In 1995 or so, my friend Paul and I took the train from Washington, D.C. to Philadelphia to visit our friend, Jeff. In the ensuing three days, we pledged to eat nothing but cheese steaks for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Paul later recollected that this debacle was the weekend that "turned him fat." Though I won't go that far on my end, it probably didn't hurt, and I've made a point to avoid these greasy and delicious sandwiches when possible.
My will was tested several years ago with the offerings from Philly Way in Walker's Point. But when the owner stiffed us on a bill for advertising after his ads ran, I pledged not to return. Both my conscience and my arteries cleared a little with that decision.
But now, just a few hundred yards from my office is the new Chubby's Cheesesteaks, 2232 N. Oakland Ave. A few days ago, I reluctantly walked in and wolfed one down.
I ordered the "Philly" for $5.50. It's your standard cheese steak, with fried onions, red and green peppers, steak and cheese. They made it promptly, and with a little salt, it was pretty great. Not quite as amazing as Philly Way, but without the emotional baggage and within two blocks of where I spend most of my waking hours.
It's a good thing, probably, that I don't live on the East Side anymore, since they're open 'til 3 a.m. on the weekends. With my weak willpower, I think it would be hard to pass up after the bars close.
One other cool touch: Chubby's uses bread baked by Peter Sciortino's. I'm adding Chubby's to my "very once in a while" list. And if you see me there more than once a month, please pull me aside and scold me. I could eat cheese steaks for 12 meals in a row when I was 21. But that was 12 years ago.
Andy is the president, publisher and founder of OnMilwaukee. He returned to Milwaukee in 1996 after living on the East Coast for nine years, where he wrote for The Dallas Morning News Washington Bureau and worked in the White House Office of Communications. He was also Associate Editor of The GW Hatchet, his college newspaper at The George Washington University.
Before launching OnMilwaukee.com in 1998 at age 23, he worked in public relations for two Milwaukee firms, most of the time daydreaming about starting his own publication.
Hobbies include running when he finds the time, fixing the rust on his '75 MGB, mowing the lawn at his cottage in the Northwoods, and making an annual pilgrimage to Phoenix for Brewers Spring Training.
