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Georges Perrier serves Carolyn.
Can the Maestro of Le-Bec Fin Please a Cheesesteak Expert?
The Philadelphia Inquirer's Michael Klein gets a five-star chef to make me a cheesesteak. (Can life get any better?) Read the food page story, view photos and watch video.
The Great Philly Cheesesteak Book on the 10! Show
Host Bill Henley and I spar over my assertion that democracy might be less important than cheesesteaks: Watch Video
25 Things Betcha Didn't Know About Cheesesteaks
Philadelphia Inquirer writer Peter Mucha extracts some fascinating facts from the book: Philly.com
“Main Line Today” Likes Us!
We make this mag’s Things We Like column for a “more informative and colorful take” on cheesesteaks than the “typical … ranking of establishments.” Read the full item here.
Top 5 Los Angeles' Cheesesteaks
The stars aren’t all on movie sets, as LA Weekly blogger/ex-Philadelphian Tami Fertig and I discovered on our tour of LA cheesesteak places, which you can read about here.
World Series Cheesesteak Coverage
I literally “drop in” as the cheesesteak expert during the last minute of this LA Dodgers Web site video about ex-Philadelphian Randy Wolf’s picks for best cheesesteak places. And I identified some of the best NYC cheesesteak stands for Philadelphians visiting for the big games as a guest blogger for Time Out New York.
"Food Wars" Expert Witness
I talk cheesesteaks, roast pork and Reading Terminal Market in this video backgrounder produced in conjunction with the Travel Channel’s “Food Wars” cheesesteak show I helped judge.
Off to See the Whiz
I talk American vs. Whiz, the perfect melding of cheesesteak ingredients, and Claymont Steak in this Mark Mobley article on Andrew Zimmern's Appetite for Life msn.com site.
Choice Review from Hamburger Fan
“One of my favorite food books so far this year. … An excellent read for those Philadelphia ex-pats who miss their favorite sandwich or casual cheesesteak fans who would like to know more,” said the Hamburger Calculus blog of fast food obsessives. Click here for the full write-up.
Cheesesteaks on the "End of Summer" edition of WHYY's "A Chef's Table"
Jim Coleman and I chat about the cheesesteak bike ride and cheesesteak products and recipes about 20 minutes into this show.
Tour De Grease
KYW radio's Hadas Kuznits reports on the July 11 cheesesteak ride (in print and via audio podcast).
Cheesesteak bike riders with Tony Luke Jr.
A Bike Ride -- and a Book -- That Could Only Happen in Philly
"You do not get it your way" at local cheesesteak stands and that's a good thing, I explain to Betsy Price in her excellent July 10 Wilmington News Journal feature story.
Rethinking a Philly Classic
"A really entertaining read," Arthur Etchells says in his Metro column The Bite. Read the full column here ReadMetro.com
Telling You Everything You Wanted to Know (and Then Some) About Cheesesteaks
A Q&A with the Phawker Web site's Sydney Scott: Here
Meat and Greet
Everything you wanted to know about Carolyn Wyman (and probably more) in this very nice South Philly Review feature by Ashley Nguyen.
Damn I Like This Book!
"Sure to be a conversation starter at your next party," says Hali Felice at Damn I Like That! DamnILikeThat.com
My City Paper story about some of the great lesser-known Philly area steak shops I discovered while working on the book. Read the story here: CityPaper.net
Click here to read side stories about Conshohocken Bakery's great rolls CityPaper.net and Chocolate by Mueller's chocolate cheesesteak: CityPaper.net
My video visit with the Mullan brothers of Leo's Steak Shop in Folcroft. Blip.tv
One of the city's most popular steakeries survives a shaky transition on its way to the big 50 in my fall 2010 City Paper story. Visit citypaper.net to read more.
A place need not resemble a bus station to serve a good cheesesteak as my City Paper story about the Wit or Witout mini-chain and the new Claymont Steak in Newark, Del. illustrates.
So if looks aren't that important, what is? Read my four-point field guide to spotting a promising source of cheesesteaks.
It's actually one of three iconic sandwiches still made where they debuted, as my cover story for American Profile magazine explains.
Chickie's & Pete's
Lobster Cheesesteak
With the economy the way it is, it’s probably no surprise that the Barclay Prime’s $100 lobster-and-truffle-topped cheesesteak, complete with accompanying split of Veuve Clicquot, is no more. The Great Recession alternative: Chickie’s & Pete’s lobster cheesesteak for $13.
Chickie’s & Pete’s owner Pete Ciarrocchi said he didn’t even know that Barclay’s famous cheesesteak featured lobster near the end of its run (switched from the original foie gras, after protests from animal rights activists). Instead he said his lobster cheesesteak menu addition was in response to the tremendous growth in cheesesteak sales since opening three Chickie’s & Pete’s at Philadelphia International Airport.
Of course, most locals know and love the boisterous Northeast and South Philly sports bars for their seafood and the seafoody-seasoned crinkle-cut French fries. But, Ciarrocchi discovered, “Travelers gotta have a cheesesteak before they leave town.” So Ciarrocchi thought it would be wise to give them more options than just the basic cheesesteak that has been on Chickie’s & Pete’s menu since Ciarrocchi opened the first bar with his late mom Chickie in 1977. Hence Chickie’s & Pete’s new cheesesteak nachos, and lobster-and-cheese-sauce-topped steak sandwich. The latter was a no-brainer considering how much lobster his restaurants already sell and have on hand. He likens the taste to “surf and turf on a roll” and says sales have grown every week since its November 2008 introduction.
At $12.99, even compromised captains of commerce should have enough money left over for earplugs and dark glasses they’ll need to aid in the fiction that they’re at the Barclay.
Note: Errata have already been incorporated into the second edition (copies without a DVD). Rick’s Steaks (p. 102) is now at the Shops in Liberty Place! Also, Rick’s seasonal location is now at Lincoln Financial Field; his Citizen's Bank Park one is now occupied by Campo's (p. 38) ... The original Shank's and Evelyn's (p. 106) building has been sold and Evelyn Perri’s former silent partner now operates Shank’s in two locations: 120 S. 15th St. in Center City and at the former Tugboat Annie’s (901 S. Columbus Blvd.), previously occupied by Chink’s Steaks (p. 42). ... Large Marge’s (p. 130) can really be found in suburban Denver, not suburban Boulder; and Calvin’s (p. 129) is in San Jose, not San Diego. ... The retro sandwich offered at Spataro’s (p. 111) is egg and tomato, not oregano and tomato (though that sounds pretty good to us too!) ... Daniel Stern’s venison cheesesteak (page 61) disappeared along with his Rae restaurant although Stern does have both beef and chicken steaks on the menu of his in-the-skies R2L at Two Liberty Place. ... Grilladelphia's (p. 68) gas station home became the Rock 'n' Roll Exxon, thanks to a mural and concert held there to launch the "Music Is Our Oil" music tour benefiting low-income fuel assistance ... New Century Cheesesteak recipe inventor Albert Paris (p. 148 and 158) changed the name and concept of his current restaurant: the former Mantra is now the casual Italian, Bar Amalfi. The Barclay Prime’s $100 cheesesteak (page 61) is no more. See story above for one, more affordable alternative.
