CoolPapaBell

Close enough. Was looking up something about the Latin Casino and according the the Wikipedia entry it was the wrong Frankie. "Frankie Avalon (whose family owned "King of Pizza" diagonally across Route 70)" was what Wiki said.

Refusing to assimilate in a culture you choose to enter is the ultimate form of intolerance. Whether or not he should have gone so far as to imply he'd refuse service for those who refuse to respect the culture that welcomed them is another story.

Well FWIW, did have some good buttercake for the first time in years and years at Randolph's Bakery on the Marlton/Mt. Laural border.

I will make my yearly visit to the Debellaware Valley. Wife and three kids in tow. I know we can walk to the Reading Terminal from Liberty Bell etc. We did it last year and certainly will do again. Is this feasible: a place in Chinatown in which I can eat off the Asian menu but the rest of the family—unfortunately—Americanized? The Franklin Institute is a yearly must. We usually park on Arch Street. Any great places within walking distance? We may hit the Adventure Aquarium. Like the zoo, I guess I don’t want to venture too far. Oh Valley Forge is very likely this trip. Daughter loves Sesame Place, but that looked like chain central. Any and all great family places are appreciated. Of course it helps, when I drive from the parents, we pass Chick’s Cold Cuts in CHNJ. It’s always tough to pass. I hope I’m not deviating too much from the “PA” theme, but a couple of friends recommended that “Grounds of Sculpture” in Trenton, so there is another possibility.

Is it just an urban legend or am I confusing my Philly/South Jersey singers and pizza places? For years I was under the impression that Frankie Valli’s parents started King of Pizza in Cherry Hill and elsewhere. But the King of Pizza website says it was started by Frank Scaturro, whose family still operates it. Furthermore, Wikipedia says Valli’s dad was a barber. So am I just plain nuts, did I just believe a falsehood, or is there another Philly singer whose family started a famous pizzeria and the deets got scrambled over the years? Most people who know me would vote I’m nuts but I’d like to disprove that theory.

I will get both Hershel’s and Dinic’s, but we are meeting friends who “have” to eat a cheesesteak. I’ve had plenty already in my three-week trip back to the Debellaware Valley. Lee’s Hoagie House and Chick's Cold Cuts are both better than Tony Luke’s but I digress. So where is the best place in RT for a cheesesteak for the Florida tourists we are meeting?

Anatolia is not bad. The best Turkish in the area is Cafe Efendi http://cafeefendi.com/

All at the same intersection. You will like every one, though Soca is perhaps too super casual. The diner will have a lot of kids. All are among the best in their cuisine. http://www.socacafe.com/ http://sichuan-house.com/ http://azelrestaurant.com/ Star Diner (no website?) http://www.trattoria141.com/

Hmm, meanwhile if I want good Dominican or Columbian, I have to drive to Norcross. Why not simply drive three miles west of Norcross and eat at Di Paola? ← I was unaware of DiPaola, I shall be giving it a try. ← I don’t want to get too off-topic (I love Gulf Coast Seafood too BTW), but I was just told the other day by one of Atlanta’s beloved restaurant bloggers than Tratttoria 141 in John’s Creek (formally Duluth) is also phenomenal. I hope to verify, but that part of town has a lot of good restaurants. To NY Mike: Mi Pilon is one of the best restaurants in all of Atlanta, BuHi north of JCB. There is a good Columbian bakery/restaurant across the street and I was told by two foodies, a nice Venezuelan pollo joint in the same shopping center.

Hmm, meanwhile if I want good Dominican or Columbian, I have to drive to Norcross. Why not simply drive three miles west of Norcross and eat at Di Paola?

Everything at the Kibitz Room is awesome. I will have to finally try Short Hills next trip up there. The best creamed herring I had was at the Atlanta Ritz Carlton Sunday brunch. Then I had the Kibitz Room. If you find a bad item there let me know. I love the BAMF sammich.

I can third Gulf Coast. He said he was also going to carry high end red meat soon. Any updates?

I was admittedly just earning my foodie stripes—I was only in college. But circa 1986, I worked at Penn Center and there was a father-son, or more accurately I think, a son who had his elderly father help him out. They had a larger-than-most vendor stand and made surprisingly excellent cheesesteaks. I wonder if in my learned gastronomer years I’d still think the same thing but I loved it as an acne-faced college kid. But either way, said Logan Square vendor did use “Philly” or “Philadelphia” as an adjective for the cheesesteak. South Jersey roots and parents still there, I have no question that across the river is still very much within natural cheesesteak borders. Chick’s Cold Cuts by the Erlton fire station may be my personal favorite, but the Marlton incarnation of mini-chain Lee’s Hoagie House puts out one that also can compete with any. Anyway, currently living north of Atlanta, it took my 19 years to find a real cheesesteak here. Not surprisingly, the owner of the joint is a Philly (West Chester actually) native.

I thought that too and peeps from Buffalo say the same thing about "Buffalo wings". However, a vendor in Logan Square, right outside the Academy of Natural Sciences (the corner left of the main entrance) advertises “Philly cheesesteaks”. I guess it’s for tourists. He was bragging big time how only he and Tony Luke’s make a real cheesesteak. Alas, I was pretty full at the time and had to settle for soft pretzels and water ice for the three generations with me. I think Logan Square is close to the Mother Ship.

Truer words have never been spoken.