Guiliani Eats at Barry's Favorite Restaurant

[Ralph]

Giuliani visits cheesesteak stand
10/1/2007, 7:48 p.m. ET
By MARYCLAIRE DALE
The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani campaigned Monday at a landmark South Philadelphia cheesesteak stand that grabbed headlines when it posted signs telling customers to speak English.

In June 2006, Geno's Steaks garnered national attention for posting two small signs stating, "This is America: When ordering 'please speak English.'"

Giuliani, who has toughened his stance on immigration policy since his time as mayor of New York City, said recently that all immigrants who want to become U.S. citizens should learn English. Giuliani also opposed the bipartisan immigration overhaul backed by President Bush.

Yet as mayor of New York, Giuliani often spoke positively about illegal immigrants, telling The New York Times in 1994, "If you come here, and you work hard, and you happen to be in an undocumented status, you're one of the people who we want in this city."

Giuliani denied changing his view on immigration.

"Immigration is wonderful," Giuliani said. "Immigration is the best thing we have going for us. We need new people. We need people who are going to inform us, give us new ideas, but it has to be legal.

"Illegal immigration is a bad thing."

Both Giuliani and Republican challenger Mitt Romney have spoken favorably of 2006 legislation providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants; they opposed a similar bill earlier this year.

Giuliani has pledged to closely track immigrants with tamperproof identity cards, bolster fencing and high-tech surveillance along the border with Mexico and deport illegal immigrants who commit felonies.

Geno's owner Joe Vento said he posted the signs because of concerns over immigration reform and the increasing number of people who could not order in English.

Vento said his grandparents struggled to learn English after arriving from Sicily in the 1920s, and insisted that no one has ever been turned away from his business for not speaking English.

A discrimination case by the city's human relations commission is pending against Geno's.

Geno's, along with cross-street rival Pat's King of Steaks, is crowded round-the-clock with tourists and locals lining up for the signature Philadelphia sandwiches.

[Opus132]

"Immigration is wonderful," Giuliani said. "Immigration is the best thing we have going for us. We need new people. We need people who are going to inform us, give us new ideas, but it has to be legal.

No dear Giuliani, we don't need any of that, but your lobbyist friends sure enjoy the cheap labor don't they.

Suffer not the neo-con fascists.

[Barry]

I've actually only been to Geno's once or twice. It's famous for being one half of a legendary rivalry with Pat's Steaks across the street. They are both above average, but neither are near the best available. They're major tourist traps though, and if anyone wants to experience the South Philly vibe at a cheesesteak stand, they are the places to go.

[jbuck919]

As with everything, there are people with a level of proficiency for this (our lamented Dave Steiber is one), but in general, mastering another language as an adult is as great an accomplishment as can be expected of a human being, though many over centuries have managed it, usually out of necessity. I can manage halfway decently in French and German, but I would rather practice to play the Brahms Handel Variations than accomplish true conversational fluency in either language, let alone one more alien to Indo-European.

[Barry]

I've probably mentioned on here at some point that goof by Kerry when he stopped at Pat's Steaks for a campaign photo op. He ordered a steak with swiss cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, like he was getting a turkey sandwich. Not that it's important, obviously, but it was just an unnecessary goof that made him the butt of a lot of jokes around here for a while.

It probably seems silly. But the way that you order a cheesesteak in South Philly and a few places in other parts of the city is considered a barometer of being in tune to the local culture. If you don't know how to order, be prepared to be made fun of.

[jbuck919]

I've probably mentioned on here at some point that goof by Kerry when he stopped at Pat's Steaks for a campaign photo op. He ordered a steak with swiss cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, like he was getting a turkey sandwich. Not that it's important, obviously, but it was just an unnecessary goof that made him the butt of a lot of jokes around here for a while.

It probably seems silly. But the way that you order a cheesesteak in South Philly and a few places in other parts of the city is considered a barometer of being in tune to the local culture. If you don't know how to order, be prepared to be made fun of.

Barry, you're not telling us that a true Philly cheese-steak is made with gulp, awk,orp gag American cheese?

[Barry]

I've probably mentioned on here at some point that goof by Kerry when he stopped at Pat's Steaks for a campaign photo op. He ordered a steak with swiss cheese, lettuce and tomatoes, like he was getting a turkey sandwich. Not that it's important, obviously, but it was just an unnecessary goof that made him the butt of a lot of jokes around here for a while.

It probably seems silly. But the way that you order a cheesesteak in South Philly and a few places in other parts of the city is considered a barometer of being in tune to the local culture. If you don't know how to order, be prepared to be made fun of.

Barry, you're not telling us that a true Philly cheese-steak is made with gulp, awk,orp gag American cheese?

That's one option, but not one I ever take, John . The other options are provolone and cheese whiz. I'm sure I've gone into this before. People often automatically say "yuck" as soon as they hear cheese whiz. And I rarely, if ever eat it on anything else, but combined with fried onions, it just works on a cheesesteak. It's not available everywhere. But when it is, I often go for it. Otherwise, povolone is my choice. Although there are places in outlying areas where you may only have American cheese available. There are all kinds of ways to make it. Some places throw in pieces of American cheese and let it melt into the meat as it cooks. Other places put the cheese on tope. Some places chop the meat up and other places don't. A top-flight roll is perhaps as important as any other aspect of a cheesesteak. And a good cheesesteak roll is apparently tough to get outside of Philly.

This site has a limited guide to some of the better steak places in the area with photos:

http://www.hollyeats.com/Philadelphia.htm

I think the top local food critic picked John's Roast Pork, which is on that site, as the best when he tried a bunch of the better-known ones. Their Italian roast pork sandwich is also supposed to be amazing. I've yet to get to John's. That Italian roast pork is another South philly trademark sandwich, like the Italian beef in Chicago. The roast pork is usually served on a cheesesteak type of roll with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe. Tony Luke's, one of the better steak and roast pork places around, has a stand at the Phillies' stadium.

[Ted]

Cheese whiz when served on a Philly cheese steak is comparable to the finest Cognac, Silk, Caviar...you name it (I’m sure John can find something similar (made out of bear meat no doubt) in his neck of the woods (though I’m not one to throw stones with my share of wildlife in the Catskills—especially black bears and late Sat night a howling coyote in the woods right outside our bedroom window!

[RebLem]

I'm no expert on cheesesteaks, but I do recall seeing a mayor of Philly on Oprah once who said he preferred Velveeta. This may horrify some of you, but I do like Velveeta. Best for grilled cheese sammiches, either alone, or in combination with a mildly sharp cheddar, like Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp. Also, a tip--don't put butter on the bread to make it grill. It will be too greasy. Lay down a discrete little line of squeeze Parkay around the outer edges, then one diagonal line. That's enough. Wait until one side is done before laying down another bead on top and turning.

Trivia fact: Puerto Rico consumes more Cheeze Whiz per capita than another other US jurisdiction.

[Barry]

I'm no expert on cheesesteaks, but I do recall seeing a mayor of Philly on Oprah once who said he preferred Velveeta. This may horrify some of you, but I do like Velveeta. Best for grilled cheese sammiches, either alone, or in combination with a mildly sharp cheddar, like Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp. Also, a tip--don't put butter on the bread to make it grill. It will be too greasy. Lay down a discrete little line of squeeze Parkay around the outer edges, then one diagonal line. That's enough. Wait until one side is done before laying down another bead on top and turning.

Trivia fact: Puerto Rico consumes more Cheeze Whiz per capita than another other US jurisdiction.

I've never heard of Velveeta on a cheesesteak. That mayor must have made them at home.