Philadlephians are obsessed with 'cheese.' To prove my
point I recall this story: I walked into a little hole-in-wall burger
joint off of South Street and ordered a burger. The dialog went like this:
Me: I'd like a burger.
Her: A cheeseburger?
Me: No, just a plain burger.
Her: No cheese?
Me: No cheese.
The check had "burger no cheese" written on it.
I say 'cheese' because Philadelphians don't seem to care what the 'cheese' is made of. Some go as far as to take credit for developing something called Cheez Whiz a processed foodstuff that claims to contain cheese.
Similar obsessions with Catsup and Mustard. Order from any vending cart in the city and they'll ask you if you want Catsup on it. In fact, you really need to specify that you do not want catsup on it or you are likely to get it. You may get it regardless.
Foods indigenous* to Philly &
Southeastern, PA.
Pierogies (peer•oh•gee) A semicircular, wedge-shaped
dumpling stuffed with mashed potato or minced meat that is often sauteed
in onions after being boiled. Of Polish and Russian origin.
Scrapple I ordered my first scrapple at a corner diner.
It came in a cake-like slab of rectilinear dimensions.
Wet or Dirty fries. French fries with gravy on them.
Fresh-cut fries are french fries that are ‘dry’.
I.e. no gravy.
Disco Fries have melted cheese on them in additon to
the gravy.
Texas Tommy Hotdog split open with cheese and bacon in
it on a bun.
Soft Pretzels With or without salt. Add your own yellow
mustard. People eat them for breakfast...with the mustard.
Tastykakes other quadrants of the country have the equivanent
Drakes Cakes (NY) or Little Debbies (South). Sweet cake in celophane sold
at convenience stores.
Cheese Steak, of course. Greasy little strips of flat
grilled beef with cheese food stuff that comes in a jar, on a hoggie roll.
(submarine sandwich roll or grinder roll). The cheese is called ‘wiz’
as in ‘Cheese Whiz’ a cheese food product of the early 1950s.
Fish cake and wiener combo. "Finally, try a dog
variation found only in Philly. The fish cake and wiener combo."
I found this in researching foods indigenous to Philly and have never
seen it. I'm not on the lookout for it, either.
Cream Cheese called Philadelphia in many parts
of the world, was not developed in Philly and they aren't especially fond
of it.
See also: http://www.bg-map.com/foods.html
For more: http://www.hollyeats.com/Philadelphia.htm
Want to check out the track record of your chosen place of dining? Check
the PA state health inspection records: http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/
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