Geno's Cheesesteaks in Philly: Order in English only

[texasleo]

An English-only ordering policy has thrust one of Philadelphia's best-known cheesesteak joints into the national immigration debate.

Situated in a South Philadelphia immigrant neighborhood, Geno's — which together with its chief rival, Pat's King of Steaks, forms the epicenter of an area described as "ground zero for cheesesteaks" — has posted small signs telling customers, "This Is AMERICA: WHEN ORDERING `SPEAK ENGLISH.'"They don't know how lucky they are. All we're asking them to do is learn the English language," said Geno's owner Joseph Vento, 66. "We're out to help these people, but they've got to help themselves, too."

Vento, whose grandparents struggled to learn English after immigrating from Sicily in the 1920s, said he posted the sign about six months ago amid concerns over immigration reform and the increasing number of customers who could not order in English when they wanted Philly's gooey, greasy specialty — fried steak, sliced or chopped, in a long roll, with cheese and fried onions.

more at:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060608/ap_on_re_us/english_only_cheesesteaks

He also was part of the "freedom fries" stupidity of a few years ago.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

1. Maybe he should go back to Sicily.

... if he doesn't like it here.

[July]

39. I wonder what he'd do if someone came in and ordered in ITALIAN?

That could be interesting.

[MadHound]

2. Well, I suppose he doesn't mind a decrease in business

After all, if I lived in Philly and walked in and saw that sign, I'd turn and leave, and I'm a native born.

And this really is a stupid idea. After all, if you can't speak english it's not like you're going to be able to read it either:crazy:

And given the size of Philly's immigrant community, it sounds to me like Vento is just begging to have business go elsewhere. It could be quite amusing when in a year or so, this guy has to shut his doors for good.

[Mandate My Ass]

9. right now the 9th street market

formerly known as the Italian Market, is seeing a sharp increase in successful latino businesses. It's where Geno's is located. Nuff said.

[JuniperLea]

13. Illiterate? Write for free help!

:rofl:

[Kutjara]

3. I hope he's translated...

...the names of any Italian food into English. We don't want no 'marinara' or 'bolognaise' crap here. I also hope he refers to Philadelphia as "Brotherlylove" and not that degenerate Greek name. Anyway, why does he want people to speak English? Isn't that the language of that small island off the coast of Europe? He should be telling people to speak "Amurkun."

[regnaD kciN]

70. He should also change the name of the place...

...to "Gene's Steaks." :grr:

[blm]

4. And right when Philly's 2 big papers are bought by GOP activists - wanna

bet that BushInc has targeted Pennsylvania's electoral votes now that Ohio is under too great a scrutiny?

[Mandate My Ass]

5. Philly weekly, the free paper, had a response to that this week

In their heroes and goats section, Geno's got a nod in the goats' column with this explanation:

http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/view.php?id=12327

"Geno's Can you understand this, bonehead? We're going to Pat's every time we want a cheesesteak from now on. Comprende?"

Pat's is the local rival to Geno's (and they have better cheesesteaks) I used to like Geno's Italian pork sandwich but now Tony Luke's kicks their ass in that category too.

[JuniperLea]

6. The City of Brotherly Hate

I can't believe I'm still shocked on a daily basis at how hateful humans can be.


Those things are a heart attack on a bun anyway.

[BlooInBloo]

7. You know what's gonna happen, right?

People will criticize the criticizers by saying that we're all "anti-Italian"...

Be ready for it!

[Dawgs]

8. Someone should drop this jackass off in Mexico and see...

how he deals without knowing the language. What a fuckwad!!

[Lib Grrrrl]

33. Wait A Minute...

Devil's Advocate - NO ONE ASKED THEM MEXICANS TO COME HERE!! they coulda stayed home. They CHOSE to come to an English-speaking country, and by damn, they oughta learn it, too...because I am too fucking lazy to want to learn THEIR language...after all it's MY fucking country that THEY came to.

There. I said it.

Now I'm getting out my Kevlar vest, cause I know I'm getting savaged. but I don't give a shit. I am tired of keeping this in. Goddamn it, let them learn OUR language, or let 'em stay home!

