Philadelphians Pat and Harry Olivieri are often credited with inventing the sandwich by serving chopped steak on an Italian roll in the early 1930s. Cheesesteaks have become popular at restaurants and cheez whiz carts throughout the city with many locations being independently owned, family-run businesses. Variations of cheesesteaks are now common in several fast food chains.
The meat traditionally used is thinly sliced rib-eye or top round, although other cuts of beef are also used. Common additions include sautéed onions, ketchup, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. In Philadelphia, cheesesteaks are invariably served on hoagie rolls. American cheese, Provolone, and Cheez Whiz are the most commonly used cheeses or cheese products put on to the Philly cheesesteak.
White American cheese, along with provolone cheese, are the favorites due to their mild flavor and medium consistency. Some establishments melt the American cheese to achieve the creamy consistency, while others place slices over the meat, letting them melt slightly under the heat. Cheez Whiz, first marketed in 1952, was not yet available for the original 1930 version, but has spread in popularity. A 1986 New York Times article called Cheez Whiz “the sine qua non of cheesesteak connoisseurs. A cheesesteak hoagie contains lettuce and tomato in addition to the ingredients found in the traditional steak sandwich, and may contain other elements often served in a hoagie. A vegan cheesesteak is a sandwich that replaces steak and cheese with vegan ingredients, such as seitan or mushrooms for the steak, and soy-based cheese.
The Heater is served at Phillies baseball games at Citizens Bank Park, so named for being a spicy variation as it is topped with jalapeños, Buffalo sauce, and jalapeño cheddar. Food Truck Road Trip–A Cookbook: More Than 100 Recipes Collected from the Best Street Food Vendors Coast to Coast. Fodor’s Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. The Library Company of Philadelphia and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. Rick’s Steaks takes Reading Terminal Market dispute to court”.
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Whiz on a cheesesteak: Hit or myth? Philly’s Famous Cheesesteaks – Clearwater, FL”. Dalessandro’s Steaks and Hoagies – Philadelphia PA. Sonny’s Famous Steaks, Old City, Philadelphia”. Dinner on Deadline: Vegan version of the Philly Cheesesteak”.
2016 Best Vegan Cheesesteak in Philly contest”. Five Philadelphia restaurants serving great vegan cheesesteaks”. A guide to vegan cheesesteaks and scrambles in philadelphia”. What to Eat at Citizens Bank Park, Home of the Phillies”. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Not to be confused with Easy Cheese.