A Bite of History: Unravelling the Delicious Story of Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches

Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, isn't merely not known for its rich, cultural history and iconic landmarks but also for its culinary delights, too.

Among the many mouthwatering treats that draw visitors from far and wide, the Philly cheesesteak sandwich stands out as a true symbol of the city's gastronomic heritage. As you stroll through the bustling streets of Philadelphia, allow me to take you on a journey through the savoury history of this beloved sandwich.

The story of the Philly cheesesteak dates back to the early 20th century when Pat and Harry Olivieri, two brothers who owned a hot dog stand in South Philadelphia, decided to experiment with sliced beef and onions. 

Legend has it that one day in the 1930s, Pat Olivieri cooked up some thinly sliced beef on his grill and slapped it onto a hoagie roll. As the aroma of sizzling meat filled the air, a taxi driver passing by couldn't resist the temptation and asked for a steak sandwich. And thus, the Philly cheesesteak was born.

Initially dubbed the "cheesesteak," this humble sandwich consisted of thinly sliced steak, grilled onions, and a generous layer of melted cheese, all nestled within a soft, crusty roll. As word of this delectable creation spread, it quickly became a favourite among locals, who lined up at Pat's King of Steaks, the Olivieri brothers' newly established eatery, to get their hands on the iconic sandwich.

However, it wasn't until the addition of cheese that the Philly cheesesteak truly came into its own. While the original sandwich featured only steak and onions, the introduction of cheese, typically provolone or American cheese, elevated it to new heights of indulgence. Today, ordering a Philly cheesesteak "wit" (with onions) or "witout" (without onions) is a rite of passage for any visitor to Philadelphia.

The rivalry between Pat's King of Steaks and its neighbour, Geno's Steaks, further fuelled the sandwich's popularity. In 1966, Joey Vento opened Geno's Steaks just across the street from Pat's, igniting a friendly competition that continues to this day. Locals and tourists alike flock to these iconic establishments, each claiming to serve the best cheesesteak in town.

Over the years, the Philly cheesesteak has evolved to accommodate various tastes and preferences. While purists may insist on the classic combination of steak, onions, and cheese, adventurous eaters can now find a plethora of variations, including cheesesteaks topped with peppers, mushrooms, or even marinara sauce.

Beyond its culinary appeal, the Philly cheesesteak holds a special place in the hearts of Philadelphians as a symbol of community and tradition. It's not just a sandwich; it's a cultural institution, woven into the fabric of the city's identity.

So, as you explore the historic streets of Philadelphia, be sure to indulge in this quintessential delicacy. Whether you prefer Pat's, Geno's, or one of the many other establishments scattered throughout the city, one thing is for certain: a bite of a Philly cheesesteak is a bite of history itself.

Feast for a Fiver as Waitrose ‘wraps’ up your lunchtimes with a new meal deal

Waitrose customers will be able to get a sandwich, a wrap, salad or sushi, plus a snack and a drink for a Fiver.

And what's more, the Waitrose Food to Go range is made without compromising quality and also adhering to high animal welfare standards.

The new Waitrose meal deal will launch on 30th August. For £5 customers can opt from over 300 products and can decide on one of their sandwiches, wraps or salads, or sushi (from a special selected range), alongside a choice of snacks from a curated selection of cereal bars, crisps and snack pots, plus a drink. 

Options available within the offer include customer faves like their Essential Waitrose Cheese & Onion sandwich, PlantLiving No Duck Hoisin Wrap, Waitrose Prawn Mayo sandwich, Waitrose Chicken & Bacon Caesar wrap, Waitrose PlantLiving VLT, Waitrose Chicken, Tomato & Basil Pasta, Taiko Crispy Duck Rolls, Waitrose Flapjack, Waitrose LoveLife Nuts, Fruit & Seeds, Deliciously Ella Cashew Cranberry Fruit Nut & Seed Bar, Waitrose Pineapple Fingers (120g), Waitrose Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice and Waitrose Strawberry & Banana Smoothie. 

