10/11/2004: $100 Cheesesteak

Philadelphia restauranteur Stephen Starr has come up with this offering for a new city location: a $100 cheesesteak. "...made of sliced Kobe beef, melted Taleggio cheese, shaved truffles, sauteed foie gras, caramelized onions and heirloom shaved tomatoes on a homemade brioche roll brushed with truffle butter and squirted with homemade mustard."

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This is simply wrong at every level, beyond just the fact that it's an attempt to get a bit of press for the restaurant. Here's a "proper" Philly cheesesteak:



I know I would prefer the taste of the $100 version, but it's not worth $100 under any circumstances, and it rides on the image of the original.

I'm just sad that I don't have a proper image of a good $5 steak, and the next time I get one (about once every three months - it's a dangerous meal), I'll take the camera.

Bugger that. No sandwich in the world is worth $100, not unless the whole thing was gold-plated and then it wouldn't be all that edible. Or tasty. What the heck would you serve WITH it? Wouldn't it throw the whole thing off if they offer chips and a soda only worth $1.85? Or would they search the world over for a potato that costs 20x the price of a perfectly good Irish potato?

What beverage to serve with a $100 cheesesteak? A $100 bottle of Bordeaux or CA cabernet sauvignon.

i thought the "original" cheesesteak was hotdog or bologna? This is indeed wrong. When I think of Philly I think of affordable heart attacks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad This is simply wrong at every level, beyond just the fact that it's an attempt to get a bit of press for the restaurant. Here's a "proper" Philly cheesesteak:

Don't know Target, the TV reporter didn't show or mention any wine. He did say it was tasty but he wouldn't be eating it if he had to pay for it.
Let's face it, they came up with a tasty dish and like UT said they're capitalizing on the fame of real cheesesteaks.
Syc is right about Pat's and Geno's.
The crew of Air Force One, The Secret Service and I, prefer Jim's in Essington.

Being a non-native helps me retain my objectivity.

And thank you.

I truthfully can't conceive of a situation in which I would pay $100 for food ... I mean one freakin' sandwich, not a complete meal for myself and at least one other person.

Yes, I've been to fancy eatin' places. And yes, I've run up a tab, including wine, of over $150 just for me, but I'm talking starting from the little bowl of water with the lemon to wash yer hands in, all the way to the exotic desert item involving a mininum of four kinds of chocolate made into swirly patterns around the plate.

$100 for a damn sandwich. What is the world coming to? Are there, as Alexander mourned, no more worlds to conquer?

Wow, that "proper" cheesesteak is... gross... one of the best days here in my Michigan high school is when they have "Philly cheese steak" Thursday, only twice a year! Yum.

It would probably be illegal to serve a real cheese steak to high school students. There are certain nutritional standards which apply to school food service.

It looks like I will have to go to Dalessandro's tomorrow afternoon for one and take pictures of it. I should be able to get the film developed tomorrow, so I can have the photos up tomorrow night.

I was thinking the same thing

Hey, if you decide to come down this way, let me know. I live 5 minutes from Dalessandro's.

Shit, I'd go get one now if I weren't full from dinner.

happy birthday, terry. wolf, does Pudge's still exist? THAT'S a proper cheesesteak. word. to your mamma.

True dat, LJ. Good ole Pudge (Blue Bell location) is one of my favorite stops when in the area. Gotta get up there sometime soon. Mebbe in two weeks. And I still have a Pat's when in Philly...it's what's open that late. And still not too bad, despite syc's opinion. Geno's on the other hand...blech!

$100 cheesesteak? Did Stephen Starr hire Sam from the Apprentice after Trump dumped him?

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce Syc is right about Pat's and Geno's. The crew of Air Force One, The Secret Service and I, prefer Jim's in Essington.

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce Nay, nay! Never seen Whiz at Jim's. Provolone or American and Swiss if you whine, but never Whiz. Industrial Highway(291) at Lincoln(420)??

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a real cheesesteak:

Another photo of said steak:

But... But... There's no cheese on it!

It's inside the steak...some places serve 'em like that.

eww

Sycamore, that looks for all the world like a turd in a bun.

Do they ever make them look any more appetising than that? With some salad, perhaps?

Questions:

What is an heirloom shaved tomato?

Is Kobe beef really all that worth it?

What wine would you recommend with a steak sandwich? (I'm thinking Thunderbird or Wild I)

Heirloom tomatoes are tomatoes grown from seeds from plants that are rarely grown, but which have more flavor. I have had them a couple fo times, and they are wonderful.

Kobe beef is supposed to be the best - the most flavorful, the most tender, etc. It is Japanese and very expensive.

Steak sandwich wine - any good red will do. Unless it is a Kobe beef steak in which case the Bordeaux still stands as arecommendation. (Ignoring the Thunderbird...)

Dalessandro's is known for the immense amount of meat they give you which is one reason why it looks like that.

photographing food to look tasty is very difficult. Pro food photographers don't use real food most of the time. The props they use look gross in person but it works in pictures. Like meeting someone wearing stage makeup.
Plus Syc isn't the photographer in the family.

what to drink with a $100 sandwich

or maybe with 100 sandwiches...

http://weird-news.news.designerz.com...r-martini.html

What if you slurp down the diamond? (yes, I know the biological processes which result in the return of the gemstone, but do they warn unknowning recipient about the prize?)

Damn guys, ive never seen that before! It just looks like a sandwich with pita-meat and cheese!! I wouldnt be eating that for 100 bucks... il have a real Belgian " Croque Truf Tropic" Like a toast with cheese, truffels, some exotic fruit that is marinated in Champagne, and slices of thin meat called "Ossehaas".... for only 50 bucks...

If you ever get to Philadelphia, we'll get you a real cheesesteak.

For about $5.

I'm all set with my ham sandwich. If I buy a $100 cheesesteak it better come with a TV, or at the very least a VCR.

Almost worth being fingerprinted for

someone on here at one point (I think it was syc) posted a cheesesteak recipe, anyone know where the hell that went? Working a rather long pull tonight and I think I'll be ready for a heart-attack inducing meal afterwards.

Many have tried and all have failed because to make it right requires a crusty firm long roll, a deli slicer, the right kind of beef cut, and a large hot grill you can stand over with sweat dripping off your brow into the meat.

I've had what the Kiwis think is a cheese steak. No real resemblance. (heck, they can't even do a burger). I'm guessing the Aussies can't do much better.
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