I'll be damned if I want to end up a foreigner in my own country, unable to manage, in my old age, because English has been obliterated.

And FUCK NO I am NOT going to go learn spanish!! WHY THE FUCK SHOULD I HAVE TO??

[Sapere aude]

38. I'm not going to criticize you other than to say your are a fish swimming

against the current. You are not hurting anyone. Your feelings are yours and what ever negative intestinal bile you create will effect you only.

[Lib Grrrrl]

48. I Appreciate That

Look, the problem is...and I'm willing to admit it...it's FEAR.
I am deathly afraid that they not only REFUSE to learn English...they don't want to...and they will swamp us to the point where English is no longer the common language...and then I will be old and helpless in my own country.

I'm terrified of it. And I am too fucking lazy too learn their language. I don't fucking want to. I didn't ask them to come here. english is good enough for me, it oughta be good enough for anyone else who comes here, too.

I know, it's not the typical liberal Democrat approach to this, but this is just one subject I simply refuse to roll over on.

The one problem I have with liberals, in general...is that we tend to roll over for anybody and everybody, and then they walk all over us! I think we lose elections because we don't TRY hard enough to win...we just roll over and let the assholes walk all over us, naively believing that, somehow, showing those who hate us...showing them love...will make them change. It diesn't...it only makes them laugh and take advantage of us more.

This is just one area where I plain, flat, refuse to roll over. I won't do it. I INSIST people speak English to me in my own country. If they won't, then I won't talk to them. because i'll be goddamned if I'm gonna learn their language. they came here...they learn OURS.

And don't start up crap about the Native Americans...they had hundreds of differnt languages. Each TRIBE had a different language. If any of them had become the dominant language, that would have been okay, too. My point is, I want this country to have one dominant language, and one only, because I don't want to learn other languages.

Other cultures, traditions, rituals, etc...I'm good with that stuff. BUT NOT LANGUAGES...that's where I draw the line.

[ALago1]

59. 2 Questions

1) Is this sarcasm?

2) Do you really think the non-English speaking population could ever surpass the English speaking population in America?

[Lib Grrrrl]

61. 2 Answers

1 - No.

2 - YES...I do think it. and it scares the hell out of me.

At least I'm big enough to own up to my fears. And I'm big enough to take being savaged by the likes of you for refusing to ROLL OVER on absolutely everything. I, too, have boundaries. And no foreign languages is a big boundary of mine.

When I went to Thailand, I didn't expect street signs in English, I didn't expect anyone to speak English...I got ny by learning a few basic phrases in Thai, and using flash cards. I was there three weeks.

While I was there, I was grateful for other tourists...as well as those natives who COULD speak English...even if it was broken English. but I never EXPECTED anyone to learn MY language...it was THEIR country! I was there three weeks, and I enjoyed it very much.

My point is...IF YOU GO TO SOMEONE ELSE'S COUNTRY, THEN YOU LEARN THEIR LANGUAGE...NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND! Likewise...they are coming to our country. They need to learn OUR language. We shouldn't be cater-assing to them with all these signs in Spanish and shit...that only further encourages them to REFUSE to learn our language.

It's one thing to have a difficult time learning a new language in a new country. It's quite another if you simply REFUSE to learn your new country's language, and expect it's citizens to cater-ass to YOU. I refuse. I think most of these immigrants simply REFUSE to learn English, and expect us to learn theirs, and I fucking ain't gonna do it.

This is one area I feel VERY STRONGLY on...and I know it's an area I diverge from my liberal brothers and sisters on, but so be it. We all have our own holdout positions...this one simply happens to be mine.

[One_Life_To_Give]

82. Your not alone

There are plenty of people who beleive that Immigrants must learn English.

[Lib Grrrrl]

92. I'm Glad To Hear That

I expected to get savaged, somewhat, at least, over what I'm sure is an unpopular viewpoint for a liberal to have. But we ALL have our particular things on which we refuse to cave.

Generally, I think we liberals have a bad habit of rolling over for anyone and everyone, and then the people we roll over for WALK ALL OVER US. It's one reason I think we have trouble winning elections...we are too nice. Well, most of us, anyway.

