The Next Cheesesteak
While Philly’s food scene is busy being impactful on the haute cuisine front, we’ve taken to being Cheesesteak haters faster than you can say ‘wizwit’. So, then, in between Top Chef contestants popping up from all over Philly and Jose Garces becoming The Next Iron Chef, we need another iconic trash food to represent the elastic waistbands that dot every neighborhood in this Nouveau Foodie ‘burgh.
We would like to be the first to nominate The Old Bay French Fry. First made famous at Chickie’s and Pete’s original spot in Northeast Philly, now you can find a version of it in every bar around town. There are dozens of french fry versions: crinkle cut, curly, steak, boardwalk. But there’s only one topping: Old Bay. If you visit The Sidecar Bar, there is such reverence for the fries that they’re referred to as “The Dish That Must Not Be Named”.
Sure, the pleasing powder comes from Maryland and is supposed to be used on foods of the shellfish variety. But it just tastes so damn good, and we don’t know a single Philadelphian who doesn’t love their Crab Fries. We think it’s time for another contender to challenge the Throne.
So we’d love your vote. Old Bay Fry in 2010. It’s Time For Change.
