The Real Deal: Authentic Philly cheesesteaks at Philadeli
Well, not anymore.
Philadelphia’s legendary sandwich man Bill Passio has opened his own authentic Philly cheesesteak sandwich shop right here in New Philadelphia, on the square, behind the gazebo.
It’s appropriately named Philadeli.
The Real Deal
So what makes Bill’s cheesesteak sandwiches so much better than others? The answer is simple: better ingredients.
Let’s start with the meat.
“We don’t use some frozen hockey puck of chopped up beef parts,” Bill assures. “We hand-slice our own fresh ribeye, which comes from a local Ohio farmer who supplies us with aged, certified Black Angus beef. We buy it fresh and slice it thin. That’s the secret.”
And Bill doesn’t skimp on the bread either. “We were planning on baking our own bread, but we found a local baker who agreed to do it by adjusting the recipe to my specifications,” reveals Bill, whose specs include size, weight, thickness and cooking time. “The bread can’t be too crisp or it will break apart. It has to be cooked and steamed perfectly. If it breaks in half, I won’t serve it. We tweaked the recipe for three weeks before getting it just right.”
The cheese, however, is another matter. “If you don’t use Cheez Whiz, then it’s not a real Philly cheesesteak sandwich,” Bill reveals. “Everyone in Philadelphia loves Cheez Whiz.”
Suitable substitutes, Bill adds, include provolone, mozzarella, Swiss, white American and his own brand of “sharp provolone,” which he uses on many of his restaurant’s Italian sandwiches, including the Classic Italian Hoagie, which is prosciutto, hot butt cappocola, Genoa hard salami, pepperoni, sharp provolone, roasted peppers, sprinkled with olive oil and topped with romaine, tomato and onion.
Wow.
As a professional marketer, I asked Bill why he charges $7 for a sandwich instead of $6.95. He replied like a true Philadelphian: “Hey, why insult people’s intelligence?”
His specialty sandwiches include the Spinach Marrandino—chopped spinach and sliced sweet Italian sausage fried in extra virgin olive oil and garlic, served with your choice of cheese. Or try the Chicken Italiano, which features Bill’s famous breaded chicken cutlet covered with pan-fried spinach or broccoli rabe (when available) and topped with sharp provolone and roasted peppers.
“We filet and bread our own chicken from fresh chicken breasts,” Bill insists. “We don’t use frozen chicken patties here. And we don’t microwave anything. In fact, we don’t even own a microwave.”
If you’re searching for something a little more diet-friendly, try the Philadeli Italian Tuna. It boasts Tonno tuna (packed in olive oil) and is topped with romaine, tomato, onion, roasted peppers and sharp provolone, all on a fresh Kaiser roll. It’s so good just like it is, that the menu declares “No Mayo.”
And Bill prefers romaine over iceberg lettuce because it’s more flavorful and a better visual. “When you cut a hoagie in half and the front edge is coming to your face, it has to look good,” Bill smiles.
Straight from Italy
If you want to take advantage of Bill’s Italian heritage, try the Chicken or Meatball Parm, which includes his famous tomato sauce, the recipe for which came from his own grandmother.
“My grandparents came over from Italy and I learned how to make sauce from my mother’s mother,” Bill says. “We went to Grandma’s every Sunday and she was always making sauce, so I would gravitate to the kitchen. I still use her recipe and I know when it’s perfect. I smell the sauce and if I get a twinge in my jaw, then it’s perfect.”
Bill’s grandmother also taught him a secret ingredient that prevents heartburn. “I guarantee that if you eat my sauce you will not get heartburn,” Bill assures.
For an additional authentic Italian experience, try the Escarole Soup. It’s an Italian wedding soup offered every day that includes real escarole (not spinach), meatballs, and acini di pepe. Other soups we offer include, minestrone, cheddar baked potato, and homestyle chicken noodle.
Bill’s two sons, Zachary and Hunter, are also helping out at the new restaurant as they deal with the shock of moving from sunny Orlando, Florida to New Philadelphia.
“We put a lot of love into everything we do here,” Bill says. “It’s Philly culture. It’s all about family. We want people to feel like they’re at home. We talk to everyone and laugh. If you come through the doors four times, you stop being a guest and you become family.”
Philadeli is located at 107 West High Avenue in downtown New Philadelphia. Look for it on the square behind the gazebo. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. For more information or to place an advanced order for dine-in or pick-up, call 330-343-8301. Find them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/Philadeli.
Catering, sandwiches and delivery are available to a limited delivery area.
Published: December 9, 2011
