The Philly cheesesteak is a warm sandwich consists of thinly sliced beef layered on a warm, long, crusty roll and topped with melted American cheese and fried onions. Other variations replace American cheese with provolone and may add peppers and mushrooms. The cheesesteak is more than likely the most popular fast food item served in Philadelphia. How did this come to be?

1. CHEESESTEAK
H O W D I D T H E
Become a Symbol of Philadelphia?
By Jonathan Nadler

2. THE
PHILLY
CHEESESTEAK
is more than likely the most popular
fast food item served in Philadelphia.
The warm sandwich consists of
thinly sliced beef layered on a warm,
long, crusty roll and topped with
melted American cheese and fried
onions. Other variations replace
American cheese with provolone and
may add peppers and mushrooms.
The origins of the cheesesteak date
back to the 1930s.

3. During the early 1930s, Pat Olivieri
operated a hot dog stand in South
Philadelphia. Tired of eating hot dogs,
Olivieri grilled some fresh sliced beef and
onions on his grill. He put the concoction
on a fresh Italian roll.
PHILLY
CHEESESTEAK
HISTORY

4. However, the enticing aroma wafted
through the air and into the nose of
routine customer and cab driver Dave
Kohn. Kohn asked to try the new sandwich.
So impressed was he that he suggested
Olivieri add the sandwich to his menu.
Word spread throughout the cab driving
community, and many arrived at Olivieri’s
stand to buy the sandwich. As his clientele
grew, the hot dog vendor opened Pat’s King
of Steaks eaterie on 9th Street and
Passyunk Avenue. Within the next decade,
melted American cheese was added as a
topping.
PHILLY
CHEESESTEAK
HISTORY

5. In 1966, Joey Vento opened Geno’s Steaks
within proximity to Pat’s, and the rivalry
began. Since that time, other venues
offering the popular sandwich opened
across the city. However, many believe that
Pat’s or Geno’s are the best locations to
sample traditional Philly cheesesteaks.
Both restaurants remain open 24 hours a
day, seven days a week to the delight of
customers.
PHILLY
CHEESESTEAK
HISTORY

6. Pat Olivieri and Dave Kohn have long
passed on to heaven. Nevertheless, their
relatives are well acquainted with the
legend of the cheesesteak’s origins. In a
strange twist of fate, the families were
reunited.
TWIST OF
FATE

7. Kohn’s great-niece Diane Schwartz
attended a Barry Manilow concert at the
Wells Fargo Center. On the day after, she
was enjoying lunch at a local deli. She
began praising the performance that she
attended the night before. The diners at the
next table had also attended the concert.
All started sharing their experiences and
opinions of the show.
TWIST OF
FATE

8. At some point, the gentleman from the
other table handed Schwartz his business
card. It turns out, he was Pat Olivieri’s
great-nephew and continued the family
tradition of running the eaterie. Astounded
by the development, Schwartz proudly
declared that he probably knew her great
uncle too.
TWIST OF
FATE

9. currently lives in Philadelphia. You can
often find him cheering on his local sports
teams or playing a few rounds of tennis or
golf when the weather allows him.
JONATHAN
NADLER