Some, like the other poster, who is now on my Ignore list...would rather make a nasty personal attack on someone, because they hold that particular "no-bend" attitude...in spite of it's unpopularity.

I will not tolerate such personal attacks, it was a disgusting and horrible thing to say.

I expected some people to maybe call me a racist or a xenophobe...but to make an attack about my transgender status just goes completely beyond the pale.

I'm sorry, at least i had the guts to be honest and come out with an unpopular viewpoint...and to say why I have that viewpoint.

I am willing to own up to it being FEAR. FEAR that they will overrun us, and English will no longer be the dominant language in this country, and I will live out my senior years in my own country, unable to communicate my needs, when I get hurt or something...because no one will fucking speak English anymore!

Dammit, is it so much to ask these people that, if they are gonna come here, that they at least TRY to learn English? That is what pisses me off about these new immigrants, THEY ABSOLUTELY REFUSE TO EVEN TRY!! And we make it possible, and easy, for them to continue to refuse to TRY.

As I said, I give a fuck what language ended up the dominant language here, whether it had been German, or Italian, or English, or any Native American tongue. the point is...I would have learned it growing up. I ONLY WANT ONE LANGUAGE SPOKEN HERE - AND I WANT IT TO BE THE ONE I ALREADY KNOW. I'm too fucking lazy to learn someone else's pidgen, and it's not like I asked them to come here.

The least they can do is fucking TRY to learn English. Even when I went to Thailand for three weeks, I TRIED to learn some Thai, and I went prepared with flash cards. I did NOT expect them to have to learn my language, English...though I was quite glad to discover that many there DID speak enough English that I was able to get by.

Now, about my trip to Thailand...I went there to get medical care - care that was out of my reach, due to cost, in the United States. And I suffered from post-anesthesia aphasia. I was damn glad of the flash cards, because for the first week after my surgery, I had a hard time even speaking ENGLISH!! It was scary as hell for me. I could READ it fine...I could UNDERSTAND it fine, when people spoke to me...but I, myself, had trouble SPEAKING...period! In ANY language! I literally had a hell of a hard time getting words out...I had to FORCE them out. so the flash cards ended up being even more useful than I'd thought.

[Name removed]

85. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Lib Grrrrl]

91. Welcome To Ignoreland

1. I said I didn't EXPECT anyone to speak English in Thailand...and prepared myself for that. Since I was only there for three weeks, I was able to get by, using flash cards made in advance, and the broken English that many in Bangkok spoke. A friend of mine, fluent in Thai, made up several flash cards with phrases I wanted, English on one side, Thai on the other, and, if we could not communicate, I simply picked out my English-phrase card, and handed him the Thai side.

2. It is none of your fucking business why I went to Thailand. I'd answer, but since you are so fucking obnoxious, I won't.

3. I did my best to cater to THEM when I was there, by trying, as best I could, to communicate in THEIR language.

4. i see you have a nice lil' HRC emblem for your avatar...so it doesn't surprise me that you feel as you obviously do about transgender people. That last is a completely unwarranted, and viscious attack, and it is the reason you are being put on my Ignore list.

So don't bother replying.

[kestrel91316]

62. You are not alone.

I have made it a point to study TWO languages other than English. Neither of them is Spanish. I am not the least bit interested in learning it. That's MY decision.

We MUST have a common language. MUST. Otherwise, nothing else remains to unite us. Citizenship has become nearly irrelevant because of massive illegal immigration. Cultural diversity is desirable. But we MUST be able to communicate with each other, and it is completely unrealistic (borderline delusional, IMHO) to expect each of us to be able to speak everybody else's languages, too. People in the US speak over 100 languages.

The obvious choice for a uniting language is English. After all, it is the language in which the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were penned. It is the language our government functions in - from the courts to the White House to the Congress to all 50 state legislatures. Go into any store in the US and what is the ONE language you will see on ALL the packaging, along with occasional use of several others: English. What language to all American corporations hold their board meetings in, and communicate with their employees in? Certainly NOT Spanish.

To step in now, at this late date, and suggest that we should, in fact, adopt the language of a people who have entered our country en masse without the slightest respect for us or our laws, is insulting beyond belief, and irrational to boot.

