One cool Philly fan.

[gridlore]

netquiddler defies the stereotype of the boorish Philadelphia sports fan. When the NLCS was tied at one, we made a bet on the outcome. I put up a bottle of good California wine (I have a nice 2007 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon that I was going to part with) and he put up a real Philly cheesesteak. Well, we won. Within minutes of the game ending, netquiddler called us to congratulate us on the win, and arrange the details of settling the bet. I handed that off to Kiri, as we tend to have things shipped to her office for ease of signing.

Baseball rivalries and post-season series are a lot more fun when everyone remembers that it's a game. I can have fun at a game with Dodgers fans as long as we all keep perspective.

Will, do you want me to reveal which box you're sending us?

Edit We're getting the Philly Cheesesteak Package, #2 on that page.

Comments

[netquiddler.livejournal.com]

I have no problem with that, Doug - this gives me a chance to explain some of the things that you just can't get out in Northern California.

[netquiddler.livejournal.com]

Okay, some words to say about food.

* Original Philly Cheesesteak (12" long, 1 lb.) w/ onions
I would say you can't get a real Philly cheesesteak outside of the Philadelphia area, but apparently kshandra has let me know there's a place that makes a darn good one over her way - they even use the right bread (you HAVE to use Amoroso rolls). Doug, I know that ketchup is an optional thing on a cheesesteak, I'm going to recommend not - it won't need it.
* Tastykake Cupcakes and Pie
Tastykakes (http://www.tastykake.com) are made fresh in Philadelphia and are usually only shipped where they can stay fresh. I'm partial to Butterscotch Krimpets and Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes, but the chocolate cupcakes are good too! For the pie, I prefer pumpkin, but you can't get that all year, so for the rest of the year, it's a Tasty-Klair Pie - Bavarian cream filling and topped with chocolate.
* Herr's Potato Chips
Herr's (http://www.herrs.com) has been making potato chips since 1946 in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It's another brand with regional distribution - they just recently crossed the Mississippi. I'm guessing they're going to send you plain, which are good. My preference lies three ways - the rippled ones, because they're thicker potato chips; the barbecue, which was the first flavored chip they made; and the Old Bay, which are seasoned with Maryland crab seasoning.
* 2 Large Soft Pretzels
Oh, you can't say Philadelphia cuisine without soft pretzels. It's a fact that Philadelphians eat twelve times the national average for pretzels in a year, but when they're as good as these ones, who can blame them? Doug, I know they'll probably come with little packets of yellow mustard. I'd use a brown mustard on them, just as traditional, but with a little more kick to them.
* Bookbinder's Soup & OTC Crackers
Old Original Bookbinder's was a legendary seafood restaurant in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, it appeared to be unable to cope in the 21st century, and has since shut down. Their soups (http://www.bookbinderspecialties.com), on the other hand, are still being sold in grocery stores all along the Eastern seaboard. Meanwhile, Original Trenton Crackers (http://www.panoramafoods.com/OTC_products.php) have been served for over 150 years in Philadelphia and South Jersey restaurants. They kind of taste like a less-salty saltine, but they're puffy as opposed to flat.
* Frank's Black Cherry Wishniak Soda
Frank's is a long-time brand of soda in Philadelphia, and while most of the flavors are dead, Black Cherry Wishniak is not. An explanation on the name - "wishniak" is an Eastern European cordial made from cherries, sugar, and vodka. Supposedly, they were making a bing cherry soda and the owner of the company said it tasted like a wishniak. So it stuck.
* Goldenberg's Peanut Chews
For nearly 90 years, the Goldenberg family made "peanut chews" - peanuts and molasses covered in dark chocolate. The little bars are a Philadelphia staple. But in 2003, JustBorn (who make Mike and Ike and Hot Tamales, among others) bought the brand. I can't taste any difference in them, and neither should you.

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Agreed about the good-natured part of it. During the last San Diego Westercon, it happened that the Giants were playing the Padres, so a group of us fans who were at the convention got a group trip to see the game. (Conveniently, there was a light rail stop at the hotel and near the ballpark, so we didn't have to fight traffic.) I carried my full Giants bag, including the hair-on-fire fright wig shown in the icon. Not surprisingly, I attracted attention. (If the Bay Area TV coverage showed me, I never heard about it, although I was in a position where they might have had a shot at me.)

The Giants lost. The Padres fans let me have it, but only verbally, and not really nastily. I took it; the Giants had, alas, earned it.

It's only a game; we're supposed to have fun doing it. Like SF fandom and my F^3 statement: If Fandom isn't Fun it's Futile.

[whiteknucklejoe.livejournal.com]

I watched that game, cheering for my Phillies and when they lost, I thought of you. Heh. Good luck in the series.