*This article includes mentions of merchants or brands who are partners of DoorDash, and DoorDash may receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase from these merchants or brands.
Welcome to The Save, where we ask interesting people what they order when they’re in a pinch.
Although chef Mike Solomonov’s job entails a lot of travel (particularly to Brooklyn to check in on his restaurants, Laser Wolf and K’Far), his home base is Philadelphia. When he’s not eating a cheesesteak, the restaurateur and co-founder of restaurant group CookNSolo Restaurants can usually be found at home, cooking dinner for his family. Here, he shares his go-to ingredients for whipping up quick meals as well as his favorite destinations for all things food in Philly.
What do you order when…
…you’re craving pizza?
For a long time, Philly was not known for having good pizza, but now, it’s exceptional. At Alexs Pizzeria I get the pepperoni, but they do cheese and then they drizzle sauce on it. It’s a very good American pizza, and really good for takeout because the crust is super hearty. Pitruco has excellent pizza, too. I love the Margherita there.
…you want a cheesesteak?
Pat’s is awesome and the owner Frank Olivieri is a very dear friend. That is a perfect classic steak. Something a bit more new-school is the Angelo's cheesesteak — that might be the best cheesesteak ever in America. There’s also Del Rossi's Cheesesteak & Pizza Co in Northern Liberties, which has the best of both worlds: amazing cheesecakes and amazing pizza.
…you’re in the mood for a hoagie?
I know this is crazy, but I love hoagies from Wawa. They're really good. It’s sort of like my dirty little secret. High Street Hoagies, too. I don’t have a favorite because they’re all excellent. I mean, that bread is just ridiculous. Homeroom, a coffee shop in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, where I live, makes amazing breakfast sandwiches, too.
What’s your go-to…
…salty snack?
I love the French fries at Laser Wolf, with the tehina ketchup. The chicken wings at Cafe Soho in Elkins Park are the best chicken wings ever, like ever ever.
…bakery item?
At Isgro Pastries, you can get a personalized birthday cake delivered on the fly. It's just unbelievable. This place is super classic, so get a birthday cake and also some cannolis.
…barbecue order?
Brisket. Texas barbecue is my favorite. Sweet Lucy’s Smokehouse is old school and awesome. And then Fette Sau is really good.
…marinade for cooking barbecue at home?
Brown sugar, fish sauce, lime, and Heinz Chili sauce. My mom used to make brisket with it all the time. That's what I would use to marinate anything I was going to barbecue, including poultry and fish.
…grocery list for a quick and easy dinner?
I always like starting with a head of cabbage, cauliflower, or broccoli. Then I cut it into either chunks or florets, top it with a ton of olive oil and broil. Then I just douse it with Parmesan cheese and black pepper. That’s the go-to, because you can do that from start to finish in 35 minutes. It’s got cacio e pepe vibes. Everybody loves it. I also make rice pilaf with carrot juice very often, and that’s simple because it's jasmine rice, carrot juice, and tomato paste. You can get a can of beans like black-eyed peas and fold them in at the end. That's a complete meal, and everybody likes a big pot of rice.
…cleaning tool after cooking a big meal?
Scrub Daddy is number one. I swear by them.
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of MIke Solomonov
