41-453: A cheesesteak (also known as a Philadelphia cheesesteak , Philly cheesesteak , cheesesteak sandwich , cheese steak , or steak and cheese ) is a sandwich made from thinly sliced pieces of beefsteak and melted cheese in a long hoagie roll . A popular regional fast food , it has its roots in the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania . The cheesesteak was developed in
82-495: A container or wrapper for another food type, and allows it to be a finger food . The sandwich began as a portable, convenient food in the Western world, though over time it has become prevalent worldwide. There has been social media debate over the precise definition of sandwich , specifically whether a hot dog or open sandwich can be categorized as such. Other items, like hamburger and burrito , were also considered. In
123-497: A "sandwich", this food combination seems to have been known as "bread and meat" or "bread and cheese". These two phrases are found throughout English drama from the 16th and 17th centuries. In the first century BCE, the ancient Jewish sage Hillel the Elder is said to have wrapped meat from the Paschal lamb and bitter herbs in a soft matzah —flat, unleavened bread—during Passover in
164-514: A higher milkfat content, the product is sharper and creamier than ordinary American cheese. According to Kosuke Chujo, who runs a cheesesteak shop in Japan, the cheese "was very creamy and delicious with the perfect balance of salt". Sandwich A sandwich is a dish typically consisting of meat, cheese or vegetables used as a filling between slices of bread , or placed atop a slice of bread; or, more generally, any dish in which bread serves as
205-552: A meal, the food-soaked trencher was fed to a dog or to beggars at the tables of the wealthy, and eaten by diners in more modest circumstances. The immediate culinary precursor with a direct connection to the English sandwich was to be found in the Netherlands of the seventeenth century, where the naturalist John Ray observed that in the taverns beef hung from the rafters "which they cut into thin slices and eat with bread and butter laying
246-674: A packaging sleeve and dough formula to keep its calzone -like sandwiches crispy when cooked in a microwave . In 1980, Chef America introduced its first stuffed sandwich, the Tastywich, the predecessor of the Hot Pocket. Hot Pockets supplanted Tastywiches in 1983, first sold to restaurants because they were easier to break into than retail stores. On May 22, 2002, Chef America was sold to Nestlé. Hot Pocket products were "a $ 2 billion category of frozen sandwiches and snacks". Breakfast-style Hot Pockets were introduced in 2001. There are 50 varieties of
287-539: A reader's letter to an Indianapolis magazine, lamenting the unavailability of good cheesesteaks, wrote that "the mention of the Amoroso roll brought tears to my eyes." After commenting on the debates over types of cheese and "chopped steak or sliced", Risk and Insurance magazine declared, "The only thing nearly everybody can agree on is that it all has to be piled onto a fresh, locally baked Amoroso roll." Food distributors often suggest or sell sandwiches which are inspired by
328-454: A soft filling between the baked layers. In corporate finance, Dutch Sandwich and Double Irish with a Dutch sandwich refer to schemes for tax evasion. The word butty , originally referring to a buttered slice of bread, is common in some northern and southern parts of England and Wales as a slang synonym for "sandwich," particularly to refer to certain kinds of sandwiches including the chip butty , bacon butty , or sausage butty . Sarnie
369-869: A year in London in 1765. An alternative is provided by Sandwich's biographer, N. A. M. Rodger , who suggests Sandwich's commitments to the Navy, and to politics and the arts, mean the first sandwich was more likely to have been consumed at his desk. The sandwich's popularity in Spain and England increased dramatically during the nineteenth century, when the rise of industrial society and the working classes made fast, portable, and inexpensive meals essential. In London, for example, at least seventy street vendors were selling ham sandwiches by 1850; during that decade sandwich bars also became an important form of eating establishment in western Holland, typically serving liver and salt beef sandwiches. In
410-557: Is a similar colloquialism. Likewise, the word sanger is used for sandwich in Australian slang . The colloquial Scottish word piece may refer either to a sandwich or to a light meal, especially one that includes a sandwich. For example, the phrase jeely piece refers to a jam sandwich . The colloquial form "sammich" (alternatively, "sammidge") is used in the Southeastern United States. In Japanese, sando or sandoichi
