A local author’s brand new book, “The Great Philly Cheesesteak Book” has the Bite talking about Philadelphia’s patron sandwich again.

Rethinking a Philly Classic [Metro Philadelphia]
The Great Philly Cheesesteak Book [Official Site]

Rick’s Steaks will be opening today at the food court in the Bellevue. It’s been just about 8 months since he was forced to leave the Reading Terminal Market.

It’s Open [Inside the Bellevue]
Rick’s Steaks [Official Site]

The ongoing saga of Rick’s Steaks continues. The Bellevue location was set for a Monday but the inspector was sick. So the L&I inspection was put off till today. That means if all goes well Rick’s will be open for business Monday.

The official grand opening will be Thursday, June 25th and such luminaries as Al Roker and Ed Rendell are scheduled to appear.

Inside the Bellevue [Official Site]

Dealing with Philadelphia government must just be maddening. Rick’s Steaks will not be opening tomorrow because the Licenses and Inspections inspector is out sick today.

Steakwatch Monday [Inside the Bellevue]

When Tony Luke announced he was going to be marketing microwavable versions of his sandwiches it certainly had us cringing. Rick Nichols, being the consummate professional he is actually decided to eat the sandwich before weighing in. And of course, prose to swoon over.

Luke’s uses juicy, U.S.-raised basic ribeye on the flat-top grill, not the imported cow meat some use.

But here’s the thing. It doesn’t travel. Let that cheesesteak (or Luke’s signature roast pork sandwich with broccoli rabe) start steaming in its paper wrapper, and say goodbye to good eating. It gets wet. It gets soggy.

It’s meant to be eaten right then and there – under the harsh lights, in the unheated alcove, with the bad fries and cheap pickles, your feet planted on the cold pavement.

Yo, you may be frozen.

But at least you’re not eating a frozen cheesesteak.

Tony Luke’s frozen? How good can that be? [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Tony Luke’s [Official Site]

the Insider reports that Rick’s Steaks has signed the lease, work is underway and steak slinging to commence in 6 to 8 weeks.

Rick’s Steaks lives [The Insider]

Jim’s Steaks, the steak institution of our high metabolism youth, when an early-AM steak sandwich came with no consequences makes Details list of The Best Late-Night Eats in America.

Whoever shrewdly snipped the last word from the term Philly cheesesteak sandwich was probably a Jim’s devotee. Unlike the recipes at Pat’s and Geno’s—homes to the city’s other after-hours cheesesteaks—the one at this South Street institution is not so much a between-bread proposition as it is a hulking mass of beef, sweet onions, and molten cheese set on a doughy raft. Another Jim’s calling card is a staff of famously curt cooks who practically mince the meat on the griddle, nicely browning each piece.

The Best Late-Night Eats in America [Details]
Jim’s Steaks [Official Site]

Personally, I like to blame the cheesesteak for most of Philadelphia’s image problems (long live the roast pork!), but could a chicken cheesesteak be responsible for the Eagles’ crushing loss on Sunday? On Friday, Dan Gross reported that Donovan McNabb ate his ‘lucky sandwich’ before heading west:

Donovan McNabb showed up at Talk of the Town (3020 S. Broad) to pick up his lucky chicken cheesesteak hoagie with American cheese, mayo, ketchup, lettuce and tomato. While D-Mac insists on picking up his own sandwich, the shop delivered a few more steaks to the Nova Care Complex for kicker David Akers and a few other Iggles, who have since departed for Arizona.

I don’t know much about football, but perhaps a new sandwich is in order? Anyone have any recommendations for what might be a luckier lucky meal for the Eagles quarterback?

Donovan didn’t leave town without his lucky sandwich. [PhillyGossip]

Gourmet goes to the Philly well twice in their January issue. There’s a feature on Marc Vetri (currently not available online) and then there’s a cheesesteak article that goes beyond the cliches and manages to make us hungry. [Gourmet]

Memphis Taproom’s kielbasa is listed in January’s Food and Wine’s “50 Trends to Try.” [Food & Wine PDF]

PETA names Horizons one of the top eight vegetarian restaurants in America. [PETA]

Rick’s, the cheesesteak stall in Reading Terminal Market that was at the center of an ugly, embarrassing and very public tenancy battle with market management – a battle which ended up in court and which owner Rick Olivieri ended up losing – now stands empty. 

There was talk – which turned out to be just that – that Tony Luke’s, another local cheesesteak slinger – would be muscling into the location once Rick’s got the boot. Since then, though, not a peep on a potential tenant. Well, until now. Just who is in negotiations for the space? Read on after the jump.

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