OT: More Williamsport Cheese Steak/Cosmo/Hoagie Porn

[MtNittany]

How so? Do you have an approximate date of conception? I worked at the Train Station and it's hoagie shop called the Cattle Car in State College back in the early 1970's and they were serving "Cosmos" back then... who knows how much earlier??? I'm not saying Chuck Herlocker invented the "Cosmo" style... but merely pointing out that this particular gastronomic nomenclature and culinary technique has been fairly widespread for years, but I had never heard about where it was "invented." Thanks for any further information.

From Michelle Cellini:

Ok history lesson .... in 1954 my uncle Joe Cellini .. and my father .. Bill Cellini opened the first sub shop ... it was called the Submarine House ... located on cemetery street in williamsport ... it was the very first sub shop here ... family of ours from Baltimore had one there ... now .. where did the name COSMO ( my favorite) come from ? Well .. in the 50s they hired a young boy 12 I think named Joseph Cosmo Schinacarelli ... there was my uncle joe ... my aunt jo.. and joe ... so they all called him by his middle name ... COSMO .. during lent (no meat) Cosmo was sick of pizza all the time .. so.. he put provolone cheese on a bun toasted it .. ( no mayo in the 50s) put the lett . Tomato.. oil and peppers on it ... and that’s what he ate ... my family looked at it every time he ate it .. they said that looks delicious !!! Mangia so they put it on the menu called the COSMO special and the rest is history


Please feel free to share Chuck Herlocker's story.

 

[MtNittany]

My sister graduated from Lycoming in thr mid 80s and we used to get cosmos from a place near the college cant remember what it was called ... Huggies??? They were awesome .... Owner was a big burly guy with a beard

Could have been Pudgies Pizza. They made cosmos and had a location on Washington Blvd. very close to the college. Joey's Place was also right there.

 

[sluggo72]

Gotta visit the Williamsport area sometime soon. If those sandwiches are half as good as they look, it'll be worth it. I live just outside of Reading and I always thought we had great stuff here. We got nothing that looks that good.

let me just say, my brother lives in Reading, and the worse cheese steak/ hoagie/ cosmo etc you can buy in Reading is better than the best one you can buy in West Virginia!!! Hands down.
I grew up in Skook, and the guy that made our cheese steaks used ATV rolls from Reading. He died and the place shut down, but they were great!!

 

[PSUfiji]

From Michelle Cellini:

Ok history lesson .... in 1954 my uncle Joe Cellini .. and my father .. Bill Cellini opened the first sub shop ... it was called the Submarine House ... located on cemetery street in williamsport … now .. where did the name COSMO ( my favorite) come from ? Well .. in the 50s they hired a young boy 12 I think named Joseph Cosmo Schinacarelli …

Please feel free to share Chuck Herlocker's story.

Seems Cellini's have fair claim to being the originators of the "Cosmo" hoagie!

Here's an article that's sums up Chuck's story... kinda surprised you are not aware of him as he's a pretty well-know State College businessman. Perhaps you didn't attend Penn State's main campus?

https://onwardstate.com/2018/01/25/mustard-moguls-a-brief-history-of-herlocher-foods/

 

[MtNittany]

Seems Cellini's have fair claim to being the originators of the "Cosmo" hoagie!

Here's an article that's sums up Chuck's story... surprise you are not aware of him as he's pretty well-know State College businessman.

https://onwardstate.com/2018/01/25/mustard-moguls-a-brief-history-of-herlocher-foods/

Yup, I know who Chuck is. Not sure why you would think I don't. I used to buy his mustard. BTW, where do you think the dining halls got the name Chicken Cosmo from? Herlockers? lol

 

[PSUfiji]

Yup, I know who Chuck is. Not sure why you would think I don't. I used to buy his mustard. BTW, where do you think the dining halls got the name Chicken Cosmo from? Herlockers? lol

Oh... okay. I was thrown-off understanding by your comment, "Please feel free to share Chuck Herlocker's story." So I errantly thought you didn't know about him. I apologize.

 

[Pardlion]

A whole thread about the best hoagies and cheesesteaks in central Pa? What's next, a thread about the tallest midget in the circus?

 

[MtNittany]

A whole thread about the best hoagies and cheesesteaks in central Pa? What's next, a thread about the tallest midget in the circus?

So you're saying these sandwiches don't measure up to Philly or Jersey sandwiches? You're entitled to that opinion, but it's badly misguided. Williamsport is a town of less than 30K. They're blessed w/ at least one great sub shop for every 1K of population. Not sure where you live, but I think that's sort of unique.

 

[bwifan]

Could have been Pudgies Pizza. They made cosmos and had a location on Washington Blvd. very close to the college. Joey's Place was also right there.

