Rich Pawlak

I just don't get Steve's at all. Maybe it's because I like my cheesesteak meat chopped. I found it to be just an ok sandwich. Apparently, lot's of folks would disagree as they always seem to be crowded. That said, I found the steak at Grey Lodge excellent and it wasn't chopped. Something about the texture and quality of the beef really got to me. I think they use ribeye there and that would surely explain the superior taste. ← The Grey Lodge uses "thick cut rib eye", according to their website.

All in all, I think that our 10th Anniversary Tours went well, but I do think that we were a LITTLE too ambitious in plotting out 10 stops in one day. No one compalined (at least to me), but I think it was a much more tiring day than usual Tours have been. Very very nice people on both Tours, travelling from as far away as Portland, OR, Michigan, Illinois, Rhode Island, Massachucetts, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New York and...London, England! I'll let others weigh in on the relative merits and highlights of this year's editions of the Tours, but it's safe to say that the highlight for me was sampling the special 10th Anniversary Ale, especially when it was served on the beer engine at McMenamin's Tavern, God bless PJ McMenamin's heart. I was even able to snag a couple of growlers of the stuff at the Grey Lodge on my way home on Saturday. A beautiful beer, period.

Sahara Grill, 1300 block of Walnut; Middle Eastern food that travels well.

I have no idea; every time I visit S&E's I cant pass up the roast beef combo or chicken cutlet with greens, or breakfast giambotta omelet.

true, but Donkey's HAs gotten a lot of coverage of late in both the Inky and Daily News; what I am looking for are really good cheesesteaks in unlikely venues, namely restaurants, bars and maybe pizzerias, e.g., places that arentt cheesesteak/hoagie shops.

There's no Steve's in Reading Terminal Market; perhaps youre thinking of Rick's. And perhaps you might want to do a little research before posting something in this vein.

I would also recommend Tre Piani.

What Holly said. But I think both steaks are very very close, and very very similar in quality and flavor, and quality of rolls. I''ve had both versions this week, and they are both superior steaks.

See above initial post; i'm looking for great cheessesteaks in unlikely venues. Schmitter? You betcha!!!

Why do these two places make your list?

best part about oscars is you buy one, you get 1/2 free. one and 1/2 for the price of one! can't beat that deal. ← I can vaguely recall eating an Oscars steak once, dont remember if it was that good. Is it that good? please see above initial post for what I'm actually seeking help with.

This weekend (Sat-Sun) is the last chance to taste this ballsy, big, floral and grapefruit-nosed beer, as it will be served during the second of this year's Tours. It can be found at: Monk's Cafe McGillin's Olde Ale House McMenamin's Tavern The Standard Tap The Grey Lodge and the Yards Brewery,on Saturday, 3/25

Prime?

Who makes it? I'm assuming it's Ithaca Brewing Co., but you know what happens when you assume.....

I'm working on something and I need some input from the cheesesteak trenches. We've heard far too much about the Barclay Prime $100 "cheesesteak", and we probably all share roughly the same list of the best cheesesteak places, namely Pat's, Geno's, Jim's, Tony Luke's, Steve's Prince of Steaks, Chink's, Abners,, John's Roast Pork, Frusco's, etc. What I am looking for are the places that serve a great cheessesteak in perhaps an unlikely setting: bar, pizzeria, deli, restaurant, etc. I'm looking within the greater Philadelphia area, too, if that helps you to wrack your brain. Places like the Grey Lodge Pub, and Johhny's Hots, which has just begun serving a terrific version of the cheesesteak, have already come to mind. What other places would make your discriminating list? I'm looking for the very very best.

Puckerfish came from Flying Fish, not DFH.

I did get to sample a small glass of the Anniversary Ale at the outset of my first Beer Tour on March 18, and it was very floral and grapefruity in the nose, and the mouthfeel as silken as , welll....something silken (I used a more graphic clothing-related description while sipping it)! Possibly the smoothest hop monster I've ever had; the considerable talent of Yards brewers was most evident. Getting me a few growlers at Tour's end this Saturday!!!

Beer writer Lew Bryson, our John Madden for the Golden Age of Beer in Philadelphia Tours, did a quick interview with Yards founder/brewmaster Tom Kehoe to further hype the special, one-off beer they are making for us: Read the hype here Now I can't wait to taste this beer!

Where in the area do you live, Rich? Like most big-city dailies, the Inquirer prints earlier editions for home delivery in further-out suburbs and later ones for delivery and street sale in the city. I get the next-to-last edition printed (weekdays)/last edition printed (Sundays) delivered to my Center City apartment building. Earlier editions may have stories that are dropped for breaking stories in later ones--but since this story is a feature and not "breaking news," it is a bit puzzling that it would be Page One in a later but not an earlier edition. Unless: a) I've got the geographical hierarchy mixed up, b) you purchase an Early Sunday Edition (published on Saturday for street sale during the day and now distinguished from the regular editions by a different front-page flag with "Sunday" in Franklin Gothic where "Philadelphia" otherwise appears and a full-color above-the-fold photo on the front page), or c) the story had been slotted for all regular Sunday editions but missed the early-edition deadline. The interesting thing here is that if I'm still right about the geographical hierarchy, it hasn't changed a bit even though the printing plant is now in Conshohocken. ← Nope, didnt get the Earluy Edition wioth the giant photo display. Got a Sunday edition. Go figger.

I'm attempting to attend the Michael Jackson dinner at the Penn Museum on 3/17 (the night before my first of two Beer Tours--oy!), Roberto Donna at Panorma and David Wondrich at Red Sky. I might just survive TBATC this year.

The article wasnt on the front page of MY Inky!!!!

Is the upstairs non-smoking? Eileen ← Yes indeed!

At any rate, we enjoyed every one we attended, and truly wish there was a way for us to attend this very special anniversary tour. ← Always seats saved for you two; hop a plane!!!

Stopped into the Grey Lodge Pub in Philly last night to sample some beers from Flying Bison Brewing in Buffalo, NY. Served last night was the brewery's Scotch Ale, with nice peaty malt, their Bird of Prey IPA, full of Kent Goldings hops, and the hit of the night, their impossibly silken soft Oatmeal Stout, served on a beer engine brought to the Grey Lodge by the brewers themselves. I dont think Ive ever had a beer with such a soft mouthfeel and yet with such a rich,coffee aroma and flavor. A magnificent beer.

Really?? ...our name in print in a press release about the beer tours? Please direct me! ← Well, not quite. See links above.