The Lunch Break Blog Philadelphia Summer Lunch Tour: Bring an Appetite!

Courtesy of Jay MarbleAdam Richman, of Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food fame, has redirected his voracious eating habit to try and discover the Best Sandwich in America.  Having broken the country into ten different regions, Richman chooses three different, well-known sandwiches from equally well-known eateries, eats them (the sandwiches that is), and then rates them using a very non-scientific scale.  For the Northeast region, Philadelphia’s lesser known sandwich, the roasted pork with sharp provolone and broccoli rabe on a classic Italian roll from DiNic’s in The Reading Terminal, beat out the famous Primanti Bros.’ capacola and cheese sandwich in Pittsburgh and the New York legend Katz’s Delicatessen’s signature sandwich, corned beef and pastrami.

Now, I only mention Richman and his competition on account of the fact that DiNic’s sandwich won the first round and has a good chance of winning the whole competition.  This wouldn’t be surprising to Philadelphians and the greater Delaware Valley region because it is a well-established, unequivocal, scientific reality that Philadelphia is home to the greatest food, especially lunchtime fare, in the entire country.  I have no intentions of performing any type of Great Philadelphia eating challenge.  It’s been done, too many times.  Instead, I plan on ambling around this fine city and its many diverse neighborhoods to discover as many distinguished lunch spots and diamonds in the rough as possible.  I want to use this opportunity to discover the city and explore its neighborhoods.  South, West, Southwest, North, Northeast, South Street, Fairmount, East Falls, Bella Vista, Fishtown, Northern Liberties, and on and on and on.  Wherever the good food is, I’ll go. 

Moreover, I have no intention of limiting my culinary exploration to simply cheesesteaks and hoagies.  Pizza, hamburgers, chicken cutlet, meatball, roast pork, roast beef, hot dogs, sausage, tacos, falafel, gyros, dumplings, pierogis, etc.  Italian, German, Polish, Mediterranean, Jamaican, Salvadorian, Ethiopian, Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean.  If it’s a traditional lunch time delicacy, by any culture’s standard, then I’m game.  Philadelphia has so much to offer, and I have so much I want to see, so it would seem that we are a perfect complement to one another.  Finally, I don’t plan on going alone.  Consider this an open invitation to join me wherever I go throughout the city and experience the delectable delights yourself.  It wouldn’t be a Lunch Break lunch tour without company and a side of conversation, so if you have the time, or work in the area of one of the yet-to-be-determined locations, meet me there for lunch, and be sure to bring an appetite.

Editor’s Note: Patrick Edmonds and other members of The Lunch Break will be exploring various Philadelphia Lunch Establishments every Wednesday, probably between the hours of 12-1.  Patrick Edmonds will be identifying the location every Sunday evening via Twitter (@patrickedmonds1), Facebook, and The Lunch Break site itself, so be sure to check for updates every Sunday if you want to join in the fun.  Finally, Patrick is open to suggestions, within the city limits, so please feel free submit all recommendations through our comments section or directly to Patrick at patrickedmondslb@gmail.com.

Update on Monday, June 25, 2012 at 7:54PM by Patrick Edmonds

I'll be at Village Burger at 118 South 20th Street between 12-1 for their much talked about Village Burger. 

Comments

[James Dugan]

I am in. The food may be good or bad, but the conversation will be awesome. Lead on as this lunch breaker leaves his liverwust and onion sandwiches at home for the summer. Great idea.