Michael Thomas Leibrandt: Saying goodbye to the cheesesteak — but only because I have to

It’s been over 85 years that Philadelphia has proudly called the cheesesteak its own. If you were fortunate enough to grow up in a family around the Delaware Valley loving food, then you are right at home in Philadelphia. If you grew up around Philadelphia, well, you probably love cheesesteaks. While cooking a cheesesteak to perfection is an art form, it’s also a pretty basic concept. The freshest hoagie roll that you can find, top quality beef, fried onions and a choice of cheese that is as personal of a decision as what soap you prefer in the shower.

A true Philadelphian not only grows up on cheesesteaks but has a definite opinion on exactly where to get the best one on the planet. Pat’s vs. Geno’s was the argument in my family that accompanied a football-filled holiday afternoon. The irony was that the debated raged just moments before the turkey was carved at Thanksgiving dinner.

I’ll admit that my heart shrunk to mirror the Grinch who stole Christmas when I got the call on a cold Saturday morning and my doctor called me with test results. I was positive for celiac disease, and needed to see a specialist and make lifestyle changes. No more fresh Amoroso rolls, no more Tastykakes, no more Merzbacher’s bread?

Current estimates are that one in every 133 people or one percent of the United States population have celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that affects those when they consume a protein called gluten. The consumption of that gluten protein in those who have the disease triggers a response where the body’s immune system attacks and damages the villi of the small intestine. It’s estimated that around 80 percent of people who have celiac are not diagnosed. Right here in Philadelphia, Children’s Hospital offers one of the largest children’s celiac Programs in the country. Last Memorial Day, CHOP received a $100,000 state grant for celiac Research.

National Cheesesteak Day (as though we needed one day) was last week, which is ironic since March is Awareness Month for autoimmune diseases like celiac. The observance of our Philadelphia-founded sandwich that dates from the Depression-Era 1930s from a South Philly stand owned by Pat and Harry Olivieri and was eventually perfected by a manager at Pat’s Steaks who topped it with cheese has taken off into a Philadelphia tradition. Each year, the debate is on about the best place to order the best Philadelphia cheesesteak between such popular spots as Pat’s, Geno’s, Dalessandro’s, Campo’s, and Angelo’s Pizzeria among others.

Currently, the only treatment for celiac disease is to eat a strict 100% gluten-free diet. The complete avoidance of all of those Philly-favorite foods and drinks (I’m looking at you, beer) is the way to keep healthy. For many of us, a strict diet that doesn’t allow for those gluten-rich foods that we grew up with can lead to depression symptoms. 

But please, don’t let me ruin your cheesesteak. Look, someone has to consume the melted pleasure of a heavenly, juicy steak and cheese paradise with a hint of onion aftertaste blended with a fresh roll straight from Philadelphia. I admit, I’m still hooked on it. I just can’t have it — so I’ll let you enjoy it.

Michael Thomas Leibrandt lives and works in Abington Township, Pennsylvania.