Tony Luke Fills Boilable Beef-Sack Sandwich Market
March 10, 2009 –
Analysts yesterday agreed that Tony Luke’s new “frozen cheesesteak in a boil-in bag” will likely fill a wide-open market for boiled-and-microwaved steak sandwiches. “The public’s really been clamoring for a plastic-bagged, boilable meat hoagie,” said Leonard Bonnard, of FoodTrend, Inc., grimacing as he assembled one of the faintly malodorous sandwiches in his Ardmore office. “I’d say it’s an four-, five-hundred-dollar-a-year market, easy.”
 Local food critics agreed. “When I heard that [Lucidonio Jr., better known as Luke] had created a boiled-beef product with microwavable roll, I said, ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’ ” admitted Philadelphia magazine’s Joy Manning, gagging on the combination of plastic-scented meat and soggy bread. “It’s just like a mouth-watering fresh steak—without the freshness. Or the watering mouth.” Craig LaBan, of the Philadelphia Inquirer, was similarly praiseful. “When you hear ‘boiled frozen meat in a plastic bag,’ you’re not exactly filled with confidence,” he said. After a long, awkward pause, it became obvious that he had nothing more to add.
The South Philadelphia sandwich king, who plans to market the product nationwide within months, also had high hopes for his novel creation. “Obviously, it’s not going to beat a fresh sandwich hot off the grill,” conceded Lucidonio from the kitchen of his flagship Oregon Ave. shop. “Or a leftover sandwich that sits in the back of the fridge for a week. Or a baloney Hot Pocket. But it’s something.” Manning agreed. “There are three or four steak shops near my house, but it might be nice to have [a frozen Luke’s steak] in my freezer,” she mused. “Even if it stays in there forever, it might be nice.” |