Confirmed with my sister it was called Huggies. Greasy spoon type place but perfect for late night after drinking and eating a cosmos before bed

 

[WDLion]

A whole thread about the best hoagies and cheesesteaks in central Pa? What's next, a thread about the tallest midget in the circus?

Or best fire extinguishers. I say a bucket of water.

 

[kijana]

Newberry Subshop has been the standard for the last 20 yrs or so. Since Kristi Marshall started running Miletos though, and advertising 1lb of beef on every cheesesteak, I couldnt say that Newberry's are still better. I liked Joey's but IMO they were never as good as Newberry Subshop's. Lycoming Bakery rolls do make Williamsports subs much better. I never tried Caris. I had to look it up to see where it was.

I've heard oldtimers say that Lycoming Bakery changed their rolls a few years back and they aren't as good as there ere back in the 1970-early 1990s.

 

[MtNittany]

I've heard oldtimers say that Lycoming Bakery changed their rolls a few years back and they aren't as good as there ere back in the 1970-early 1990s.

Well, before Lycoming Bakery, it was probably Cimini's that supplied most of the shops. They come and they go. There is a discussion on this on The Hoagie Boyz FB page, but not a lot of detail. Some shops do make their own rolls. I know JaysBurg Subs does:

 

[MtNittany]

Confirmed with my sister it was called Huggies. Greasy spoon type place but perfect for late night after drinking and eating a cosmos before bed

That's when I grew up there. Doesn't ring a bell (at all). Maybe that was their nickname for the joint?

 

[Kmase21]

WTF is up with all these pics of lettuce and tomatoes on a cheesesteak.

 

[BOSCO2]

WTF is up with all these pics of lettuce and tomatoes on a cheesesteak.

It's referred to as a California Cheesesteak in Reading. Very good, especially on a chicken cheesesteak.

 

[JimNazium]

MtNittany...did the original Cellini's operate where Judy Staccone's sub shop operated in the 80's? That place was tiny. I remember Judy had a place operating right across the street from her place called "Nancys Place". They had the exact same specials and prices for each day of the week s Judy did. Kijana...Lycoming Bakery is now called "Cowden's Lycoming Bakery". I haven't noticed that their sub rolls declined. They also make great Italian bread that the local Italian restaurants all served. Unfortunately, most of the family owned Italian Restaurants have closed over the last 10 yrs or so. But that's another story :0)

 

[Creek Side]

I dug up this old thread to add a newer sub shop in Lock Haven. I’ve heard nothing but great reviews about this place and had them this weekend for the first time. Caris Sub Shop. Wow! I stopped Friday night around 5 to grab supper for the family. Place was busy as hell so I figured all the talk must be true. Yep. Anyone staying in LH before a home game might want to give these a shot. Very limited seating in there. I’ve never had a better cheesesteak.

 

[MtNittany]

I dug up this old thread to add a newer sub shop in Lock Haven. I’ve heard nothing but great reviews about this place and had them this weekend for the first time. Caris Sub Shop. Wow! I stopped Friday night around 5 to grab supper for the family. Place was busy as hell so I figured all the talk must be true. Yep. Anyone staying in LH before a home game might want to give these a shot. Very limited seating in there. I’ve never had a better cheesesteak.

Caris' moved to Lock Haven from Newberry. Great hoagies and cheese steaks.

 

[Creek Side]

Cari's moved to Lock Haven from Newberry. Great hoagies and cheese steaks.

I had no idea they used to be in Newberry. But yes they are awesome.

 

[step.eng69]

Anyone staying in LH before a home game might want to give these a shot. Very limited seating in there. I’ve never had a better cheesesteak

Thanks Creek Side, Kar and I pass Lock Haven traveling 220 to the games. Short bypass to Caris. Their hours...open at 9am on Saturdays.

 

[MtNittany]

We had 12 Cellini's hoagies for the Buffalo game. All but 1.5 of them were consumed.

Mileto's cheese steak in the garden w/ the proper sides:

Personal favorite - Canadian Bacon Cosmo from Miletos:

 

[psu7113]

A whole thread about the best hoagies and cheesesteaks in central Pa? What's next, a thread about the tallest midget in the circus?

This sort of thing is part of what makes this board great....sorry you are missing out.

 

[MtNittany]

I dug up this old thread to add a newer sub shop in Lock Haven. I’ve heard nothing but great reviews about this place and had them this weekend for the first time. Caris Sub Shop. Wow! I stopped Friday night around 5 to grab supper for the family. Place was busy as hell so I figured all the talk must be true. Yep. Anyone staying in LH before a home game might want to give these a shot. Very limited seating in there. I’ve never had a better cheesesteak.

BTW - I updated the Caris pics up-thread.

 

[Hotshoe]

WTF is up with all these pics of lettuce and tomatoes on a cheesesteak.

That's called a cheese steak in the garden. It's not Philadelphia, it's much much better.