[Lib Grrrrl]

93. THANK YOU!!!

You said it even better than I could...

"To step in now, at this late date, and suggest that we should, in fact, adopt the language of a people who have entered our country en masse without the slightest respect for us or our laws, is insulting beyond belief, and irrational to boot."

I couldn't have said it better myself!

[Castilleja]

63. I am going to agree with you on this

Considering where I live, I feel like it is just smart to learn Spanish. I know a little, but not enough to hold a coherent conversation but can get the gist of a conversation when I hear it. I do have a problem with coming to feel that I HAVE to learn it. I have seen various people come to my work speaking Spanish to me, I try to accomodate them without resorting to calling my manager out to translate. Alot of times that is really difficult to do. I just feel that people should basically expect to do business in English, in this country. In their personal life, it's not my business what language they choose to speak.

When we visited Germany, we expected to speak German, or at least attempt it. When we could not, we explained in German that we did not understand. This once got us the response of a sales person just walking away abruptly.

I think you have a good point about Liberal people trying to accomodate too much, sometimes, as well as the thought that learning other languages should be an option, not a requirement, when in one's own country.

[Lib Grrrrl]

94. Beautiful!!

I think you have a good point about Liberal people trying to accomodate too much, sometimes, as well as the thought that learning other languages should be an option, not a requirement, when in one's own country.

[ima_sinnic]

68. ah, the unwashed hordes swarming the borders, overpowering

our entire utopian society, and TAKING OVER OUR LANGUAGE.
oh MY GOD!! THAT IS SO SCARY!! We must do something about this immediately!!! English, which is only several thousand years old, could become the new Latin, an old dead language that nobody remembers anymore! and it could happen IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE!! within the next few MONTHS!!

sheesh. may I suggest you take up a hobby or something? it sounds like you spend most of your time cowering behind the couch hiding from the boogeyman. Get out, take a walk, check out your fellow human beings, they're not all that bad--except for the reactionary few who live life in a state of constant threat of what they think they could lose by relaxing and enjoying life as it comes.

[regnaD kciN]

71. And even worse...

I am deathly afraid that they not only REFUSE to learn English...they don't want to...and they will swamp us to the point where English is no longer the common language...and then I will be old and helpless in my own country.

...all them Messican breeders, after they "swamp us," will turn this country CATHOLIC! They'll be forcing you to pray to the Virgin Mary and obey the Pope!!! Oh, the humanity!

:sarcasm:

[Pacifist Patriot]

77. If it at all helps, I do believe it's an irrational fear.

Then again, my fear of flying is an irrational fear and knowing that hasn't settled my blood pressure much when I get on a plane.

The idea that immigrants would refuse to learn English and English would become a minority language in America (at least in any of our lifetimes) does not hold up to the historical trends or the evidence.

1. English is the international language of air traffic control and business/finance. Although French is the official diplomatic language, English is frequently used as a mediating language. School children in other industrialized nations typically learn English as their second or third language. English will be around for quite awhile. It will keep evolving, I don't know anyone who converses in Middle or Elizabethen English, but it'll be English.

2. It would require quite a demographic cataclysm to reverse the percentage of primary English-speakers to a minority in the U.S. any time soon. Keep in mind we already have a funded infrastructure in place that utilizes written English as a signage and documentary standard.

3. While immigrants to this country may have difficulty operating in an English-speaking society, historically they tend to not only insist their children learn English but in too many cases suppress their children's knowledge of the native tongue. It's rare for the third generation to be fluent in anything but English. They become as discouragingly and thoroughly monolinguist as those of us whose ancestors immigrated here nine generations ago.

I think your insistance on personal monolingualism in English is safe, even through my great-grandchildren's lifetimes.

Cheers!

[Lib Grrrrl]

95. It Might Be Irrational

but that still doesn't help. As you said above.

If there is anything I fear above all else, it is being old, alone, in poor health, and helpless to communicate my needs at that stage of life.

THAT is what I am afraid of. Being helpless. And I don't think I ought to have to learn spanish. It should be the other way around. THEY are the ones coming HERE...not the other way around.

