Reader: If you see "Philly cheesesteak," what you're ordering is not authentic

This week, Lori Midson served up the cheesesteak pictured above in Guess Where I'm Eating? In Philadelphia, cheesesteaks are a cultural obsession -- but in Denver, they're often an abomination, bearing no resemblance to the dish you can find all over Philadelphia. Still, even in that city, there are many...

By Patricia Calhoun

July 5, 2013

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This week, Lori Midson served up the cheesesteak pictured above in Guess Where I'm Eating? In Philadelphia, cheesesteaks are a cultural obsession -- but in Denver, they're often an abomination, bearing no resemblance to the dish you can find all over Philadelphia. Still, even in that city, there are many frauds masquerading as the meaty sandwich.

That's what sales422 says:

I was born and raised in Philly. WARNING! If you go someplace and you see the combination of words: "Philly cheesesteak" what you're ordering is not authentic. Most places outside of Philly use roast beef of all things. Sacrilege!

Going by the picture above, it looks like they use frozen Steak-Umms "meat". Low grade. The only reason why you'd smother a steak in CheezWiz is to cover the off-taste.

The 3 icons in Philly, Pat's, Geno's and Jim's, are for tourists and drunks at 3am. You come to Philly, you go out of your way for a top grade steak like Steve's which uses Top Round and it melts in your mouth.

BTW, no one, I mean no one says "wit" or "wit out" in Philly. Well, maybe some toothless meth addicts in "Soufilly"... Enjoy your Steak-Umms.

Have you found an authentic cheesesteak in Denver? Where?

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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