My old friend (and best man) Jeff came for a week's vacation and I
decided to showcase Philly cheesesteaks, since he never had one before.

First we did Pats. It had a lot of grizzle and was dry and they didn't
even get the cheesewhiz on evenly. Had OK flavor. Chewy roll.

Did Geno's next. Theirs was really bad. The onions made us tear, they
were raw and the cheese slices weren't melted. The lazy BUMS! Also
grizzle and tough. Roll was chewy.

Did Rick's (at Reading Market). Better meat than both Pat's and Geno's,
but the onions weren't cooked through either and too much of them. The
cheese wasn't evenly distributed. Is that so difficult? Meat was fatty,
which I guess helped the flavor and tenderness. OK roll.

Did La Forno's in Media. They got it right! Meat was juicy, just the
right amound of fried onions and cheese in a soft and delicate roll made
this the most flavorful of the bunch. Went back three times and they
didn't make a bad one.

Did mix it up a little and did pizza at John's on Bleecker St. in NYC as
well as the Stage Deli on 7th Ave. The pizza was great, but the $15.00
pitcher of Bud was a rip-off. As far as the Stage deli is concerned, no
sandwich is worth $19 unless it comes with gold-leaf lettuce, imho.

Also made home-made fettucini with pesto for one dinner, to give our
taste buds a break. It was worth it!


Day 1: the USS New Jersey battleship in Camden, NJ and the Italian Market
in Philly.

Day 2: Empire State building, John's pizza, WTC and St. Paul's Chapel,
Lincoln Center, Central Park, Stage Deli, Time's Square, Grand Central
Terminal and Bryant Park in NYC.

Day 3: Atlantic City casinos and boardwalk.

Day 4: Academy of Natural Sciences, Reading Market, Dali exhibit (Jeff
climbed the stairs and did Rocky's victory dance!!!

Day 5: Amish country, Bird in Hand and Intercourse (Gotta love
Intercourse! and the Railroad Museum of PA in Strasburg.

Sent Jeff back to California this afternoon with three of La Forno's
cheesesteaks as carry-on. There's a possibility the plane might have to
land in Chicago if a riot breaks out because of that wonderful aroma.

Back to the diet. [sigh]

Andy