I want a Philly cheese steak. I've never actually had one of those from anywhere but Philly (and Geno's to be specific), and I'm scared to try.

There's supposed to be a two-restaurant rivalry, right? Does anyone have an opinion on whether Geno wins the crown? Or is it irrelevant (because San Jose has a much better sandwich than either, to pick a random reason)?

My Geno's count is two. I went to Philly in 2002 for NBA Allstar weekend with Deb Grabien's daughter. We started out Friday evening by wandering around town, and we got into a limo with a bunch of guys that seemed promising. Uh, because, you know--sense. We drove along for a while, boozing and shooting the shit, and then we decided--hunger. Geno's was picked without debate, and we drove over there. HUGE line. End-of-the-block long. So all the guys get out to get in line and buy us all food.

Jo and I are chilling in the limo, but then Jo gets impatient. She bounces out, and is back in five with her sandwich and mine. She had walked to the front of the line and asked if she could cut in. The guy 2nd in line said "Sure, if you let me see your toes." Never mind February in Philly, Jo's no idiot, so she takes off her boot.

"Can I touch them?"

"NO."

"Okay."

And she went straight to the counter and bought our food. Guys were pretty disappointed when they came back from their gallant task, and we were daintily wiping grease off our faces.

Next night, I ask the NSYNC guy for a ride home for me and my friend, and he complies. We drop Jo off and he's looking at me with the oh-so-sexy Now What? look, and I tell him I'm hungry and I will only eat Geno's.

So we drive over there, and his bodyguard gets out and goes to cut to the front of the line. The owner sends him back saying he needs to see Chris in person before giving us free food.

Chris gets out of the van, and I'm still sitting there. Come on! he urges me to follow. Oh, okay. No room service.

We get in, and the owner is plotzing. Apparently Timberlake and Britney had been in the day before, so this was now The Official NSYNC Cheesesteak. Chris signs some stuff, and the owner asks if we want T-shirts. I'm like "Hells, yeah!"

"What size?" asks the owner.

"Small," I tell him.

Chris gives me a look, gives my boobs a look, and then back up. "Medium," he says.

I got a medium. It's all good. And the sandwich? Still delicious.

Sweet, ita.

The Official NSYNC Cheesesteak

Hee.

Pat's is the place across the street, but I will always be loyal to my local (Billybob's in West Philly). And you are right to never have a cheesesteak anywhere else.

I've never had a cheesesteak from Philly. I have tried imitations and never been thrilled. But there used to be a shop in Berkeley (on University, below San Pablo) that made something magical and gave me hope that it was close to a true Philly Cheesesteak.

And now I'm hungry. Time to raid the fridge.

Sue "Natter 70: Hookers and Blow" Jun 29, 2012 10:11:19 am PDT

Wow, and there's a whole 5 years before the threat of communal property in the divorce. Usually his beards stick around until the eleventh hour.

I've never had a cheesesteak in Philly, either, but I have heard of Geno's.

Matt, there was no link in your link.

I've never had fish tacos.

Now I have a plate of them in front of me.

I'm catching up after a day and a half -- is the > thing not working for cited text? Because I'm seeing things repeated from others, but it's not smaller and set off.

More like there was no quote formatting in my quoted text. I've never had a custom style sheet that I'm aware of... do the carats just not work in general anymore?

ita ! says to "Refresh, refresh, refresh."