Howdy - What a gem this country store is! Hard to find a deli as big and diversified as this one…read morewith so many offerings for every taste! You will not BELIEVE the variety in the Deli Case, reach-in coolers, counter tops, soups, puddings, pizza, select VT cheeses, steaks and Artisan Breads from local bakeries!!! What a job they do here! I've been to so many deli counters, country stores....THIS PLACE??? A GEM! A GOLD MINE!!!! What a place! I looked at the chalkboard menu...hard to choose but I had a hankerin for a Philly. Now...I'll admit, I was hesitant to order the Philly Cheese Steak because sooooo many places toot that they use 'Ribeye' steak..when in actuality? They do not. This menu said: "Ribeye". Still....I've been burned so many many times before in other establishments..and I hate to say that!!!! I mean..if you have been in the biz as long as I have? You know. First bite and you know.
Heck...I even walked around the store with my wife for ten minutes...looking at the pre-made Italian / other Grinders in the reach in coolers adjacent to the deli case, with other pre-made 'to go' sandwiches. I am a foodie to the bone. I have 40 years in the hospitality biz....including ownership of my own restaurant. I know Quality. I also know Top Round vs. Ribeye. I know a box of mixed "steak" cuts a restaurant can buy, again, vs. Ribeye. So I finally got up the nerve to ask the woman at the Deli counter .... Could I get a Philly Cheese Steak? Is it REALLY made with Ribeye?, I asked. The response was an immediate YES. "I'll have one, please"! I gave my name and in short order, my name was called and I retrieved my Philly....along with a side of fries which was included in the price. A whole Philly w/ fries was $19. So my wife and I checked out, she with a nice salad and a large piece of homemade fresh Corn Bread...me with my Philly. Took all and our drinks back to our truck to eat.
Now as soon as I opened up the big clam shell container and lifted half of the Philly???????? I knew. "Yup"!!!, I said to my wife... "this is going to be a 10"!!! I could tell just by looking at it! The cheese was perfectly melted within and around the steak! Yup,
I could tell. 1st bite: I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!
A small portion of the overflowing Ribeye and Cheddar Cheese dripped down towards the bottom of the clamshell container....with a little moisture of the melted Ribeye fat. My 2nd bite was:
"OhMyGod - OhMYGod"!!!!! "5 Stars", I said. "A TEN"!!!!!!!!!
The flavor!!! The texture!!!! The 'melt in your mouth feel'! Perfection!!! And the fries? Let's not forget the fries! They were so hot they almost burnt my mouth...and well....how often does THAT happen????? And the portion was PERFECT! A PERFECT amount...FRIES WERE GOLDEN.....GOLDEN! I ate half of the Philly grinder, and savored every bite!!!! I said to my wife....'I have to go inside and tip my hat to whomever made this" "I have to"!!!! I was in the biz...I know! I got out of my truck, walked inside / up to the deli counter..looked back into the kitchen and saw the fellow who I believe made it. He looked at me, I at him..I pointed at him and waved several times for him to come up front....I think he was hesitant at first....but he finally showed. I asked him: "did YOU make my Philly"?????? He said, "yes I did". I said, "Well my friend..THAT WAS THE BEST DAMN PHILLY CHEESE STEAK I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE"!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He offered a fist pump and said, "thanks friend"! I told him I used to own a pizza shop and we made Phillies....'your's is the best I've ever had'!!!!!! He again thanked me.....I described everything that was great about it! He downplayed it, but we both smiled....he thanked me again and I went back outside to my truck.
And when I got there?????? My wife finished ALL THE FRIES!!!! :(
Moral of the story: Never pass up the opportunity to phrase someone when they do a great job!!!!!!! Dave.