[Mojorabbit]

99. My mother is portuguese

It took her years to learn english. She was treated like crap when I was a child in the fifties and sixties while she tried to learn the language. She is seventy now and still has a heavy accent but speaks fairly good english. My dad is american. I do not speak Portuguese because they were afraid of discrimination in those days and so I know only some basic portuguese because I was not taught it which is a damn shame, I think.

Studies have shown that in most cases the immigrants don't learn english well, their children are usually bilingual, and their children speak only english.

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

[Name removed]

67. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RebelOne]

73. I have to agree with you.

When I lived in Miami, whenever I went into a store, the sales clerks would always speak Spanish to me. I would say to them that this is my country and I expect for you to speak English.

[Wrinkle_In_Time]

86. "Devil's Advocate" contradicts "I am tired of keeping this in"

Please choose one role.

The role of the "Devil's Advocate" is to provide a counterargument for a position they do believe in, with the goal of exposing logical holes in order to ultimately strengthen that argument. It stems from the Roman Catholic position advocatus diaboli.

You are expressing your own contrary beliefs, and quite vehemently. This is not the role of a Devil's Advocate.

Besides, the Kevlar vest looks silly when worn over Canonical robes.

[Lib Grrrrl]

96. Point Taken

I'll lose the Canonical robes, then. I'm keeping the Kevlar.

[Nikki Stone 1]

87. This is just bad business. Speak the customer's language & sell more

greasy, artery-hardening cheesesteaks.

Seems foolish to antagonize the customer base. If you really want to help, put a nice big translation of the menu at the end of the counter and help them learn the words. :)

[Book Lover]

90. Setting aside everything else that is xenophobic in your post

You could learn the second most popular language on this globe because some of the most beautiful literature is written in it. If you care about that sort of thing...

[Lib Grrrrl]

97. No

I don't care. If they want me to read it, they can translate it into English for me. Otherwise, forget it, it's not worth reading.

[Telly Savalas]

102. If it aint written in American, it aint wurth readin

[SemiCharmedQuark]

104. What a sad decison.

Some works lose their poetic beauty when translated.

[Lib Grrrrl]

106. What Good Is

poetic beauty if I can't fucking understand it?

[SemiCharmedQuark]

107. Sometimes it's worth learning a language for the literary benefits.

Latin, for example, has some use in aiding vocabulary comprehension. However the best outcome is being able to read the oratory in its original language.

I just disagree with the "if it isn't in English, it's not worth reading" idea. I wish I spoke German, French and Italian. Perhaps I will learn one day.

[Lib Grrrrl]

108. Good For You

I don't care to learn anyone else's language.

I took Latin for two years in highschool, because a foriegn language was required. the main reason I chose Latin was because I felt it would be the most beneficial to me, considering, firstly, that it would help me greatly with my English, considering 52% of English is based on Latin...and secondly, with my interests firmly in the medical/legal fields, I knew Latin would come in handy in those professions as well.

I have no need, nor desire, to learn any language other than English, really. I only learned some Latin in my two years, because I had to...and I learned a little Spanish while living in Texas, as a matter of passive assimilation.

If I learn it by passive assimilation, that's fine. If it requires any effort on my part, forget it. No one else's language is worthwhile enough for me to spend effort learning it.

I'm plain, flat, too damned lazy to want to, and that is just the way it is. At least I can be honest about it.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

105. Well, I always press 2, and I always choose "Spanish"

If a large corporation wants my business, and the business of my family or my friends, they had better offer Spanish. This has nothing to do with me not knowing the language, I just don't appreciate the sudden hysteria. As pointed out above, we've ALWAYS had immigrants and they've always learned the language by the second or third generation.

After all, it's MY country too, by the same virtue that it is your country. We both just happened to be born here.

[truebrit71]

10. What a fucking asshole...

..."THIS IS AMERICA. WHEN ORDERING SPEAK THE NATIVE INDIAN TONGUE OR SHUT THE FUCK UP AND GET BACK ON THAT BOAT THAT BROUGHT YOUR GREASY ASS HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE."

[treestar]

11. What a moran. All that happens is he loses customers.

[SteppingRazor]

12. Shockingly, the man has a 9th grade education...

Why am I not surprised?

