Negative / positive things about Philadelphia (Norristown, Conshohocken: to eat, health, best)

[sbhubbell]

Yuengling is another thing I miss like crazy. You're right, our beer is great. Has anyone mentioned snack foods (chips and pretzles)? I totally took for granted living in the chip and pretzel capital of the world. Down here in Houston there is ZERO selection...I get to pick between Frito Lay brands and Cape Cod chips. Seriously. I miss Utz, they were my favorite.

[solibs]

I had some clown from New York (who wanted everyone to know he was from New York - as if anyone here is impressed with that sh**) who was chowing down at the table of free food and talking rah-rah about Philly soft pretzels, while eating one, and saying how New York pretzels were so much better . . . I cut him off and said "dude, New York pretzels are awful. They taste like burnt. Even when they don't they're like a hard pretzel that someone forgot to cook all the way. Terrible. Besides, we do it right because they come from here. Last time I checked there's no Germantown in New York."

Then some other lady, from North Jersey maybe, said in a really dismissive tone, "Tomato pie . . . I don't get it, must be a Philly thing."

I said to the woman across the table from me, "really? tomato pie? I'm pretty sure it's an Italian thing but i don't know, that's just what I heard."

[sbhubbell]

Tomato pie!! Another thing I miss. There is a huge lack of decent Italian food in Houston, due to the lack of Italians! Tons of TexMex, asian, and other stuff though.

Actually I had a tough time finding really good tomato pie even in my area of the western Philly burbs.

[solibs]

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

Actually I had a tough time finding really good tomato pie even in my area of the western Philly burbs.

really? The tomato pie in question was from Conshohocken. Delicious!

[sbhubbell]

Well it's not like I was looking THAT hard, but I ordered "tomato pie" off the menu at Valley Forge Pizza once and I got a small, thin crust pizza with cheese and tomato slices on it. Not tomato pie!

[solibs]

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

Well it's not like I was looking THAT hard, but I ordered "tomato pie" off the menu at Valley Forge Pizza once and I got a small, thin crust pizza with cheese and tomato slices on it. Not tomato pie!

haha. yeah, this was definitely the real deal, sicilian style. there, you did it, i'm headed to the kitchen now.

[StuckPA]

Another negative thing: Inconsiderate,loudmouth neighbors late at night...(makes me glad when winter comes).

[Pilot1]

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

Seriously. I miss Utz, they were my favorite.

Yep, met too. PA is called the potato chip belt due to areas like Hanover and there is also Herr's in Nottingham (Chester County). We always had Herr's growing up or Charlie's, but Utz is my favorite. You can also get a bizillion types of hard pretzels in PA. Not so in other part of the country.

[john_starks]

not a cheesesteak guy, but soft pretzels are the bomb

[BERGEN68]

Originally Posted by solibs

I had some clown from New York (who wanted everyone to know he was from New York - as if anyone here is impressed with that sh**) who was chowing down at the table of free food and talking rah-rah about Philly soft pretzels, while eating one, and saying how New York pretzels were so much better . . . I cut him off and said "dude, New York pretzels are awful. They taste like burnt. Even when they don't they're like a hard pretzel that someone forgot to cook all the way. Terrible. Besides, we do it right because they come from here. Last time I checked there's no Germantown in New York."

Then some other lady, from North Jersey maybe, said in a really dismissive tone, "Tomato pie . . . I don't get it, must be a Philly thing."

I said to the woman across the table from me, "really? tomato pie? I'm pretty sure it's an Italian thing but i don't know, that's just what I heard."

Tomato pie originated in Trenton, I believe, and is known as sheet pizza outside of the Trenton/Philly area. Since the 'traditional' pizza in NY and northern Jersey is the best in the States no one really bothers with tomato/sheet pizza.

Yeah, Philly pretzels are 100 times better than NY pretzels but, it is a pretzel. Personally, I can't get too excited about them.