Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is not only famous for the historical landmarks of Benjamin Franklin. Tourists find it irresistible to visit the city for the famous cheese steak. Named the number one sandwich on the East coast, many restaurants across the city of Philadelphia sell cheese steaks. Popular places like Jim's Steaks and Ishkabibbles located on South Street specialize in the cheese steak or cheesesteak. There are many shops located in every neighborhood in the city serving these tempting sandwiches. Center City and South Philadelphia spots are more distinguished than others.

The cheese steak is not actually what it is named to be. It is a sandwich with chopped steak cooked on a grill top and topped with Cheeze Whiz; American and provolone play as substitutions. The Philadelphia cheese steak is truly one of the most beloved foods available in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

According to Philadelphians, the “Philly Cheese Steak” is not authentic unless made in Philadelphia and made with the correct roll and steak. The roll is genuine because it must be the correct length and soft. Many restaurants in Pennsylvania imitate the cheese steak but have failed to please because they are not truly “cheese steak makers.”

Besides other South Street restaurants, the legendary Pat's King of Steaks was the first to sell the sandwich. During the 1930s in the Italian section of South Philadelphia, brothers Harry Olivieri and Pat Olivieri were hot dog and sandwiches vendors. Tired of making the same food every day, they decided to try something different. A cab driver passing by smelled the aroma of the cheese steak and insisted for a sandwich. Not knowing what to charge, the brothers sold the sandwich for a nickel. The cab driver enjoyed the sandwich and influenced the brothers to sell them.

In 1940, the brothers open Pat's King of Steaks at 1237 East Passyunk Avenue in the Italian Market; a must see area. The 24 hour business has been there ever since. Many years later Kraft introduced Cheez Whiz, the cheese spread. It was added to the cheese steak and made it to what it is today. Geno's, the rival shop across the street is also open 24 hours. For 40 years, the two shops hold a friendly competition to win the title of best cheese steak in town, with Geno's founder, Joe Vento, claiming it was he, not Olivieri, who first added cheese to the sandwich.

• Columbus came to Cost Rica in 1502
• When Spanish came they were interested in Coffee
• When Spanish took over for 250 years they influenced food
• After Spanish started buying coffee (early 1800s) it became a CR's valuable export
• Built railroads to transport coffee (1890)
• To fund railroads they planted banana trees

Bananas were soon another valuable export of CR

• With money from exports funded education and health
• Today cost Ricans are coffee extreme coffee lovers (all businesses are closed around three because of coffee breaks)
• GALLO PINTO=RICE AND BEANS
• Most sea food exported so they don't eat much
• Variety of food because of multiple environments
• Makes lots of sugar
• Their food has Jamaican heritage
• Sugar cane is used throughout their food selection, even drinks
• Sweet corn makes up many of the traditional dishes: corn soup, corn pancakes
• Tortillas used in every meal
• When Spanish found little gold they turned to agriculture
• Before Spanish arrived Costa Rica so poor that they even the Governor had to farm his own food

The History of Costa Rican Food

Nobody knows much about the History of Costa Rica before 1502 when Columbus first arrived there. We do know that in the ages before Europeans invaded their culture they developed a typical Mexican diet centered around beans and rice. When the Spanish came and began to make stable colonies about sixty years after Christopher's first voyage to Costa Rica they had an instant interest in the coffee they found. However it wasn't until the early 1800s that coffee became Costa Rica's most valuable product. It was in such high demand that in 1890 railroads were built across Costa Rica to transport it faster. To help pay off the loans needed to make the railroads the Costa Ricans planted banana trees along the rail road tracks. In no time the banana fruit was another extremely valuable product to the people of Costa Rica. The Spanish rule of Costa Rica for 250 years certainly left an influence on many aspects of Costa Rican culture, including food. The strong trade routes of bananas and coffee beans are still running smoothly, as well as the Costa Rican love for coffee. They honor the role coffee has played in their history every day by closing down all stores and business to take a coffee break.

1. Sculpt

What do you do with a huge block of cheese? Sculpt it!