 

[Pardlion]

So you're saying these sandwiches don't measure up to Philly or Jersey sandwiches? You're entitled to that opinion, but it's badly misguided. Williamsport is a town of less than 30K. They're blessed w/ at least one great sub shop for every 1K of population. Not sure where you live, but I think that's sort of unique.

Then I guess the photos don’t do them justice?

 

[MtNittany]

Then I guess the photos don’t do them justice?

Free country. Don't like em', don't eat em'. Williamsport gets enough of Philly as it is.

 

[Pardlion]

Free country. Don't like em', don't eat em'. Williamsport gets enough of Philly as it is.

Where’s Williamsport?

 

[MtNittany]

Where’s Williamsport?

Perfect. Keep it this way.

 

[tgar]

Perfect. Keep it this way.

Best roll, best Italian in Williamsport, what is your recommendation? I have really enjoyed reading through this thread. I know of most of the great sandwiches in Reading, Minersville, Pottsville, Allentown, Lansdale, etc. etc. but travel through Williamsport once in a great while.

 

[MtNittany]

Best roll, best Italian in Williamsport, what is your recommendation? I have really enjoyed reading through this thread. I know of most of the great sandwiches in Reading, Minersville, Pottsville, Allentown, Lansdale, etc. etc. but travel through Williamsport once in a great while.

The area isn't known for its Italian hoagies. Get a regular instead - 3 meats that you would never eat alone, but taste great together. You'd really be cheating yourself if you didn't get a cosmo or a cheese steak from either Miletos or Cellini's in Montoursville to be honest. (Canadian Bacon or ham would be my cosmo recommendation). Almost all the rolls come from the same bakery. Wednesday is usually "Cosmo Day" at most shops because the bakery is closed and they have to use day old bread. Hope you like oil, mayo and cherry peppers.

 

[NittanyChris]

What kind of psychopath puts lettuce and tomato on a cheesesteak?!?!

 

[MtNittany]

What kind of psychopath puts lettuce and tomato on a cheesesteak?!?!

You prefer limp onions and sliced fungus from a giant can? They'll make em' that way if you want I'm sure.

 

[WPTLION]

Best roll, best Italian in Williamsport, what is your recommendation? I have really enjoyed reading through this thread. I know of most of the great sandwiches in Reading, Minersville, Pottsville, Allentown, Lansdale, etc. etc. but travel through Williamsport once in a great while.

Best roll is at Hobys on 4th street. They make their own daily and it’s not like the pizza places rolls. Everyone else unfortunately uses the same roll that is very inconsistent at best.

 

[MtNittany]

Best roll is at Hobys on 4th street. They make their own daily and it’s not like the pizza places rolls. Everyone else unfortunately uses the same roll that is very inconsistent at best.

I haven't been there but hear good things about their party pizza. Here's their cheese steak:

 

[MtNittany]

MtNittany...did the original Cellini's operate where Judy Staccone's sub shop operated in the 80's? That place was tiny. I remember Judy had a place operating right across the street from her place called "Nancys Place". They had the exact same specials and prices for each day of the week s Judy did. Kijana...Lycoming Bakery is now called "Cowden's Lycoming Bakery". I haven't noticed that their sub rolls declined. They also make great Italian bread that the local Italian restaurants all served. Unfortunately, most of the family owned Italian Restaurants have closed over the last 10 yrs or so. But that's another story :0)

Do not know Jim. If it was on Cemetery St., then my guess would be yes. The only store I was familiar w/ back then was Sammy Ray's from when we lived on Union Ave.

 

[Creek Side]

What kind of psychopath puts lettuce and tomato on a cheesesteak?!?!

This guy right here

 

[ILLINOISLION]

Damn you MtNitt.....damn all of you.

Sun eve at 11:54PM and I’ve just now seen all these pics. Now I’m starving, guessing I have a choice at this hour of Steak and Shake, Denny’s or IHOP.

Damn you all!

 

[MtNittany]

Damn you MtNitt.....damn all of you.

Sun eve at 11:54PM and I’ve just now seen all these pics. Now I’m starving, guessing I have a choice at this hour of Steak and Shake, Denny’s or IHOP.

Damn you all!

Guy from the big city says he wouldn't eat this. I don't believe him.

 

[flash86]

Based in this thread, picked up a cheese steak at Mileto’s on way back from Buffalo this evening. Didn’t make me forget Dalessandro’s of Roxborough, but it was good. Have to try sub next time in Newberry.

 

[MtNittany]

Based in this thread, picked up a cheese steak at Mileto’s on way back from Buffalo this evening. Didn’t make me forget Dalessandro’s of Roxborough, but it was good. Have to try sub next time in Newberry.

Good to hear. That's sirloin as well. Not sure what Dalessandro's serves. Williamsport is probably half sirloin half ribeye w/ no real price differential. Did you get the peppers?