Neither Pat's Nor Geno's: Saturday Beefcake Late Night Treat

A Philly Steak Sandwich is the culinary snack that has put Philly on the map, so to speak. The sandwich in all its forms was put forth by Pat's "King of Steaks" and then Geno's. Both places face each other at the intersection of Ninth and Wharton Sts. Passyunk Ave crosses in there somewhere as well. Pat's and Geno's by no means make the best philly steak sandwiches. Phil's on South Street used to have that distinction. What made Pat's and Geno's distinctive was the diversity of the congregation of late night eaters who made it there after the bars closed or after other events in their lives. What follows is an upscale version of the downtown Philly treat. Something you can make at home and consume there for some restoration after other late night treats.

White Dog Café's Philly Cheese Steak
Betty Fussell

Raising Steaks: The Life and Times of American Beef (2008)

(4 servings)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced (about 4 cups)
2 large Portobello mushroom caps, thinly sliced (about 3 cups)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 pound trimmed flank steak, sliced as thinly as possible (preferably on a slicer)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups grated pepper-Jack cheese
2 soft-crusted long baguettes, or 4 Italian-style hoagie rolls
Preheated Oven 400F.




Heat the oil in a large non-reactive sauté pan over medium high heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms and 1 teaspoon of the salt and sauté until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the flank steak and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the pepper and sauté until the meat is cooked through, about 5 minutes more.




Remove the pan from the heat. Sprinkle the cheese over top, cover the pan and set aside until the cheese melts, around 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, slice the baguettes lengthwise. Place, cut side down on a baking sheet, and toast until crisp, 4 to 5 minutes.

Fill the baguettes with the meat and cheese. Cut each into two portions. Serve immediately—with or without ketchup.