Jennifer Moscardini, who is Waitrose's Food to Go Buyer, said: “We’re a nation of sandwich lovers. Sales are up almost 40% over the past three years. More people are returning to work from their offices again, and travelling more, so obviously they're looking for a fantastic meal deal option. 

“This lunchtime deal means our customers will be able to get a great quality sandwich, wrap, salad or sushi, plus a snack and a drink for £5, and if they have a myWaitrose loyalty card, and a reusable cup they can get a free cup of coffee at the same time!"

She went on to say: "And we haven't compromised on our standards, either. We use British higher welfare chicken, pork & beef in all our sandwiches, MSC prawns and salmon, and all our eggs come from free range hens. 

“This year we’ve introduced more meal deals than ever before to help our customers with the cost of living crisis, plus investing £100m in new lower prices across our aisles, too.

"Our best-selling sandwich over the last ten years has been prawn mayonnaise, followed by Egg Mayonnaise and the Classic BLT - but now wraps have become increasingly popular with one in four people buying a wrap instead."

List of top ten best-selling sandwiches 10 years ago:

Waitrose Prawn mayonnaise

Waitrose Egg mayonnaise and cress

Waitrose Classic BLT

Essential Waitrose Tuna Mayo 

Waitrose Smoked Ham & Cheese

Essential Waitrose Egg Mayonnaise

Essential Waitrose cheese & onion

Waitrose Salmon & Cucumber

Waitrose Salmon & Cream Cheese

Waitrose Chicken & Bacon 

List of top ten best-selling sandwiches/wraps today:

Waitrose Prawn mayonnaise sandwich 

Waitrose Essential Cheese and Onion

Waitrose Essential Egg mayonnaise sandwich 

Waitrose Steak & caramelised onion chutney sandwich

Waitrose Hoisin duck wrap 

Waitrose Chicken & Bacon Caesar wrap 

Waitrose Essential Tuna mayonnaise sandwich 

Waitrose Salt Beef & Mustard Mayonnaise sandwich 

Waitrose Salmon & Cream Cheese sandwich 

Waitrose Classic BLT 

waitrose.co.uk

This week is British Sandwich Week

So, what exactly is British Sandwich Week? It's a special week-long celebration of the world's greatest food to go and quite possibly the most iconic British culinary invention, the Sandwich.

The sandwich is celebrated in all its towering glory during British Sandwich Week and year-on-year the buzz around the week seems to grow, with more and more companies using the week to promote their business. 

#BritishSandwichWeek trends across Twitter during the week and newspapers, magazines, TV shows and radio programmes join in celebrating what is a staple part of the British diet.

Sandwich manufacturers and retailers all over Britain all have their own unique and special ways of celebrating this fantastic food item, many are offering special promotions and new ranges during British Sandwich Week. 

Several are also building on their charitable links by donating some of their proceeds or even having buy-one-donate-one initiatives for customers to take participate in.

On the theme of celebrating, the sandwich industry also holds its annual Awards, the Sammies, where the best New Sandwich, Sandwich Retailer of the Year and many more are crowned. Like the Oscars, we recognise that there’s so much that goes on behind the scenes, with awards in technical, marketing and environmental categories.

Visit the Sammies Awards Website to learn more awards.sandwich.org.uk.

Workers fork out over £1,000 a year on lunch despite credit crunch

A survey of office workers across the UK has revealed that more than a third buy sandwiches in their lunch hour, rather than making their own.

On average workers are spending around £3 on sandwiches every day, with some spending up to £5. Around half of those surveyed say they sometimes buy a drink with their sandwich, adding another one or two pounds to the cost.

The research called ‘Lunch in the Credit Crunch’, on behalf of www.nigelsecostore.com, also revealed that three times the number of women make their own sandwiches compared to men.

Nigel Berman, founder of www.nigelsecostore.com, said: “With around 240 working days in the year, lunchtimes are making a huge dent in salaries and some people are spending over £25 a week. But because people are spending a small amount every day, they don’t think about the cost over the year and it can really add up. The research shows that the average spend is around a staggering £1,000 a year.”

