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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 11:09 pm Post subject: HBC Phillies: What's with the processed cheese? |
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I went to Phillies in Haebongchon for the first time last night to try their famous cheese steak sandwich. The meat was pretty good, the bread was fresh, and the fries it came with were great (thick, fresh-cut fries). But what's with the processed cheese? At first I gave them the benefit of the doubt and just assumed they used processed cheese in Philadelphia, but then I noticed someone at another table had a burger, also with processed cheese.
I'd go back because the service was good, the perogies were excellent (my wife had them), they have good beer (we had the Oatmeal Stout and Tangerine Wheat, both top-notch), and as I said above, the fries were great. But I'm really tired of processed cheese in Korea (it's frustrating how "American cheese" almost never refers to, say, Wisconsin cheddar), and I expected better from an expat pub in an expat area. |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Be grateful for the processed cheese. I've been in places here where they use the stuff that comes in a tube. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Sounds better than the previous incarnation of the place! |
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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| cj1976 wrote: |
| Be grateful for the processed cheese. I've been in places here where they use the stuff that comes in a tube. |
I'd be grateful for real cheese and nothing less, and there are plenty of places in the Itaewon area that have it.
Should I be grateful eating a pizza with canned sweet corn because it could be worse and have that and sweet potato? |
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alwaysgood
Joined: 15 Aug 2011
Location: Changwon
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:37 pm Post subject: Re: HBC Phillies: What's with the processed cheese? |
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| cdninkorea wrote: |
I went to Phillies in Haebongchon for the first time last night to try their famous cheese steak sandwich. The meat was pretty good, the bread was fresh, and the fries it came with were great (thick, fresh-cut fries). But what's with the processed cheese? At first I gave them the benefit of the doubt and just assumed they used processed cheese in Philadelphia, but then I noticed someone at another table had a burger, also with processed cheese.
I'd go back because the service was good, the perogies were excellent (my wife had them), they have good beer (we had the Oatmeal Stout and Tangerine Wheat, both top-notch), and as I said above, the fries were great. But I'm really tired of processed cheese in Korea (it's frustrating how "American cheese" almost never refers to, say, Wisconsin cheddar), and I expected better from an expat pub in an expat area. |
White American cheese along with Provolone cheese are the favorites[15] due to the mild flavor and medium consistency of American cheese. Some places pre-melt the American cheese to achieve the creamy consistency, while others just put freshly cut slices over the meat, letting it melt slightly under the heat. Philadelphia Inquirer restaurant critic Craig LaBan says "Provolone is for aficionados, extra-sharp for the most discriminating among them."[15] Geno's late owner, Joey Vento, said, "We always recommend the provolone. That's the real cheese."[15]
Cheez Whiz, first marketed in 1952, was not yet available for the original 1930 version, but has spread in popularity.[16] A 1986 New York Times article called Cheez Whiz "the sine qua non of cheesesteak connoisseurs."[17] In a 1985 interview, Pat Olivieri's nephew Frank Olivieri said that he uses "the processed cheese spread familiar to millions of parents who prize speed and ease in fixing the children's lunch for the same reason, because it is fast."[18] Cheez Whiz is "overwhelmingly the favorite" at Pat's, outselling runner-up American by a ratio of eight or ten to one,[15] while Geno's claims to go through eight to ten cases of Cheez Whiz a day.[15]
During his presidential campaign in 2003, John Kerry was ridiculed for attempting to order the sandwich with Swiss cheese.[19] A food critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer explained: "In Philadelphia, that�s an alternative lifestyle".[20]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheesesteak |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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| Actual Philly Cheese Steak from Philly uses Cheeze Whiz. How's that for processed cheese? |
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Hiromi C
Joined: 28 May 2011
Location: Gwanak-gu, Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:23 am Post subject: |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
| Actual Philly Cheese Steak from Philly uses Cheeze Whiz. How's that for processed cheese? |
Indeed. Sometimes authenticity in food is not desirable. |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 2:49 am Post subject: |
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| cdninkorea wrote: |
| cj1976 wrote: |
| Be grateful for the processed cheese. I've been in places here where they use the stuff that comes in a tube. |
I'd be grateful for real cheese and nothing less, and there are plenty of places in the Itaewon area that have it.
Should I be grateful eating a pizza with canned sweet corn because it could be worse and have that and sweet potato? |
What's wrong sweetcorn on pizza? I actually like it.
You should know by now that eating western fare in Korea is extremely hit and miss. |
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 3:50 am Post subject: |
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| cj1976 wrote: |
| You should know by now that eating western fare in Korea is extremely hit and miss. |
In the Itaewon area it often isn't, actually. I do almost all of my restaurant eating there, and that's the reason why.
Thanks to the previous poster who pointed out that processed cheese is how cheese steak sandwiches are in Philly. It seems authenticity isn't always important to me; only when it suits me! |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 4:34 am Post subject: |
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| cdninkorea wrote: |
| cj1976 wrote: |
| You should know by now that eating western fare in Korea is extremely hit and miss. |
In the Itaewon area it often isn't, actually. |
That's why I go there, too. Too bad the rest of the country sucks though.. |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 4:37 pm Post subject: |
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| It's a restaurant (BUSINESS), not a public service. Odd thing to complain about - just don't eat there. |
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cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 2:21 am Post subject: |
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| nukeday wrote: |
| It's a restaurant (BUSINESS), not a public service. Odd thing to complain about - just don't eat there. |
Yes, I am aware that a restaurant is a business, and that this is distinct from public service organizations. Shall I thank you for the economics lesson?
As I said in the original post, I probably will go back because of the good beer, service, and other food, such as the perogies and fries (really, I wrote it. Go and check). Is it so odd to complain about some aspect of a dining experience that's unsatisfactory? |
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Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 3:00 am Post subject: |
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You do understand that you are in Korea? Nothing will be exactly like back home or everywhere. Things will not be available or cheap or just not done that way. Tastes will be different. For example here in Korea they love sweet snacks. I would love to get some potato chips they did not taste a bit sweet. But the customer here likes slightly sweet shrimp chips and chips.
You know why they used processed cheese - well because it is cheaper, easier to get, and 99 percent of the customers who are likely Korean really do not give a damn.
Here is a hint - ask the restaurant if they can make it with real cheese - maybe they will charge you more. Talk to them - maybe they will take your advice and change the menu. Maybe you can get it your way.
From your join date OP I am surprised at this. I mean after 6 years I think your would get the basic idea of "Korea is not ...." Korea is Korea. From Kimchi burgers to sweet corn on pizza to Green tea bread. |
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sojusucks
Joined: 31 May 2008
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| Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:32 am Post subject: |
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| Zyzyfer wrote: |
| Sounds better than the previous incarnation of the place! |
No kidding- it was a dive with Russian ladies sitting at the front table. But that didn't stop food bloggers from wildly recommending the place!  |
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nukeday
Joined: 13 May 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:34 am Post subject: |
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| PHILLIES SHRUGGED! |
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