# Cheesesteak? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 18, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226 "2003-10-18T19:33:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CloudCar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@CloudCar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CloudCar)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/1 "2003-10-18T19:33:41Z")
What the heck is cheesesteak? Is it steak that is somehow prepared like or with cheese? On another completely unrelated note does anyone know what kind of motorcycle Tom Cruise rode in Top Gun? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/2 "2003-10-18T19:38:29Z")
You’re kidding right? A cheesesteak is a sub-type sandwich made with thin shaved steak, with cheese melted on it, often served with sauteed onions and/or peppers. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/3 "2003-10-18T19:43:19Z")
[Here’s](http://www.post-gazette.com/food/19990429dietrx1m.asp) one variety of Philly cheese steak. I’ve been to cafeterias that call grilled ground beef with cheese on it a cheese steak. You’ll get better responses if you ask unrelated questions one at a time. The motorcycle afficiando who knows the answer to your second question may never look at this thread if they know nothing about cheese steak. ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/4 "2003-10-18T19:43:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CloudCar \* > \*\*On another completely unrelated note does anyone know what kind of motorcycle Tom Cruise rode in Top Gun? \*\* Kawasaki Ninja 900, 85 or 86 model. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/5 "2003-10-18T19:44:56Z")
OK, go ahead and make a liar out of me **Berkut**. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Berkut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e57/32.png) [@Berkut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Berkut)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/6 "2003-10-18T19:50:14Z")
Sorry! I loves me some cheesesteak. And motorcycles. ---
**Author:** ![zabrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/dbc845/32.png) [@zabrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zabrain)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/7 "2003-10-18T19:56:27Z")
Tom was riding a [Ninja 900](http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/9643/myninja.html) 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![quiltguy154](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ad7895/32.png) [@quiltguy154](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quiltguy154)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/8 "2003-10-18T20:59:46Z")
Peppers on a cheesesteak??? Hit the road, pal. Chipped beefsteak fried on a not-too-clean grill, shoveled into an Italian roll made especially for the purpose. Well-fried onions, and the cheese of your choice:provolone, American or whiz. Maybe, maybe a cherry pepper or two, if you’re in the mood. That’s it! No other choices. No brie, no baguettes, no toasting or broiling of ANYTHING, no “special sauce”. Wrap it up, or better yet, eat it where you bought it. Ask me how I know. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/9 "2003-10-18T22:58:50Z")
A real Philly cheesesteak must use Cheeze Whiz. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DaisyFace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/848f3c/32.png) [@DaisyFace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaisyFace)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/10 "2003-10-18T23:04:15Z")
Can’t resist, quiltguy154, how do you know? ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/11 "2003-10-18T23:05:30Z")
The thing about real Philly cheesesteaks is that: 1. They are revolting things, made with unidentifiable slices of beef cooked on a dirty grill, put in the aforementioned Italian roll, covered in similarly unidentifiable orangy melty cheeselike substance and charred onion bits. Eating one is best done in a waterproof poncho, as you WILL cover yourself in grease. Eating one may also increase your insurance premiums due to the increased likelihood of heart disease; heck, you might as well just put a clothespin on your aorta. 2. They’re _extremely_ tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/12 "2003-10-18T23:20:24Z")
I grew up in Philly and never heard of a cheesesteak. We went to Jim’s outpost at 62d and Haverford Ave. and got a steak sandwich, on a hoagy roll, with hot peppers and onions. It was thin sliced beef (there were persistent rumors that they also used horsemeat, not that it bothered me) fried on a grill as were the onions and peppers. I guess they would add melted cheese if you asked, but I never did. Just to know what was going on, I finally had a cheese steak a dozen years ago and was disappointed. I think the original without cheese is better. But I would give a lot for a genuine hoagy. The average (or even superior) sub doesn’t come close. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/13 "2003-10-18T23:31:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zabrain \* > \*\*Tom was riding a [Ninja 900](http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/9643/myninja.html) 🆒 \*\* No. He was riding his Cheesesteak Special. 