Just over 66 per cent of the workers surveyed claimed that they always make their own sandwiches.

Of those who buy sandwiches, 25 per cent said they always recycle the packaging, with 54 per cent sometimes recycling. The remainder, around 20 per cent, never recycle the packaging.

The survey also asked people what would encourage them to make their own. Around 20 per cent said they could be persuaded if there was a large cost saving and a similar number said they would make their own if they had a way of transporting them easily. Interestingly, just over 24 per cent said they would make their own if they had some good ideas for fillings.

Making your own sandwiches can help the planet, especially if you re-use the foil or cling film. There are also solutions like a reusable sandwich wrapper called Wrap n Mat which costs £4.99 from www.nigelsecostore.com. The Wrap n Mat helps commuters transport sandwiches easily and means you don’t have to use foil or plastic. It is washable and the cotton wrapper acts as a placemat.

According to health experts, as well as helping to save hundreds of pounds a year, home-made sandwiches can be better for you.

Kate Arnold, of Kate Arnold Nutrition, explains: “Bought sandwiches can be pricey, and you have no control as to what goes in them. They are often very high in fat and calories so making your own at home can be so much better for your health and your purse.

“The issue I have with bought sandwiches is they are all bread and no filling. By making them at home you can reduce the carbohydrate, choose your own bread and create a high-protein filling for less than half the price of a shop-bought sandwich.

“Choose a good-quality wholemeal bread, or whatever suits you, and really fill it with protein. Leave the mayonnaise and focus on high-protein foods as a salad sandwich will not fill you up.”

Kate has come with ten fillings to inspire people to make their own:

- Hummus and cucumber
- Turkey, avocado, tomato, sprouting seeds
- Avocado, smoked chicken and cranberry sauce
- Mozzarella and sun dried tomatoes
- Mash a can of red salmon in a bowl with freshly chopped dill, 2 tbsps live yoghurt and pepper.
- Generous slices of honey roast ham with mustard.
- Tofu and tahini: (Crumble tofu and mix brown miso, tahini, minced onion, carrot and sunflower seeds)
- Goats cheese and char-grilled pepper with sweet chilli sauce and leaves
- Turkey with low fat mayonnaise and cranberry sauce with crushed walnuts
- For a fresh undressed summer sandwich try: Grated carrot, beansprouts, grated apple, sesame seeds, chopped walnut, chopped baby spinach, low-fat cottage cheese, chopped red onion and chopped parsley.

According to The British Council, British people eat 2.8 billion sandwiches each year but the humble sandwich started life as a snack for England’s super-rich.

In 1762 the first written record of the word ‘sandwich’ appeared in the diary of the English author Edward Gibbons. He remembered wealthy men eating ‘a bit of cold meat’ between pieces of bread.

The snack was named after the Fourth Earl of Sandwich. He was a frequent gambler and was so addicted to gambling that he would often refuse to stop even to eat meals. To avoid having to stop gambling, the Earl of Sandwich asked for a meal consisting of beef between two slices of bread so that he always had one hand free to play cards and gamble and his hands wouldn’t become dirty from the meat.

When other men saw what he was eating, they began to order ‘the same as Sandwich’ - so the sandwich was born. It quickly became popular and widespread as a quick and easy food to eat.

Sandwiches have become so popular in the UK that there is even a British Sandwich Week. It’s being held from 15th to 21st May 2011.

Winner of Yahoo Finds of The Year - Best Shopping Site and Highly Commended at The Real Homes Eco Awards, Nigel's Eco Store is an award-winning online retailer of environmentally friendly products that can help everyone reduce their carbon footprint, conserve resources and save money. The store carries home furnishings, kitchenware, gadgets, office products, kids' toys and energy saving devices.

(EDITOR: There's also soup that you can make at home and take in a flask, or for those on a diet a diet shake can make a handy lunch, too)