Ignorance and freedom fries tend to go hand in hand

[obreaslan]

14. I've been to Geno's. I think he needs to turn around and look at the...

Guys working the grills. Does the English only apply to them? Speaking of which, should we look at their green cards?

We need to fine the companies who hire illegally, not discriminate against people who just want to buy a cheese steak.

[hatrack]

55. Whew! What a relief! I read your post really quickly and for a moment .

I thought you'd written "people who just want to buy a Chinese steak."

Dodged the bullet!!

:toast:

[im10ashus]

15. What a "moran!"

What if someone visiting from, let's say Greece, comes to his store and they don't speak English? They are just here as a tourist. Does he throw them out?

[SidDithers]

16. If I were Pat's King of Steaks...

I'd have a big sign up that said "We welcome ALL customers, regardless of their language"

If your competition wants to self-destruct, give him a bit of help.

Sid

[LostinVA]

26. I was just gonna post that

[Vinnie From Indy]

30. Pat's King Of Steaks should indeed advertise their desire to serve ALL !

Gento is a moron that deserves all the crap coming his way for this idiotic idea.

[mconvente]

50. They already have

At least in the form of a quotation in that same article.

It's a shame because I really like Genos - but I'll be changing my business to Pat's from now on - I've never been that and I don't go to philly too much, but whenever I do, I'll be at Pat's.

[bear425]

75. Great idea. Besides, their Philly steak sandwiches are better. n/t

[mikelgb]

80. and the sign should be in several languages n/t

[Cha]

17. Fucking Idiot!

Does that venom ooze into the cheesesteaks there?

[CatWoman]

18. LOL

Wonder if he's related to the Soup Nazi?

:hi:

[shain from kane]

19. With such a limited menu, why not point to a picture when you

order?
I don't speak Chinese, but every Chinese restaurant that I've seen has pictures of the various items on the menu, or the wall, coded so that you can order by the number.

[Sugarcoated]

20. Geno's is where the tourists go

Natives go to Tony Luke's when in South Philly - or Delesandro's when in the Roxborough section of Philly. I never could see what was so great about Geno's steaks, or Pat's, for that matter. Heck, the place around the corner from my house here in the 'burbs makes better steaks then those boneheads.

[two gun sid]

34. I always went to Oregon Steaks on Oregon Ave. just off...

of S. Broad. Good cheese steaks. Are they still there?

[LynneSin]

21. We boycotted them after we caught them selling "Freedom Fries"

I took GOPisEvil and WillPitt to Geno's, once my preferred Cheesesteak stop. The fries were relabeled "Freedom Fries".

BTW, during Clinton administration there use to be a big picture over the ordering window of the owner with his arms around Bill Clinton

What a fucking hypocrite! And to make matters worse this is South Philly with a large hispanic population

[KyuzoGator]

22. That's their right as a business owner.

I guess it doesn't really irritate me as much when it happens in the private sector.

[DelawareValleyDem]

23. Makes me glad I've always skipped Geno's for Jim's nt

[rucky]

24. I guess I'll be going across the street...

to those other guys.

[LostinVA]

25. Gosh, I bet his people came over between 1890 and 1920

LIke my GGF did from Sicily in 1915. Bet they couldn't speak English hardly at all, or write. Like my GGF, who stayed illiterate in both languages. He makes me sick.

[PCIntern]

27. So screw 'em..

Pat's or Jim's on South Street are just fine. And you know what? You'll live longer if you eat fewer of these things...they are unbelievably bad for your health and I should know...I've eaten hundreds in my lifetime - used to eat TWO when I was in school.

Or...go down to THe White House in Atlantic City...best Hoagie in America with the exception of some little places in South Philly that you probably couldn't find with a GPS device.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

100. Thanks for the Jim's, I live over the bridge and unfortunately

can't get a good cheese steak here, go figure. When I get the craving, it's over the bridge to South Street, for a Jim's steak. The only problem with Jim's is the long, long line when you are starving is a downright unpleasant experience.

