You may remember the controversy stirred up this past summer by Geno's Cheesesteaks in Philadelphia, when owner Joe Vento put up a sign reading "This is America. When ordering, speak English." It's been diaried several times here on DKos, including
HERE,
HERE and
HERE.
Well, the sign is still there, along with the American flag decals, the menuboard touting "Freedom Fries" instead of French fries, and various other patriotic paraphernalia. In fact, he's added another sign saying "If you're legal--WELCOME, If you're illegal--LEAVE!" All this, remember, in a neighborhood originally a center of Italian immigrants, still home to many of their descendants, and now also home to many Southeast Asians and Mexicans.
It would be natural to assume that such a patriotic, America-first guy like Joe Vento would be serving American beef at his busy 24-hour tourist mecca takeout joint, wouldn't it?
Well, he does. Only it's South American beef.
Details on the flip...
That's right. Those cheesesteaks are made from `immigrant' beef! As I detail below, I personally think this is a GOOD thing, but maybe some of the Geno's customers who so proudly support Vento's rude signs might be taken aback.
For several years now, I've caught glimpses of the meat boxes from Argentina and Uruguay at Geno's, though they tend to be pretty quick about getting their deliveries inside and their trash locked into big stainless steel bins.
Once in a while, though, you get the chance to snap a photo. Like last night, when they left a big stack of empty boxes outside for a while.
As you can see from the close-ups, yesterday's batch came from the Frigorifico Elbio Perez Rodriguez in Uruguay.
Now don't get me wrong. I have no problem with South American beef per se. I've spent a lot of time in Argentina (mostly) and Uruguay (a little) over the years, and have a soft spot in my heart for products from the region. More importantly, beef from Uruguay and Argentina is more likely healthier and of better quality than what Geno's could buy at a similarly low price from U.S suppliers.
Here's the lowdown on Uruguayan beef, for example:
Our production system is based on native pastures and characterized by mixed grazing of cattle and sheep, in the open, all year round, without confinement and in total environmental harmony.
Each animal has an area of pastures of 15.000 sq meters.
They are fed only on vegetable proteins, without products or by products of animal origin.
The use of growth hormones is prohibited by law.
Uruguay is internationally recognized as a country free of BSE....
Uruguay's hydrographic system of clear superficial and underground water is considered one of the largest clean water supplies in the world....
Beef from Uruguay is definitely lean because animals are grass-fed. Research by the University of Georgia Showed that Uruguayan grass-fed beef has low levels of fat, and high % of "good" fats such as cholesterol reducing mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids, Omega 3 and neutral saturated fatty acids.
So it doesn't bother me that Joe Vento buys his beef from South America. Indeed, if I were a cheesesteak eater, I'd consider it a plus. No, what gives me indigestion is the hypocrisy. I don't see any signs in Geno's windows saying "We Proudly Sell Uruguayan Beef." After all, it's grass-fed, hormone-free beef--why not advertise the fact?
Maybe Joe Vento just doesn't want to have to explain why he doesn't `Buy American.' He could, if he wanted to. There are plenty of suppliers of `natural' beef right here in the United States. Problem is, it is more expensive than imported beef.
I guess when it comes to spending a few bucks on window signs and flag decals, Joe Vento loves to get in your face with his patriotic, `America First' bombast. But when it comes to something serious, like supporting U.S. cattlegrowers with his own wallet, well, looks like then you can find Joe Vento elbowing his way to the head of what, in other circumstances, he might call the Screw America line.