That's what Troy Landwehr of Wisconsin did in mid 2007. The cheese carver and winemaker used his carving tools to sculpt a 700-pound giant block of Land O' Lakes cheddar into a replica monument of Mount Rushmore, custom-built for the manufacturer of Cheez-It snack crackers. What happened next? After Troy and his creation went on a road tour across USA, the cheddar block end up in Oklahoma and was cut into cubes for public consumption.

2. Auction

Why not auction it?

10 years ago, Diana Duyser who was about to bite her grilled cheese sandwich realized that there was a familiar face, resembling the image of Virgin Mary on the said cheese sandwich. She put it in a plastic box and kept it for 10 years. The amazing thing is that it never grew mold and looks fresh as ever. The item was eventually sold through an auction on eBay, reportedly for $28,000 by Golden Palace, an online casino.

3. Smoke

Can you really smoke it?

In 1966, Stuart M. Stebbings patented the world's first cheese-filter cigarette, under the US Patent Number 3,234,948. What a brilliant idea to enjoy grilled cheese flavoured ciggies.

4. Perfume

Wear them as perfume!

This was featured in my earlier article. As part of a campaign to encourage the public to eat more Blue Stilton cheese, The Stilton Cheese Makers Association (SCMA) of UK, through ID Aromatics perfumers of Manchester developed the Eau de Stilton cheese perfume. Don't worry because this perfume is definitely wearable.

5. Play Games

Have you heard of cheese-rolling game?

It only happened at a place in Gloucestershire, UK. Here, for the past 100 years, the Cooper Hill Cheese-Rolling Festival is held each year on 2nd May Bank Holiday. It is actually a hazardous game whereby a cheese (usually a 7-pound wheeled of cheese) is rolled down the steep hill and people are expected to chase after it. The first one who can reach the bottom of the hill is the winner. I supposed only a professional stunt man can do this as the game has resulted in many injuries thus far.

6. Musical Instrument

Can you really make music using cheese?

Actually you can. Walter Willems, a Dutch artist created his artistic drum set using cheese. This piece of art form was featured in the Mocca Contemporary Art Exhibition. It was reported that the cheese used to make the perfect sound of drum beats must be a rather aged cheese. Hmm, talking about cheesy music.

7. Bathe

You can bathe in it?

Perhaps you can visit the Gerschni Alp in the town of Engelberg of Switzerland. The bath at the cheesemaker's farm in Gerschni Alp actually utilizes a bi-product of cheese curdle called whey. It is reported that it looks like oily melted cheese and it smells of sweet hot milk, which is perfect for smoothening skin. The perfect cheese bathing temperature is 37 degrees Celsius, and oh yeah you can eat them too. You can enjoy both the bath and the magnificent view at the mountain top at the "outdoor bath tub", with starting price of about 40 francs.

The process of cheese making is basically the same no matter where you go. It is very simple and can even be tried at home if you are feeling adventurous.

Each country has it's own particular types of cheese and the names vary. Here is a small selection of the more interesting UK produced ones.

1. Buffalo

   This is a fairly recent addition to the UK market. It was first produced in 1996 and has a mild flavor with a touch of almonds. It is hard and made with unpasteurized buffalo milk.

2. Cornish Pepper

   This is a rich, creamy cheese which is liberally sprinkled with cracked peppercorns. It takes about five weeks to make and is soft and moist in texture.

3. Exmoor Blue

   This blue cheese is made from ewe and goat's milk. It is strong tasting and suitable for vegetarians and compares well to other blue veined Stilton type cheeses.

4. Gospel Green

   This is a hard, Cheddar type cheese made from cow's milk. It is unpasteurized and has a slight aroma of apples.

5. Stinking Bishop

   This hard cheese is made from cow's milk. It is washed in an alcoholic drink called "Stinking Bishop" which is made from pears. It has a very strong, ripe flavor and smell.

6. Tymsboro

   This soft cheese is made from goat's milk. The natural rind is dusted with black ash and covered in a light, white mould. It has a light after taste of lemon.