[yellowcanine]

28. What a dipshit. And an opportunity for a competitor. If I were selling

cheese steaks across the street I would put a big sign up saying
"Se Hable Espanol" and watch the Spanish speaking customers come flocking into my shop.

[lies and propaganda]

29. like someone would order a freaking cheesesteak in Spanish.

that is an asinine thought.

[Telly Savalas]

103. That was my first thought.

I bet that asshole has never had a single person try to order food in Spanish.

[troubleinwinter]

31. "...whose grandparents struggled to learn English..."

Good thing his grandparents learned English within a week, before they starved.

[bbernardini]

32. CONTACT INFO for Pat's and Geno's HERE! Support Pat and stick it to Geno!

Pat's: [e-mail]

Geno's: http://www.genosteaks.com/contact.php

I've written a letter of support to Pat's, suggesting (as somebody did here) that they advertise their willingness to serve anybody, regardless of their language.

[UTUSN]

35. Oye, Geno, metete el bistek de queso donde el sol no brilla !!1 n/t

[texasleo]

74. watch your mouth, young man

:evilgrin:

[steely]

44. Cool

BTW - Wish I could cacth one of your shows.

[IDemo]

46. How do you say "Cheese Whiz" in Spanish,, queso de vomita? n/t

[zulchzulu]

58. I emailed a suggestion to Pat's

If the customer can read a Pat's Classic Cheesesteak order in Spanish, they'd get a discount. The line would go all the way up to Broad Street...

[Swamp Rat]

60. buen idea

:D Geno's head will explode.

[oasis]

36. Geno, shove your cheesesteaks where the sun don't shine. How's my English?

[mcscajun]

109. As good as the Spanish in Post # 35.

Which said the same thing. :)

[Sapere aude]

37. Fine he will lose some customers. That's America

I don't see how anyone could go there and order in a different language if no one working there understands them.

I go to restaurants here in CA and the people working there are bi-lingual. Immigrants feel at home there and spend their money there. I hear them order in another language and it doesn't bother me one bit. I have no problem with multiculturalism. I'm not afraid like others are that the culture they once knew is going away.

[SoCalDem]

40. So... at Taco Bell...How does one order a Taco, a burrito these days?

This xenophobic nonsense is getting sillier and sillier..

Do we stop saying entrepreneur? Do we stop wearing espadrilles? No more Perrier...No more Rum...No more vodka..

How I loong for a day when the "sillies" among us are back in thir boxes:)

[Bossy Monkey]

41. Glad that I was always a Pat's guy...

though there it would be speaking loosely to call the language you use to order English. Any non-Philadelphians want to take a guess what "Cheese with" means?

[KCS72000]

45. "With"

Yo!

Thats what is funny about this.

All you say is "with" or "Without" when ordering.

LoL

[WinkyDink]

42. I'm sure it was a big problem. EXCEPT NOT.

[devilgrrl]

43. Oh yeah, you gotta love South Philadelphia!

Lot's of tolerance in that neighborhood! :sarcasm:

[Nikki Stone 1]

88. dupe

dupe

[Penndems]

47. Pat's rocks! AND - God Bless 'em . . .

They put their cheese steak recipe on their website! ;)

*************************************************************************
The Original Pat's King of Steaks® Philadelphia Cheese Steak recipe

For all the people who cannot get to South Philadelphia to get the Original. Here is the recipe for you home chefs.

Serves 4

24oz thin sliced rib eye or eye roll steak

6 tablespoons of Soya bean oil

Cheese {we recommend Cheez Whiz®} American or Provolone works fine

4 crusty Italian Rolls

1 large Spanish onion

Optional:

Sweet green and red peppers sautéed in oil

Mushrooms sautéed in oil


Assembly:

Heat an iron skillet or a non stick pan over medium heat

add 3 tablespoons of oil to the pan and sauté the onions to desired doneness

remove the onions

add the remaining oil and sauté the slices of meat quickly on both sides

melt the cheez Whiz® in a double boiler or in the microwave

place 6oz. of the meat into the rolls

add onions, and pour the Cheez Whiz® over top

garnish with hot or fried sweet peppers, mushrooms, ketchup


Put on the theme song to the first Rocky movie and enjoy!

