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| Yes | 69% | 245 votes | Total: 355 votes | |
| No | 31% | 110 votes |
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Add to FavoritesI always chuckle a bit whenever I encounter debates such as this one. I chuckle because I instantly recognize the frivolity of such discussions; and then I chuckle a bit more because I can usually predict what I'll hear from the debate participants.
Within this discussion of the Philly cheesesteak sandwich, for example, I figured that the vast majority of Philadelphians would defend the reputation of their beloved sandwich to the last fried onion. And why shouldn't they? After all, the Philly cheesesteak does represent a tasty bit of uniquely American cuisine concocted right in the very cradle of human liberty!
I also predicted to myself that detractors of the Philly cheesesteak would cite its minimal nutritional value and its low standing on the culinary scale. But I really didn't go very far out on a limb with that prediction. I mean, aren't those easy arguments to make?
Outside of those points for and against, though, I figured that most people beyond a fifty mile radius of the Delaware Valley wouldn't even care about the cheesesteak sandwich's worth. It's sort of like asking someone from New Mexico to comment on the New Jersey pine barrens. I mean really, what does a New Mexican care about the scrub lands near Fort Dix? Very little, I'd safely guess. New Mexicans have their own landmarks to think about. Likewise, they have their own culinary delights to savor and boast about.
Yet, while this debate over the Philly cheesesteak might appear frivolous, predictable, and somewhat irrelevant on the surface, the pride behind such icons of Americana remains far from frivolous and irrelevant. In fact, that pride can magnify the debate's importance beyond the predictable silliness of it all.
Think about that for a second. And think about similar debates.
For example, should New Yorkers be less proud of the Statue of Liberty simply because France actually created our national symbol of freedom? Absolutely not! Should someone from Arizona be less proud of the Grand Canyon simply because they had absolutely no hand in its formation? Absolutely not! And should Californians eschew Big Sur because, after all, it is just a coastal region? I don't think so. Likewise, should Philadelphians curb their enthusiasm simply because their cheesesteak sandwich lacks in nutrition? Ha! Don't make me laugh!
In the end, we must ask ourselves if our collective American pride in such wonders represents mere frivolity. And I say that the answer is, "Hardly!"
And so it is with the Philadelphia cheesesteak. Philadelphians should remain loyal to their cheesesteak sandwiches-despite its nutritional deficiencies and blue-collar roots. In fact, ALL Americans should remain loyal to the Philly cheesesteak sandwich!
Why?
Because that beefy hero truly represents America's culture of ferocious productivity. As an economic power on the world stage, we should be lucky enough to always need a sandwich like the Philly cheesesteak! Only a sandwich like the Philly cheesesteak can fully satisfy the healthy appetite that growls for fuel after a long day of working hard in American factories to produce what the world demands.
Yes! All Americans should swell with pride whenever we speak of the Philly cheesesteak-much the same way we swell with pride over the Liberty Bell, Mount Rushmore, the Chicago Skyline, the Hoover Dam, Levi's Jeans, or J.R. Ewing. (Okay, J.R. Ewing maybe not so much.)
You see, whenever we discuss the merits of a Philly cheesesteak sandwich, we're not just addressing bread, meat and cheese. Rather, we're embracing everything that sandwich represents for the folks from southeast Pennsylvania and for ALL Americans.
(Cue the patriotic music, please!)
We're talking about the city of Philadelphia and Philadelphians themselves. And we cannot deny that Philadelphia has given the world a tremendous gift-not just a sandwich, but also an ideal. The City of Brotherly Love has provided humanity with the cheesesteak sandwich and the notion that all people are created equal, endowed by their creator with inalienable rights that no other person may violate; including the right to get their steak sandwich "wit" cheese or "widdout." And whether your order your lunch with or without gooey cheese, the Philly steak sandwich has fueled a good portion of America's productivity for decades! And of that, we should all stay very proud.
So, when you talk about the Philly cheesesteak sandwich, you're really talking about all of America and everything that America has given to the human soul. That alone does not make the Philly cheesesteak as good as they say. Rather, it makes it much greater than they say!
Learn more about this author, Dennis Krivda.
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No
When you think about the Philly cheese-steak sandwich, you think of something that is pretty un-commercialised. Yes, its fad does not actually sweep the whole entire world. When it comes to eating, it doesn't sit right at the top of the list. It is just something warm to have in winter as a snack or lunch item. It is something to have on the go when the fuel is running low inside of those day shoes. It is the smoke that fuels the pit in the body, and it is a taste that one can like when they are feeling ravished.
However what it lacks is the gift to appeal to wide audiences. There is just that it lacks, and it goes beyond first glances. It is the popular product that has more suburb appeal then commercial appeal. This makes it the dunce of the fast food chain.
Philly and the Subway:
When it comes to Subways there are plenty of points which can be noted about the daily sub. It is filling, is easy to carry, is quick to make, and is good eating. It has proven to many over the world that it has the goods to lose the kilogrammes on a person's frame. It has proven to the world that its products are always fresh and tasty. It has given variety in the different choices of breads, and fillings one can get when they order a Subway sub. They are easy to eat, and are usually not greasy. They don't have fillings that fall out all over the place, and they are always pretty tasty.
The Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich on the other hand is something that you'd expect from a diner in the country. It is like a home made meal, that has been given a price tag. It does not count the calories, it does not count the weight water's guide lines for approval. It is simply fast food, that promises a good warm eat. It doesn't care about presentation, it doesn't care about losing weight; all it cares about is selling. Yes, nothing much matters to the Philly cheese-steak sandwich if there is no customers to be sold to. However it does get plenty, word of mouth makes it possible for stomachs to get their fill each day, it just doesn't have the stuff for commercial appeal.
The Rates:
Subway:
Taste: 10/10
Low Fat: 10/10
Appearance: 10/10
Good Advertising: 10/10
Cost: 8/10
Philly Cheese-Steak:
Taste: 6/10
Low Fat: 4/10
Appearance: 3/10
Good Advertising: 4/10
Cost: 7/10
Learn more about this author, M Pereira.
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