Philly This!

A philly sandwich worth many cheers

By Steph DeRosa on October 8, 2014

Jennifer Johnson is a good friend of mine, dare I say one of my besties. When I asked her for a tip on a good mobile food vendor in Tacoma, without any hesitation, she declared, "Philly This!

Now, seeing as how she has been a food columnist off-and-on for 73 years, and that she currently owns the hottest healthy food shack in downtown T-town, Happy Belly, I had no hesitation about listening to her opinion about food vendors. I needed one for a super fun community event a few of us are putting together called the Fall Market.

I instantly Googled "Philly This!" and saw nothing but Philly drool escaping from the edges of my monitor.  Everyone loves these damn sandwiches.  Not the kind of "love" the five of you reading this column have for sarcastic, meaningless dribble between the pages of a conservative military press, but more the kind of love an AARP member has for his or her heirloom rosebushes. It's a passionate and possessive kind of love. (Get off my yard!)

My first thoughts were, "There's no way in hell Philly This! is going to be available to show up at the Fall Market. It's way too popular."  But of course, being one that loves to chase food, I took a leap of faith and gave Jordan MacDonald, founder of Philly This!, a call.

Yes. He said YES! Philly This! will be at Fall Market.

MacDonald was laid off a few years back, and he was enjoying his time as a stay-at-home-dad  that is, until his child became more independent. MacDonald was bored, so following his family tradition of cooking, he began messing around with Philly sandwiches. Friends and family were in love (remember: rosebush love) and he started hosting a Philly night once a month.  Friends and family would split the cost, and MacDonald would go to town on a Philly throw-down. 

When guest numbers reached more than 100, his wife knew it was time for him to share his Philly greatness with our T-town community. Currently in its fourth year, Philly This! likes to keep things low-key by making sandwiches under a tent at farmers markets twice a week and at about a dozen festivals during the summer months.

So get this: Philly This! is the best damn Philly sandwich you will ever have, and you can indulge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at Natural Venom All Star Cheer's Fall Market.

Just in case an amazing sandwich isn't enough, here are other incentives to attend Fall Market:

I will be there: This is your chance to punch me in the face for all the times I've made fun of vegan hippies, passive-aggressive Washingtonians and anyone who doesn't like beer.

Free entry: (Although punching me in the face may cost you.) 

Local vendors: Come buy something for once. I already gave you the free entry; don't be a cheap ass.

Indoors: I know how you Washingtonian hippies hate to get wet.

Happy Belly will be there: I know how you Washingtonian hippies love your juices.

Rummage sale: Tons of household goods, second-hand clothes and other various items.

Kid's Activities!: Face painting, a trampoline, and fun, festival-style games with prizes and candy! 

FALL MARKET, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 11, Natural Venom All Star Cheer, 3610 S. Pine St., Tacoma, free admission, 253.267.5252

PHILLY THIS!, 253.985.1203

HAPPY BELLY, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 1122 Market St., Tacoma, 253.365.6706