[zulchzulu]

56. Italian Rolls, Spanish onion,Mushrooms sautéed....Oh NO!!!!!

Why does Pat's HATE America?

[SmokingJacket]

49. Nice.

I'm glad the Sicilians were more friendly when I ordered from restaurants there, me with my barely three words of Italian.

[zulchzulu]

51. Since you could never order in anything but English there anyway...

..this is big news. Really fucking huge news. Wow....

Pat's kicks Geno's ass anyway. His sales are probably down, so he figgers he can git some free publicity for being a...whatever...

Geno's? Who the fuck goes to that roach hotel anyway? Those are NOT carmelized onions...

[ComerPerro]

52. I bet his grandparents, while "struggling to learn English"

lived in Italian areas and spoke mostly Italian.

[Pacifist Patriot]

78. It illustrates quite well one of my points in post #77 above.

[mvd]

53. Now I'm glad I chose Pat's

Because they say once you go to one, you'll be hooked on that cheesesteak place..

[zulchzulu]

54. HOW ODD! Their video story has Spanish and Mexican music in it!

QuickTime/6MB

When Vento starts speaking, there is Spanish and then for some reason Mexican mariachi music starts playing....how odd.

:smoke:

[RagingInMiami]

57. Well that helps decide which cheesesteak place to try

If I ever go to Philly. It will be Pat's.

[TorchTheWitch]

64. Geno's always sucked

Geno's could never touch Pat's cheesesteaks. Hell, the best food and service is always in the little immigrant joints anyway.

I always said if it wasn't for the immigrants we'd have nothing decent to eat in this town, and nowhere to eat where you can be an absolute nobody and be greeted and fussed over as though you were a long lost cousin even if you've never been there before and only spend $10 or less.

Screw Geno's. That grubby hole should have closed its doors ages ago anyway. I hope this outrageous stance speeds up the process.

[NMMNG]

65. Xenophobic jerk

Hate much? :eyes:

[Name removed]

66. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[regnaD kciN]

69. How do you say "No Italians Need Apply"...

...in Spanish? :shrug:

After all, that was a slogan of "patriotic" Americans opposed to this nation being "overrun by immigrants" about a hundred years ago. I wonder if Joseph Vento ever learned about that? :grr:

[Dead_Parrot]

72. $50 says Vento speaks fuck all Algonquian. nt

[ElboRuum]

76. I've always liked Pat's steaks better anyway... n/t

[LynneSin]

79. I heard some hispanic groups are going try and shut down Genos

buy crowding his store and ordering in Spanish.

[theboss]

81. There is no such thing as bad publicity

I think it was a stunt and it worked.

[bleever]

83. Isn't "Philadelphia" a Greek word?

Just sayin'.

[Lib Grrrrl]

98. No

It is a word that has it's base in Greeek, yes. Philadelphia is even mentioned in the Bible...although that was a different Philadelphia.

Literally, Philadelphia is the combination of two Greek root words..."Philio" which is the term for "love of brother" (Agape is love of God...Eros is erotic, or romatic love...) and Delphi is the root word meaning "city." Hence is Philadelphia known as the City of Brotherly Love.

Much of the English language has it's origins and roots in the Greek and Latin languages...over 70 percent of English is based on those two languages.

Medical terminology frequently uses Latin and Greek root-words as suffixes and prefixes in describing medical conditions...for example, orthodontics - "ortho" is the root word for "right, straight, or correct" and "dontal" is root for "teeth." Thus, orthodotics is about right, or straight - teeth! See how that works?

[Name removed]

84. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[MrSlayer]

89. The sad part is he's getting national publicity.

This cat does 24/7 steady business, he won't lose a dime over it and he makes all Philadelphians look bad. Not that we get any respect anyway but he just makes shit worse. And Geno's steaks suck by the way, Jim's at 4th and South is THE cheesesteak in Philly. Pat's and Geno's are for the tourists and are inferior.

[I_Make_Mistakes]

101. I agree with you, about Jim's the lines are always out the door

and down the street. I love sitting upstairs and looking out over South Street. I always take out of towner's to Jim's for a REAL Philly cheese steak and a South Street walk after.