😉 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/14 "2003-10-19T00:07:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by quiltguy154 \* > \*\*Peppers on a cheesesteak??? Hit the road, pal. Chipped beefsteak fried on a not-too-clean grill, shoveled into an Italian roll made especially for the purpose. Well-fried onions, and the cheese of your choice:provolone, American or whiz. Maybe, maybe a cherry pepper or two, if you’re in the mood. That’s it! No other choices. No brie, no baguettes, no toasting or broiling of ANYTHING, no “special sauce”. Wrap it up, or better yet, eat it where you bought it. Ask me how I know. \*\* Don’t ever come to Pittsburgh, then, and ask for a Primanti Bros’ cheesesteak-all the ingredients of the original cheesesteak-along with fries and coleslaw-ON the sandwhich. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/15 "2003-10-19T02:02:22Z")
Awright! cheesesteak origin war here! Cites anyone? Before the M-W from 1978? I have no doubt it was there. Maybe under another name? Philly or PIttsburgh. Show us the beef! ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/16 "2003-10-19T02:14:11Z")
[The Philadelphia Cheesesteak Experience:](http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/annex/herman.html) > [@](#): > > The Philadelphia Cheeseteak got its start when brothers Harry and Pat Olivieri, who had a hot-dog cart in South Philadelphia in 1930, got tired of hot dogs. For a change, Harry went down to the butcher one day and gathered together some scrap meat. They cooked up the meat on their hot dog grill, and sliced the meat for themselves which they piled into hot-dog rolls. Although they tried to be discreet about their lunch, a few regular customers of their hot-dog stand caught them eating the new sandwich and wanted to try it. The Olivieris eventually eliminated hot dogs from the menu and opened Pat’s King of Steaks–a shop that featured their creation which is still at its original Ninth and Wharton Street location. Although I was originally skeptical about the truth of the origins of the cheesesteak, as current owner of Pat’s King of Steaks told me the story, the birth of the cheesesteak is corroborated by many articles in the Philadelphia Inquirer. ---
**Author:** ![x-ray\_vision](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/x-ray_vision/32/351_2.png) [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/17 "2003-10-19T02:54:31Z")
**Guiltguy154** , I had a cheesesteak with peppers on it last week at Pat’s, right before I hit the Mutter museum. ---
**Author:** ![Titan2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecd19e/32.png) [@Titan2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Titan2)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/18 "2003-10-19T06:50:17Z")
I’ll second \*\* Hari Seldon’s \*\* experience.From the 50s when i was first introduced to them it was a “steak” sandwich.That’s shaved beef (certainly not the cuts most people are used to calling steaks from the loin) mixed with the onions on the grill. In my earliest experience they also ladled a small amount of some au jus type gravy which was also sitting on the grill in a little container with small ladle.Made it much juicier somewhat like a french dip. Cheese came later and I suspect it was because some of those shops turned out a mostly inedible,dry concoction.Might have even come from somewhere beyond Philly for all I know,but the original \*\* Hoagie \*\* shouldn’t be bandied about in the deli treat world alongside other sandwiches misslabelled hoagie. It isn’t a type like sub,torpedo,grinder,hero=but a delight only found in about a 50/75 mile radius of the Delaware valley \*\* only \*\*. I think I got a little sidetracked there,I haven’t had a real hoagie in about 20 years ☹ You’d know if you ate one.It’s like calling a corned beef sandwich or pizza New York style in Idaho ---
**Author:** ![Headcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Headcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headcoat)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/19 "2003-10-19T06:51:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hari Seldon \* > \*\*I grew up in Philly and never heard of a cheesesteak. \*\* How is this possible? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226/20 "2003-10-19T11:56:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Berkut \* > \*\*I loves me some cheesesteak. \*\* Awwwwww! You’re so sweet! Anyway, you all are totally wrong! Cheesesteak is a male, 32 years old, brown hair, blue eyes, 5’11", 190 lbs. He likes romantic candlelit dinners, long walks on the beach and hot chicks who put out. Here’s my own personal [cheesesteak page](http://www.geocities.com/yngdaniel/chestk.html) complete with pictures and my own grammatically challenged commentary. That website is so good, so well done, I haven’t had to update it in years. Hurry, and you can be the 4th person this month to visit! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cheesesteak/208226.md?page=2)