LaSpada's Original

2912 Edgmont Avenue
Chester, PA
(610) 872-9881
Website

My Delaware county hoagie and cheesesteak hunt continues. It seems everyone I talk to has their own favorite, often a relic of childhood trips to the local shop. LaSpada's was always coming up in conversations about the best Italian hoagie, so I stopped by to check it out.

Although there are multiple locations of LaSpada's (including in Florida?), the Parkside store I visited is the longest-running one around. The store is small, and nothing fancy, just the way a sandwich shop should be.

I went with an Italian. This store does not have as extensive a menu, as some of the others do, and that's fine with me.

The Italian came with peppered ham, hot coppa, salami and provolone. The DelCo original meat-cheese-veggie-ham format was followed (still have no idea where that came from), and doused with oil and vinegar. The bread was mighty tasty, as was the sandwich.

I am still undecided on their traditional "top ham" wrapping. It does help hold everything in (like a meat wrapper should), but it also makes all of your bites extra hammy. Some days, I love it, some days I hate it. Best part is, however, you can simply remove it if/when you want.

This is definitely a solid sandwich. Next time I am going for the cheesesteak, because when I was leaving I saw one come hot off the grill, and it was a finely chopped thing of beauty. I almost went back and ordered one of those as well, but I am trying not to go all Paula Dean, at least before summer. That being said, I am always open to endorsement opportunities.

Mike and Emma's

601 MacDade Blvd
Folsom, PA 19033
(610) 461-9194

Mike and Emma's is a Delaware County Institution. Whenever I ask people where to get a hoagie or cheesesteak down there, Mike and Emma's is at the top of the list. I had to see for myself what all of the fuss was about.

When you walk in, it's pretty apparent that they have not updated the interior for a number of decades. That is always a good sign.

For about two minutes I stood looking at the menu until an adorable little Italian woman, who at first was terrifying and then incredibly nice, came out to take my order.

While I pined for her deli slicer, she began to assemble my special.

One thing I have never seen done before is that she takes slices of tomato, and cuts them into chunks as she assembles the sandwich. Talk about making it with love.

They use delicious bread (I am unsure of the origin, as I was not willing to push my luck/the language barrier in finding out), crusty outside and perfectly soft in the middle. They use a combo of salami, prosciutto, coppa and ham with prov. I got mine with the works, including sweets and hots. In typical Del Co fashion, it's assembled veggies on the bottom, meat and cheese on top.

Mike and Emma's is the type of shop I love to eat at – small, family owned, and they take pride in their work. They use great ingredients, and put a whole lot of love into their sandwiches. I will definitely return for a run at the famous cheesesteaks, and will perhaps have to pick up a bonus hoagie for later.