Morning Cheesesteak Rant

So, yeah, my blog is called “Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts”, but I really don’t rant all that much. I’m a pretty easy going person, I usually keep my opinions pretty quiet so as not to offend people, but today I can’t help myself. Over the weekend I found out something that was quite upsetting.

Buried way down in an article on phillies.com about changes at the ballpark for the upcoming season, was a single sentence that mentioned a new cheese steak vendor. This means that no longer will I be able to get one of these:

cheesesteaks101-header.jpg

Rick’s Steaks. What I consider one of the very best cheesesteaks I have ever eaten. Granted, you can feel your arteries clogging up just looking at it. But it is a gloriously greasy, gooey bite of cheesesteak heaven. The perfect ratio of meat, cheese, and the all-important sauteed onions.

Not that I have anything against the new vendor, Campo’s, but it’s just that not all cheesesteaks are created the same. I’m sure that there are those who may prefer the Campo’s version, but once you have found the perfect cheesesteak for you, it’s very difficult to enjoy any other version.

Rick’s website even has instructions for preparing a cheesesteak at home, but the last time I tried to make cheesesteaks indoors, all the sizzling juices caused every smoke detector in my house to go off. The builder of our house seems to have thought that it was not necessary to install an exhaust fan over the cooktop that actually exhausts to the outside, but that a microwave with an exhaust fan that shoots the air back out into the kitchen would suffice! Idiots! And the house smelled like cheesesteaks for the next day or so.

So if I’m at the ballpark this summer and have a cheesesteak craving, I’ll probably give the new vendor a try. Maybe it won’t live up to my cheesesteak standards. But maybe that will be a good thing for my arteries! 

(cheesesteak image from http://www.rickssteaks.com/cheesesteaks101.html)

17 comments

  6. rrrt

    Melissa – if you’re ever in Philly you’ll have to try one, maybe you just haven’t had the right cheesesteak! 🙂
    Kaybee – yes, maybe it’s for the best (loaded with cholesterol, I’m sure)
    Julia – that’s right, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it! Moderation is key; we’re talking maybe once or twice a season for me.
    Jane – and I wasn’t even trying to follow the Rick’s version, I was just using Steak-umms from the grocery store. Maybe I’d have a different outcome if I tried it with better quality meat.
    Greg – they do look good, don’t they?

    Reply
  9. raysrenegade

    Hopefully they will offer both types of cheesy goodness at your own direction. You know cheese whiz or that provolone melted on top. You have to think they might have both options to make the fans feel more at home.
    I guess we will find out on Friday night if it is a real deal, or just a poser trying to be a cheesesteak………….got to love it when they mess with tradition.

    Rays Renegade

    http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com

    Reply
  13. diamonddiva

    OK, so at lunchtime, I decided to take a quick look at what’s been written in some of the blogs today. When I popped in here and saw that picture, I knew immediately that the salad I brought for lunch just wasn’t going to cut it…I HAD to get a cheesesteak! I didn’t even sign in to my account here…I just went right out for lunch. *sigh* Well, I guess I can have the salad for dinner. BTW, I thought Pat’s and Geno’s cheesesteaks were supposed to be the best in Philly. That’s what I heard on the Food Network! 🙂
    Shelley
    http://diamonddiva.mlblogs.com/

    Reply
  14. rockymountainway

    That’s heart breaking you lost your favorite cheese steak vendor. Believe it or not where I live in Colorado we have a little mom and pop place from Philly and its a take and go no sit down but they cook it right in front of you. I would be very sad the day they closed down, especially if they were at the ball park!
    Tom
    http://rockymountainway.mlblogs.com

    Reply
  16. rrrt

    Kathy – before you try it at home make sure you have a functioning exhaust fan!
    Fran – I agree, they are awesome!
    Renegade – I don’t love it when they mess with my favorites! But to be fair I will probably give the new one a try.
    PittPeas – the only good thing? Sorry, but I respectfully disagree.
    zkonedog – I hope that your Dome Dogs survive unscathed!
    Shelley – Yes, Pat’s and Geno’s are the two biggies when it comes to Philly cheesesteaks, mostly because they are rival establishments located on opposite corners from each other in South Philly. Rick Olivieri, of Rick’s, is the grandson of Pat Olivieri, of Pat’s. So he comes from good cheesesteak lineage, though the two businesses are separate, and according to the Rick’s Steaks website, the sandwiches are different as well. As for the Food Network, I’m sure they mentioned those two because of the rivalry I mentioned, and they’ve been in business longer than some of the others. I’ve had Pat’s, and they’re good, but I’ve never tried Geno’s. Geno’s caught some flak last year for having signs that stated you had to order in English only. Don’t know if the signs are still there or not.
    Tom – Philly transplants, huh!? If I’m ever in Colorado I’ll have to check it out.

    Reply

Leave a reply to diamonddiva Cancel reply