 South Philly Experience
I'm not particularly a devotée of the LA food truck scene; as with pretty much everything in LA, the hype-to-enjoyment ratio tends to be pretty high. For every outstanding experience there are ten overweening attempts at "fusion" and/or overly clever cuisine aimed at self-proclaimed "foodies." I would never call myself a foodie, but as my defiantly non-LA physique clearly demonstrates, I likes to eat. So while you motherfuckers enjoy your locally-grown foie gras falafel with red curry aioli, I will be having me a fucking cheesesteak and enjoying the hell out of it! Who am I mad at? As usual, who knows. Anyway, South Philly Experience is my kind of LA food truck. Having only ever been to three places in Philadelphia (the airport, the Liberty Bell, and Terry Gross's apartment), I can't attest to the authenticity of SPE's food, but it lives up to the theoretical authenticity I have in my mind when I imagine a "real" Philly cheesesteak. Much in the same way my 5-way Cincinnati chili is "authentic" despite my never having been to Cincinnati, or my fantasies of a 3-way marriage with Dakota Fanning and Marilyn vos Savant are "authentic" despite my lack of a functioning reproductive system. I ordered mine "wiz and wit" (with Cheez Wiz and grilled onions), though fortunately I did not actually have to say it that way. The sandwich is a good size, the bread is nice and spongy, and the flavor is really delicious. Got a bag of Herr's Salt & Vinegar chips ("Make Herr's yours!") on the side. Total cost was $10.40, which is a bit high, but then again, so are you.
Review by Ray-Ray Sugarleonard, March 2010 |