ESL Reading Exercise: The Philadelphia Cheesesteak

Scopri il nostro esercizio sul cibo americano: il Philadelphia Cheesesteak. Leggi il testo e rispondi alle domande sul lessico molto particolare relativo al panino più amato del nordest dell’America.

What Is a Philadelphia Cheesesteak?

A cheesesteak is a long roll filled with sliced beef and melted cheese. Generally, the cheese of choice is Cheez Whiz, but American and provolone are also suitable. The art of cheesesteak preparation is in the balance of flavors, as the ingredients must combine together perfectly. Other toppings may include fried onions, mushrooms, ketchup and hot or sweet peppers.

A Brief History of the Cheesesteak

The cheesesteak made its official debut in 1930. Pat Olivieri was a South Philadelphia hot dog vendor who one day decided to put some beef on his grill. A regular noticed the aroma and asked for a steak sandwich. The next day, rumor of the delicious lunch had spread, and customers from around the city came to Olivieri for steak sandwiches. Later Olivieri opened up a shop, Pat’s King of Steaks, to sell his new creation. Eventually, according to legend, he added cheese to the recipe. Today, Pat’s grills are on 24 hours a day, as well as 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 he, not Olivieri, first added cheese to the cheesesteak.