A Philly Taco Is A Cheesesteak Rolled Up In A Slice Of Pizza.

National Cheesesteak Day on March 24th not only celebrates a fantastic sandwich but it recognizes one of this nation’s greater debates; Who created this deliciousness?

• 1682 – William Penn founds this city in the English province of Pennsylvania, some 250 years before the cheesesteak will be invented in this city
• 1930s – The Cheesesteak is created by Pat and Harry Oliveri, hot dog vendors who just so happened to put steak on the grill.
  • The original sandwich did not contain any cheese.
• 1940s – At Pat’s King of Steaks in Philly, the cheese makes its way onto the sandwich and the name evolves to the Cheesesteak sandwich.
  • According to Olivieri, a manager named Joe Lorenza was the first to add provolone cheese to the sandwiches
• 1950s – Kraft Food launches Cheez Whiz— which becomes the traditional choice for cheese in Philadelphia and for cheesesteak.
• 1966 – Geno’s Steaks opens right across the streets from Pat’s, fueling a friendly rivalry that rages to this day.
• 1986 – The first cheesesteak store opened by Charley Shin is located in Columbus, Ohio, near the Ohio State University Campus.
• 1998 – The Eagles helped make a football-field-length cheesesteak on a single roll. The cheesesteak was 365 feet, 7 inches long; weighed 1,790 pounds, and measured just a few inches longer than a football field.
• 2021 –  Rene Kobeitri and other Philadelphia chefs built a 510 ft. cheesesteak.
• Cheesesteak, also called Philadelphia cheesesteak or Philly cheesesteak, is a sandwich made with sliced or chopped steak and melted cheese on a long sandwich roll.
• Traditional Philly cheesesteak is made with very thinly sliced ribeye steak.
• These sandwiches are all king-sized on a loaf of bread, approximately 12 inches long and three inches thick.
• A Philly taco is a cheesesteak rolled up in a slice of pizza.
• Steak-umm was named after an argument. According to The Great Philly Cheesesteak Book by Carolyn Wyman, Steak-umm, the most successful boxed frozen sandwich steak, got its name during an argument over what to call it.
• Here are a few of the top recommended cheesesteak places in Philadelphia:
  • Pat’s King of Steaks. The original place where the cheesesteak sandwich was created, Pat’s is an icon in the city of Philly and is still owned and operated by the original Olivieri family.
  • Max’s Cheesesteaks. With their massive neon sign out front, Max’s is easy to find in Philadelphia. Walk in and grab a table or order takeout, for lunch or late at night, with sizzling steak and gooey provolone.
  • Geno’s Steaks. This one dates back to the 1960s when the owner, Joey Vento, started a business with two boxes of steaks and some hot dogs. Now, it’s an iconic cheesesteak place in Philly.
  • Jim’s Steaks. One of the originals in the city, Jim’s dates back to the 1930s when the proprietors sold sandwiches out of their house and then opened a restaurant on the same spot.
  • It’s like March Madness for a cheesesteak. Pat’s and Geno’s square off at 10 AM followed by Chubby’s and Dalessandro’s at 11 AM. Then Jim’s and Tony Luke’s at Noon. Basketball fans know how brackets go. Someone is gonna get a by.
• Some new and creative ways of enjoying the cheesesteak sandwich, like these:
  • • Philly Taco. This is an almost ridiculous blend of a couple of different types of food that somehow go together. A “Philly Taco” is actually a slice of pizza that is piled with cheesesteak filling and rolled up into a taco shape. Wow!
    • Cheesesteak Poutine. A nod in honor of those neighbors to the north, this dish blends the concept of Canadian poutine but piles the fries high with Philly cheesesteak toppings instead.
    • Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers. Those who are looking for a low carb or keto options for celebrating might want to consider using the cheesesteak meat and grilled onion, but stuffing them inside of green peppers, topping them with cheese and then baking.
• South Philly’s John’s Roast Pork won a James Beard Award in 2006. Roast Pork might be their most famous menu item, but their cheesesteaks are still coming from a culinary pro.
• Pat Olivieri, founder of Pat’s King of Steaks, offered $10,000 to anyone who could prove he was using horsemeat.
  • During the Depression, when meat was in short supply, people said Pat was cooking up old World War I cavalry horses from the Navy Yard, because his brother worked there. Pat offered the reward.
  • He put the cash in a glass jar out front. According to his nephew, Frank Olivieri Jr., “People would come from all over to try to prove the rumor true. But nobody ever could…because Pat’s the one who started it.”

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Days of the Year

National Today

Philadelphia Inquirer