451-740: Is commonly said that Lord Sandwich, during long sessions of cribbage and other card games at public gambling houses , would order his valet to bring him roast beef between two pieces of toasted bread. He was fond of this form of food because it allowed him to continue gambling while eating, without the need for a fork, and without getting his cards greasy from eating meat with his bare hands. The dish then grew in popularity in London, and Sandwich's name became associated with it. The rumour in its familiar form appeared in Pierre-Jean Grosley 's Londres ( Neuchâtel , 1770), translated as A Tour to London in 1772; Grosley's impressions had been formed during
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#1733092601484492-409: Is debated, but according to many accounts, Pat and Harry Olivieri originally owned a hot dog stand, and on one occasion, decided to make a new sandwich using chopped beef and grilled onions. While Pat was eating the sandwich, a cab driver stopped by and was interested in it, so he requested one for himself. After eating it, the cab driver suggested that Olivieri quit making hot dogs and instead focus on
533-484: Is explicitly excluded. In Britain, the British Sandwich Association defines a sandwich as "any form of bread with a filling, generally assembled cold"; a definition which includes wraps and bagels , but potentially excludes dishes assembled and served hot, such as burgers. Sandwiches are a popular type of lunch food, taken to work, school, or picnics to be eaten as part of a packed lunch . The bread
574-442: Is frequently coated with condiments such as mayonnaise or mustard to enhance its flavour and texture, but may be served plain ("dry"). As well as being homemade, sandwiches are also widely sold in various retail outlets and can be served hot or cold. Although savoury sandwiches—such as deli meat sandwiches—are in the majority, sweet sandwiches—such as jam sandwiches and fluffernutters —form their own category. The sandwich
615-414: Is named after the inventor of a certain roast beef sandwich in 18th century England, John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich . The Wall Street Journal has described it as Britain's "biggest contribution to gastronomy ". The use of some kind of bread or bread-like substance to lie under some other food, or to scoop it up and enclose or wrap it, is found in many cultures historically. Before being known as
656-461: Is used. Sandwiches have been widely sold in cafes, railway stations, pubs and diners since the invention of sliced bread in the 1920s. Sandwiches kept unwrapped, drying up and edges curling, until they were sold, were widely found in Britain until the 1970s. Cafes and buffets in railway stations and on trains were notorious, and the term " British Rail sandwich " was often used satirically. In 1979,
697-660: The Rancho Feeding Corp was used to make Hot Pockets. The USDA described the food as "unfit for humans". This Rancho Feeding Corp meat recall was based out of a production facility in California, but the recalled Hot Pockets were distributed nationwide. The two types of Hot Pockets involved in the recall were the Philly Steak and Cheese and the Croissant Crust Philly Steak and Cheese. A full federal inspection
738-528: The British sandwich industry made and sold £8 billion worth of sandwiches. Hot Pocket Hot Pockets is an American brand of microwaveable turnovers generally containing one or more types of cheese, meat, or vegetables. Hot Pockets was founded by Chef America Inc. Since April 20, 2002, they have been produced by Nestlé . Hot Pockets were developed by Paul Merage and his brother David through their company Chef America Inc. Chef America invented
779-508: The British store chain Marks & Spencer introduced a small range of chilled, pre-made sandwiches sold in wedge-shaped boxes, sealed to keep them fresh. As they proved popular, a small experiment involving five stores rapidly grew to cover more than one hundred stores. Within a year, the store was looking for ways to manufacture sandwiches at an industrial scale. By the end of the decade, the British sandwich industry had become worth £1bn. In 2017,
820-618: The Ridge Avenue location. No actual documentary evidence exists of the Olivieri story, however, and like many such origin stories it may be apocryphal, perpetuated by the author's retelling. The cheesesteak may well have appeared and spread gradually among anonymous cooks. Cheesesteaks have become popular at restaurants and food carts throughout the city with many locations being independently owned, family-run businesses. Variations of cheesesteaks are now common in several fast food chains. Versions of
