Philadelphia Cheesesteak Sandwich

The Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwich consists of very thinly sliced beefsteak that is grilled with onions and served on an Italian roll with a choice of cheese and a garnish of fried hot or sweet peppers. According to legend, the cheesesteak sandwich was created in 1930 by Pat Olivieri, operator of a hot dog stand at the Italian Market in South Philadelphia. Tired of hot dogs, Olivieri cooked up some thinly sliced beef and onions on his grill and piled it all into a crusty roll. As he was eating his sandwich, a cab driver and longtime customer arrived and asked for one, too. Upon tasting it, the cabbie advised Olivieri to forget hot dogs and sell the new beef sandwich instead. Cheese was added during the 1940s. Pat’s King of Steaks, still owned and operated by the Olivieri family, is known for its Philadelphia cheesesteak sandwiches. The sandwich is served by a host of competitors in Philadelphia as well as restaurants and vendors throughout the United States.