What Are These So-Called ‘Cheese’ Fries?

PW’s Alli Katz noticed the strange culinary taste of a New York Times reporter, who is apparently mystified by these “pizza pies” as well:

Question to our Keystone State readers: What is it with this Pennsylvania fetish for bizarre world food combinations? In Johnstown, this New Yorker encountered the artery-clogging prospect of cheese-fries.

Cheese fries! I’m about the pickiest eater there is (natch) and even I don’t think cheese fries are all that strange of a food. Does the NYT’s Michael Powell know that some people eat cow tongue?

Update: Wait a sec. “And in Philadelphia, my college son Nick tells me they serve up a sandwich called the Roethlisberger, named after the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback[.]” That doesn’t make any sense. Where do they serve the Roethlisberger in Philadelphia?

NYT Reporter Mystified By Cheese Fries [Independence Brawl]

A Portion Of The Following ‘Courier-Post’ Story Presented Without Comment

“Wha–?!” he shrieks. “Where’d my sweet potato chips go?”

“Sorry,” mumbles a sheepish-looking big brother with salty fingertips. “It’s just that they’re so good.”

“What do you think you might feel if your plates were reversed?” I ask my 7-year-old.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if your plate was full and your brother’s was empty and he decided to eat off your plate because the food was so tasty and was hungry?” I continue.

“I’d feel bad. And sad,” he begins. “And mad.”

“Hey, remember the Golden Rule?” says my 4-year-old suddenly.

“Yeah,” says his brother. “Treat other people the way you want to be treated.”

Two minutes later, younger brother gobbles his buttered toast, and reaches over to older brother’s plate to help himself.

“Hey!” yells my 7-year-old, shocked that his brother would even think of such a violation.

Fry theft prompts dinner discussion [Camden Courier-Post]