Eating Well in Philadelphia

There is no excuse for going hungry in Philadelphia – it is a town with a reputation for excess in the eating department. What other town could come up with a signature dish as the Philly Cheesesteak – a delicious yet fattening combination of fried beef smothered in melted cheese shoved together in a 12 inch bun?

Not that the Philly Cheesesteak is by any means an expensive dish – it is available in various outlets for a relative pittance, but it occurred to the Gnome there is an even easier and cheaper way of eating well in the city of Brotherly Love.

Venison was a dish prized by the populace in the Middle Ages. Indeed, the poaching of deer in England was considered such a personal affront to the King it was punishable by a goodly period in the stocks, allowing the locals to participate in one of the first recorded government policies on the environment – namely the recycling of old fruit.

If you know where to look though, venison can be found for free in Philly. Admittedly it is in what can only be called an ‘organic’ state, as it is scattered along the train track from the airport to the city centre. The Gnome saw four deer carcasses, perfectly preserved in the cold winter weather, all of whom had suffered an ill-fated encounter with an oncoming train.

A gentle stroll along the tracks each morning would provide enough venison to feed a family every night, and what is more the walk would help burn off the Cheesesteak you had for breakfast…