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FOCUS IACP 2013 Conference Penn Park, which sits along the banks of the Schuylkill River, provides fields and tracks for sporting enthusiasts, as well as a perfect location for a picnic with a skyline view. Photo by J. Fusco for GPTMC alike. The fountain's three main fgures, sculpted by Alexander Stirling Calder, represent the city's major waterways: the Delaware, Schuylkill and Wissahickon Rivers. A diagonal interruption through Philadelphia's horizontal/vertical grid layout, East Passyunk Avenue runs through the heart of South Philadelphia. The area along and around the thoroughfare boasts independent boutiques, coffee shops and cafes, plus some of the city's most authentic red-gravy restaurants. Situated about midway along the street's length is Passyunk Square, where the "Singing Fountain," benches, a chess table and the surrounding Italian eateries create a European vibe. Along Baltimore Avenue you'll fnd one of West Philadelphia's main thoroughfares, indie shops, ethnic restaurants and cool bars contribute to the neighborhood's distinctive personality. Housed in an old frehouse, Dock Street Brewing Company draws crowds with its traditional and experimental brews and locally sourced food. Shot Tower offers serious coffee and tea lovers a comprehensive menu of brewed beverages. Appropriately named for the Italian phrase meaning "beautiful site," the Bella Vista neighborhood of South Philly is known for its quaint row homes and charming cafes and coffee shops. Philly Cheesesteaks In Philadelphia, cheesesteaks are a civic icon, a tourist draw, and a cultural obsession. Often imitated around the world, the cheesesteak is rarely duplicated successfully outside of Philadelphia. So what is an authentic cheesesteak and where did it come from? A cheesesteak is a long, crusty roll flled with thinly sliced sautéed ribeye beef and 30 LAW and ORDER I October 2013 The Swann Memorial Fountain's three main figures, sculpted by Alexander Stirling Calder, represent the city's major waterways. Photo by T. O'Keefe for GPTM melted cheese. Generally, the cheese of choice is Cheez Whiz, but American and provolone are common substitutions. The art of cheesesteak preparation lies in the balance of favors, textures and what is often referred to as the "drip" factor. Other toppings may include fried onions, sautéed mushrooms, ketchup, and hot or sweet peppers. Some sandwich shops also offer a cheesesteak hoagie, a hybrid version that combines the cheesesteak with cold hoagie dressings like lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Cheesesteaks are readily available at steak shops, delis, food trucks, pizzerias and even some high-end restaurants throughout the region. Pat Olivieri's Invention Everyone agrees that the cheesesteak, the celebrated Philadelphia sandwich invented by Pat Olivieri in 1930, should be made with chopped beef and melted cheese. The degree to which said beef is chopped and the type of cheese to be melted, however, is where there remains plenty of debate among cheesesteak afcionados. Pat Olivieri was a South Philadelphia hot dog vendor who one day decided to put some beef from the butcher on his grill. A taxicab driver noticed the alluring aroma and asked for his own steak sandwich. The next day, as the story goes, rumor of the delicious lunch had spread, and cabbies around the city came to Olivieri demanding steak sandwiches. Soon after, Olivieri opened up a shop on 9th Street and Passyunk Ave., Pat's King of Steaks. Eventually, according to legend, he added cheese to the recipe. Today, Pat's grills are sizzling 24 hours a day, as are Geno's, the rival shop across the street. For 40 years, the two shops have waged a friendly competition to win the title of best cheesesteak in town, with Geno's founder, Joe Vento, claiming it was he, not Olivieri, who frst added cheese to the cheesesteak. How to Order a Philly Cheesesteak When ordering a cheesesteak, the idea is to let the cashier know: a) that you would like a cheesesteak, b) what type of cheese you want, and c) whether or not you want fried onions. And you have to be as concise as possible while doing so. Locals have become so adept at this practice that they basically have it down to three words. Saying "one wiz with" to the person behind the counter means that you would like one cheesesteak [denoted by the "one"] with Cheez Wiz as your choice of cheese [denoted by the "wiz"] and with fried onions [denoted by the "with"]. Where to Go Those who prefer fnely chopped beef often cite Roxborough's Dalessandro's as cheesesteak perfection. Others who prefer chopped beef topped with Cheez Wiz swear by Pat's on Passyunk. Still others say the best is the thick, extra-cheesy steak sandwich from John's Roast Pork in South Philadelphia. You should defnitelyexperience an authentic Philly Cheesesteak. Yesenia Salcedo is a Contributing Editor for LAW and ORDER magazine. She can be reached at ydsalcedo@gmail.com. LaO Post your comments on this story by visiting www.lawandordermag.com