861-616: The US, a court in Indiana ruled in 2024 that tacos and burritos are sandwiches, specifically that "The Court agrees with Quintana that tacos and burritos are Mexican-style sandwiches". The court further ruled that such a definition of sandwich would also apply to a "restaurant that serves made-to-order Greek gyros, Indian naan wraps, or Vietnamese banh mi". The state of New York has a definition of "sandwich" that explicitly includes burritos, gyros , hot dogs, and wraps and pita sandwiches. In Spain, where
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#1733092601484902-500: The US: it usually refers to an item that uses sliced bread from a loaf. An item with similar fillings but using an entire bread roll cut horizontally in half, is generally referred to as a roll , or with certain hot fillings, a burger . However, in Australia hot sliced (not ground) beef between two slices of toasted bread is referred to as a steak sandwich : the sliced loaf bread distinguishes
943-631: The United States, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration are the responsible agencies for protecting the definition of sandwich . The USDA uses the definition, "at least 35% cooked meat and no more than 50% bread" for closed sandwiches, and "at least 50% cooked meat" for open sandwiches. However, the same USDA manual determines that burritos and fajitas are "sandwich-like", and frankfurters are "sandwich type", while stromboli
984-590: The United States, the sandwich was first promoted as an elaborate meal at supper. By the early 20th century, as bread became a staple of the American diet, the sandwich became the same kind of popular, quick meal as was already widespread in the Mediterranean . In the US, a court in Boston , Massachusetts , ruled in 2006 that a sandwich includes at least two slices of bread and "under this definition, this court finds that
1025-403: The cause of the fallen sales, stating SNAP benefit recipients are "a big part of the consumption of this particular product." In 2014, Nestle USA recalled 238,000 cases of its Hot Pockets because they may have contained meat from a massive recall of about 8.7 million pounds (3,900,000 kilograms) of meat from "diseased and unsound" animals. Nestle stated that "a small quantity of meat" from
1066-401: The children's lunch for the same reason, because it is fast." Cheez Whiz is "overwhelmingly the favorite" at Pat's, outselling runner-up American by a ratio of eight or ten to one, while Geno's claims to go through eight to ten cases of Cheez Whiz a day. Cooper Sharp, a " Pasteurized Process American Cheese ", is gaining ground as a new cheese option as of 2023. Made from aged Cheddar and having
1107-472: The classic cheesesteak. For example, Pillsbury provides a recipe for "Philly Cheesesteak Wraps " which substitutes a tortilla for the bread. Nestlé offers a "Philly Steak and Cheese" made in the form of a Hot Pocket . American cheese , provolone , and Cheez Whiz are the most commonly used cheeses or cheese products put on to the Philly cheesesteak. Some establishments melt the American cheese to achieve
1148-514: The creamy consistency, while others place slices over the meat, letting them melt slightly under the heat. Philadelphia Inquirer restaurant critic Craig LaBan says, "Provolone is for aficionados, extra-sharp for the most discriminating among them," although LaBan was at the time new to the Philadelphia area, and sharp provolone is rarely found in cheesesteak shops, while mild provolone is common. Geno's owner, Joey Vento , said, "We always recommend
1189-550: The early 20th century "by combining frizzled beef , onions , and cheese in a small loaf of bread ", according to a 1987 exhibition catalog published by the Library Company of Philadelphia and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania . Philadelphians Pat and Harry Olivieri are often credited with inventing the sandwich by serving chopped steak on an Italian roll in the early 1930s. The exact story behind its creation
1230-648: The manner of a modern wrap made with flatbread . Flat breads of only slightly varying kinds have long been used to scoop or wrap small amounts of food en route from platter to mouth throughout Western Asia and northern Africa. From Morocco to Ethiopia to India , bread is usually baked in flat rounds, contrasting with the European loaf tradition. During the Middle Ages in Europe, thick slabs of coarse and usually stale bread , called " trenchers ," were used as plates. After
1271-637: The meat, letting it melt, and then the roll is placed on top of the cheese. The mixture is then scooped up with a spatula and pressed into the roll, which is then cut in half. Common additions include sautéed onions, grilled mushrooms, ketchup, hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. In Philadelphia, cheesesteaks are invariably served on hoagie rolls. Among several brands, perhaps the most famous are Amoroso rolls; these rolls are long, soft, and slightly salted. One source writes that "a proper cheesesteak consists of provolone or Cheez Whiz slathered on an Amoroso roll and stuffed with thinly shaved grilled meat," while
