Every once in a while I get the itch to do something different than what I’m already doing. Like, when I was an artist, I often had the urge to book rock shows, so I did that. Now that I’m a food writer, I like to do things like the Asheville Coffee Expo, The Food Fan Radio Show, and more recently, the Asheville Fried Chicken Challenge and the first ever Asheville Philly Fight! Stay tuned to this page, and my Facebook page to follow my latest side-projects, and keep up with who’s got the best what in Asheville and WNC!

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UPDATE: WE HAVE A WINNER!

THE TITLE OF BEST ASHEVILLE PHILLY GOES TO…

FAIRVIEW TAVERN!!!

Fairview Tavern was the People’s Champion, elected by the folks on WAX (West Asheville Exchange) to compete, and in the end, they were the judge’s choice to win it all! They submitted their “Kitchen Sink” Cheesesteak, which is their top-seller and is comprised of beefsteak, provolone, wiz, green pepper, onion, banana peppers, crushed cherry peppers, and mushrooms. It impressed the shit outta the judges across the board, and it was a unanimous decision to hand them the win!

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— ORIGINAL POST —

WHAT’S IN A PHILLY?

Let’s find out, and then Judge the Shit Outta Who’s Got the Best One in Asheville!

Welcome to the first ever Asheville Philly Fight! This is a competition between 7 local Asheville venues, facing each other and a panel of 3 judges, to determine who has the best Philly in Asheville, or is it the best Asheville Philly, and what’s the difference? First of all, let’s define a “Philly…”

The Wikipedia definition is: “a sandwich made from thinly sliced pieces of beefsteak and melted cheese in a long hoagie roll.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheesesteak

The Contenders Are:
• Mojo Kitchen & Lounge • Rankin Vault Cocktail Lounge •
• The Underground Café with DoughP Doughnuts • FAIRVIEW TAVERN •
• Strada Asheville • Cúrate • Sand Hill Kitchen!

The rules are basic: There are none!!

Below is all the info and instructions that I sent out to the Competitors, Judges, and Takeout Central’s Delivery Drivers for the first ever Asheville Philly Fight!

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ASHEVILLE PHILLY FIGHT

Wednesday, June 20th
2:00pm – 4:00pm
Judging begins at 2:30

Venue:
Dig Local Offices
Jackson Building, S Pack Square

THIS EVENT IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC • PLEASE FOLLOW ON FACEBOOK!

Sponsored by Stu Helm: Food Fan and Takeout Central!

Judges:

(L – R) Andrew Celwyn, The Herbiary – 15 year resident of Philadelphia • Chef Jason Krueger, Woodfire Grille – Born and raised in Philadelphia • Kelly Denson, All American Food Fights – Producer of The Asheville WIng Wars and Asheville Battle of the Burger

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INSTRUCTIONS TO COMPETITORS

Each competitor must provide 2 Phillies, cut into 4 pieces each, wrapped and ready to go.

A representative of Takeout Central will pick-up and deliver the sandwiches to the judges’ table according to the following schedule:

1:35 Sand Hill
1:55 Fairview
2:10 Underground
1:35 Curate
1:50 Strada
2:00 Vault
2:10 Mojo

Every competitor’s sandwiches will spend the amount of time in the insulated bag before being presented to the judges.

RULES

There are no rules. You need only consider that this is a competition for the best “Asheville Philly.” The judges will be given the same directive.

YOUR PHILLY

Please describe the following:

MEAT:

CHEESE:

BREAD:

OTHER:

Complete this sentence:

“THE SECRET TO A GREAT PHILLY IS…”

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INSTRUCTIONS TO JUDGES

PLEASE BE AT THE DIG LOCAL OFFICES BY 2:00PM ON TUESDAY, JUNE 20TH.

Judging will begin at 2:30.

THIS CONTEST IS SIMPLY FOR FUN, BUT PLEASE TAKE IT SERIOUSLY!

You will be provided with samples from 7 different venues. You may take notes, and talk among yourselves, as well as ask questions of the organizers and anyone else in attendance while you evaluate the sandwiches.

There are NO RULES. The only consideration the judges must make are the words “Asheville Philly,” which you are free to debate and interpret any way you wish.

IN THE END you should have them ranked in order from 7th place, to first place, by majority decision, meaning that at least 2 of the 3 judges must be in complete agreement about the rankings, if not all 3.

The winner, and rankings will be announced immediately on social media.

The winner will receive a graphic that can be printed and hung in their establishment, declaring that they won the 2018 Asheville Philly Fight.

The winner will also be called upon to “defend” their title in upcoming Asheville Philly Fights.

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INSTRUCTIONS TO TAKEOUT CENTRAL DELIVERY DRIVERS

Please assure that every competitor’s entry stays in the insulated bag for the same amount of time.

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THANK YOU, ALL!

THIS PHILLY FIGHT IS GOING TO BE FUN!

— END —

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Stu Helm is an artist, writer, and podcaster living in Asheville, NC, and a frequent diner at local restaurants, cafes, food trucks, and the like. His tastes run from hot dogs and mac ‘n’ cheese, to haute cuisine, and his opinions are based on a lifetime of eating out. He began writing about food strictly to amuse his friends on Facebook.

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