Last night, Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson, front man and musical genius/drummer extraordinaire of legendary band The Roots (and now the house band for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon on NBC), rocked Philly with one of the greatest concerts we've ever seen. We re-visit his food picks so you can eat like The Mighty Afro tonight.
"I was born and raised in West Philadelphia, right around 52nd and Osage, so lots of the places I remember going to as a kid are over there," said Thompson. "And some are closed, like Pagano's on 30th and Chestnut, which was my family's Sunday night dinner spot. It was an Italian joint. I think The Chestnut Cabaret opened up over there afterwards."
Soul food was a big part of Thompson's childhood, and he really loved the now-defunct Big George's Stop and Dine, which was a frequent haunt for out-of-town celebrities. "Muhammad Ali and Bill Clinton made stops at Big George's when they were in town. It really gave your neighborhood a sense of pride, and I'll always remember that," said Thompson.
Thompson's favorite places include lots of cheesesteak and hoagie options, since they truly are the signature dishes of Philadelphia. Melino's Hoagies on 15th and Ellsworth are "orgasmic," according to Thompson, and Cosmi's Deli in South Philly has named the Chicken Cheesesteak after him because "he gets that every time he comes in here. His mother does, too," said owner Mike Seccia. If you stop in to Bottom of the Sea on 52nd and Pine Streets in deep West Philly, a picture of ?uestlove hangs in honor of frequent visits for his favorite Tilapia fish sandwich known only as "The Lap Dance."
Check out the full gallery for breakfast favorites, healthy soul food, frequent date spots, and lots of nostalgia with our high-haired hometown hero. [The Feast]