Cheesesteak - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-399: The new sandwich. They began selling this variation of steak sandwiches at their hot dog stand near South Philadelphia 's Italian Market . They became so popular that Pat opened up his own restaurant which still operates today as Pat's King of Steaks . The sandwich was originally prepared without cheese; Olivieri said provolone cheese was first added by "Cocky Joe" Lorenza, a manager at
1353-438: The previous year), according to Euromonitor International data. Paul Grimwood took over Nestlé SA's struggling U.S operations in 2011. In an attempt to bolster the failing brand by improving supply chain, Grimwood made the decision to drop the calzone version of Hot Pockets and the quesadillas Lean Pockets, reducing the number of doughs needed. Nestlé executive Chris Johnson points to an end of extended SNAP benefits in 2013 as
1394-438: The provolone. That's the real cheese." Cheez Whiz, first marketed in 1952, was not yet available for the original 1930 version, but has expanded in popularity. A 1986 New York Times article called Cheez Whiz "the sine qua non of cheesesteak connoisseurs." In a 1985 interview, Pat Olivieri's nephew Frank Olivieri said that he uses "the processed cheese spread familiar to millions of parents who prize speed and ease in fixing
1435-449: The sandwich can also be found at high-end restaurants. Many establishments outside of Philadelphia refer to the sandwich as a "Philly cheesesteak". The meat traditionally used is thinly sliced rib-eye or top round , although other cuts of beef are also used. On a lightly oiled griddle at medium temperature, the steak slices are quickly browned and then scrambled into smaller pieces with a flat spatula. Slices of cheese are then placed over
1476-547: The slices upon the butter"—explanatory specifications that reveal the Dutch belegde broodje , open-faced sandwich , was as yet unfamiliar in England. Initially perceived as food that men shared while gaming and drinking at night, the sandwich slowly began appearing in polite society as a late-night meal among the aristocracy . The sandwich is named after John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich , an eighteenth-century English aristocrat . It
1517-536: The steak sandwich from a burger. The verb to sandwich has the meaning "to position anything between two other things of a different character, or to place different elements alternately," and the noun sandwich has related meanings derived from this more general definition. For example, an ice cream sandwich consists of a layer of ice cream between two layers of cake or biscuit. Similarly, Oreos and Custard creams are described as sandwich biscuits (UK/Commonwealth) or sandwich cookies (US) because they consist of
1558-432: The term 'sandwich' is not commonly understood to include burritos , tacos , and quesadillas , which are typically made with a single tortilla and stuffed with a choice filling of meat, rice, and beans." The issue stemmed from the question of whether a restaurant that sold burritos could move into a shopping centre where another restaurant had a no-compete clause in its lease prohibiting other "sandwich" shops. Also in
1599-788: The traditional Hot Pocket, including breakfast, lunch and dinner varieties. Nestlé also offers Pretzel Bread Hot Pockets, Hot Pockets Croissant Crust (formerly called Croissant Pockets), Hot Pockets Breakfast items, Hot Pockets Breakfast/Snack Bites and Hot Pockets Side shots. Nestlé formerly produced Lean Pockets, Hot Pie Express, Hot Pocket Pizza Minis (originally called Hot Pockets Pizza Snacks), Hot Pockets Subs, Hot Pockets Calzones, Hot Pockets Panini and Hot Pockets Breakfast fruit pastries. Hot Pockets are viewed as "an after school staple". Individual Hot Pockets contain about 350 calories. Citing reduced sales, Nestlé announced in 2011 that it would cut employee numbers at its California factory. U.S. sales were about $ 610 million in 2010 (down $ 44 million from
1640-447: The word sandwich is borrowed from the English language, it refers to a food item made with English sandwich bread . It is otherwise known as a bocadillo . Similar usage applies in other Spanish-speaking cultures, such as Mexico, where the word torta is also used for a popular variety of roll-type sandwiches. In the UK and Australia, the term sandwich is more narrowly defined than in
1681-414: Was not performed, and there were no illnesses reported in connection to this recall. Customers who bought the recalled products were refunded by contacting Nestle Consumer Service. In January 2021, some batches of Hot Pockets produced during November 13–16, 2020, were found to contain pieces of glass or hard plastic, posing a choking and laceration risk. The USDA issued a Class I recall, because "use of