It's a pretty rough around the edges type of city. VERY different from California and complete opposite from where I grew up in Florida/California. We were there to visit Bottom Dollar Food locations all around the city, so I was prepared to get to see a few different parts of town. Some were nice, others made me want to leave as soon as we drove in. Let's just say that I won't be volunteering to move to Philly any time in the future.
While the city left a lot to be desired, the Bottom Dollar Foods that we visited were great. The stores are unlike anything we have in San Diego and I wish that wasn't the case. Come on it's San Diego! CALIFORNIA!! The stores are smaller in size than a Whole Foods and don't have all of the frills that you'd find in a WF or even a Trader Joes-- and I wish that wasn't the case. I wouldn't do all of my full shopping at at BDF (I'm too much of a seafood and steak snob not to shop at a farmers market or Fresh Market) but I'd definitely make a trip or two a month for a lot of my grocery list. If you read the blog you know that I do most of my shopping at a farmer's market.
The second day we were in town was to attend the Grand Opening of a new store. The doors opened at 7:30am and there was a crowd! I had no idea people waited in line to go to a new grocery store. I mean come on this isn't a FAT SALE at Bergdorf.
Also new while in town, a Philly Cheesesteak. A hot, steak sub with a lot of cheese and veggies isn't my idea of a great lunch but while I was in town, I had to do it. My boss and I drove around for 30 minutes looking for a legit, authentic cheesesteak place and we came upon Steve's Prince of Steak. A hole in the wall, walk up and order place with delicious food. They've been open 30 years, they must be doing something right. Here is the cheesesteak that I ordered. It was physically impossible for me to finish the entire thing, I ate half.
So that was Philly for me, in a nutshell.
