Barack Obama visited Claudio’s in the Italian/9th-Street/Curb Market-thingy earlier this week, says the Daily News. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like he tried the burrata, which is one of the finest cheese items available in the whole stinking market. Now, he’s promising to try a cheesesteak.

Of course, this means that soon the Great Opportunity for Cheesesteak-Related Public Relations Disaster will present itself to the candidates. Obama and Hillary Clinton will be forced, probably by their misinformed advisers–the very same advisers that recommend using cliched Rocky references in a speech–to decide at which establishment they will pretend to enjoy their token cheesesteak.

They will be scrutinized mercilessly for which cheesesteak-slinger they choose and how well they handle all of the stupid ordering rules and other shenanigans that go along with cheesesteakery. Let’s face it, cheesesteaks have nothing to do with brotherly love–they seem to attract controversy and create actual hostility like no other local foodstuff. Need evidence? Try this, this, this and, now, this.

Here’s our advice to Obama and if he’s truly the Candidate for Change, he’ll take it:

Roast pork.

From DiNics in Reading Terminal Market. With or without greens, provolone or horseradish. The sandwich of the future of Philadelphia in a classic, truly historic Philly setting.

Real meat, real taste, no hate.

DiNics [Reading Terminal Market]

Foodzings takes some great photos of Taqueria La Veracruzana while stuffing down some tacos. Yum! Tacos!
Tacos, Tacos, Tacos [Foodzings]

Marissa of Metroblogging Philadelphia has a favorite tacos al pastor of her own from Plaza Garibaldi on Washington Avenue. And best of all may be the price tag, $5.

Tasty crumbles of cooked pork with pineapple, corn tortillas, guacamole, cilantro and onion that just get better when you squeeze a little lime over them. If you aren’t a pig eater, you can get shredded chicken for the same price. It is definitely worth the trip.

Best five buck food in town [Metroblogging Philadelphia]

Blogalicious tries out the southern end of Italian Market and the “bare bones” taqueria Acapulco.

Next up, a trio of carnitas tacos, succulent roast pork snuggled in double layers of soft flour tortillas and sprinkled with bright cilantro. The pig was all pig should be, tender and juicy, shredded and riddled with the occasional lacing of pure fat. The price: $7.

Carnitas Tacos & Mexican Game Shows [Blogalicious]

Philadelphia newcomer Jael McMcHenry gives 30 reasons she loves Philadelphia and of course there’s lots of food reasons included.

Is it love, or infatuation? Am I completely enamored of Philadelphia because it’s the first new city I’ve moved to in almost a dozen years? Or because I’ve heard so many expectation-lowering information sessions, so many qualifiers and apologies, that I couldn’t help but find the city to be better than advertised?

Or, is it possible that Philly is… just awesome?

30 things to love about philadelphia [Intrepid Media]

The PhillyFoodGuys visit one of the smaller taquerias along 9th Street in South Philadelphia. However Los Taquitos de Puebla is becoming known for its tacos al Pastor.

The pork was spicy and flavorful, while lacking that oily quality that often accompanies pork. Wrapped in corn tortillas, the filling included onions, cilantro and pineapple, which gave the tacos a uniquely sweet twang. In addition to the side of condiments featuring radish, marinated radish, sliced lime wedges and cucumber, there were tasty red and a green salsas ready to be generously applied.

Los Taquitos de Puebla: Under the Radar? [PhillyFoodGuys]

We couldn’t agree with Kirsten Henri more regarding her “Eat It!” note in her Eat Beat column this week. We also discovered the tacos al pastor at Los Taquitos de Puebla during the Italian Market Festival and have been craving them since.

There are tacos and there are tacos and then there are tacos al pastor—tangy marinated pork bits tucked into a tortilla with warm pineapple and onion. A swing by last month’s Italian Market Festival brought to my attention the tacos al pastor at Los Taquitos de Puebla, a tiny taqueria tucked into the quieter, increasingly Latino end of the Ninth Street market. From a distance it’s easy to mistake the taco stand for a shawarma stand, since the luscious pork is shaved off a standing rotisserie much like a gyro or doner kabob.

Eat Beat [Philadelphia Weekly]

$3 well drinks and draft beer between 4:55 and 7:05 plus toasted flat bread with humus at Rembrandt’s. [Foodaphilia]

Saturday brunch at Azure means eggs benedict and served with mango butter and blueberry compote, sans the blueberry compote. [Foodaphilia]

Who knew, Capogiro is about more than just gelato. [foodzings]

Gas•tron•o•my dines at Rae and posts the pictures to prove it. [gas•tron•o•my]

Mac & Cheese makes the rounds at the Italian Market Festival, chronicling all the food, food, food and more food. [Mac & Cheese]

Trying the expansive menu at Chinatown’s intimate Lee How Fook. [PhillyFoodGuys] 

Beer writer Lew Brison is pleasantly surprised by his meal at the Warsaw Cafe. [Seen Through A Glass]

Restaurant with liquor license for sale in the Italian Market section of South Philadelphia.
For $2.5 Million you restaurant, building and liquor license.

Located prominently near world famous Pat’s and Geno’s Steaks, this building which has been recently rehabbed on the first floor is for sale including the restaurant business and the liquor license. Hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists flock to this location for a taste of Philly. Be a part of the action!

Seller is motivated.

Where could this be???

Tonight is the first day of the countdown to smoke free bars in Philadelphia, so where to go?
12 Steps Down, 9th & Christian has $3 pints of Hazed & Infused.
Or try O’neals Sierra Nevada promo, $3 Summerfest pints, and you get to keep the glass.
Or if you want to get a headstart on not smelling like smoke try one of these spots.