You Ask We Answer

Culinary Mysteries Solved

	print	email	reply	rss feed

Published: Mar 28, 2007

Q: I'm lactose-intolerant — even a small amount of dairy puts a rumble in my Bronx. That said, I'm not vegetarian and I like eating out. Where can I get, say, a cheesesteak where the steak is real and the cheese is fake?

A: Savvy vegans know Gianna's Grille (507 S. Sixth St.; 215-829-GG4U) makes a mean cheesesteak, and it's your call which parts are soy: real meat and vegan cheese? No problem. Real cheese and vegan meat? Done. Another delish offering is the Von Shady pizza, made with bacon sausage, ground beef, pepperoni and faux cheese. Although Cuba Libre (10 S. Second St., 215-627-0666) uses coconut milk as a sub for various dishes, the chef is happy to reimagine some of the menu's cheesier staples. The plato Miramar (smoked tuna and duck breast, mojito-cured salmon and Serrano ham smothered with farmers cheese), for example, can be warped into a spicy salad with beans subbed for dairy. The sweets at Ziza Alimpijevich's Bestcake Bakery (7954 Haverford Ave., 215-878-1127) are all pareve — meaning they're prepared without milk according to Jewish dietary law. Her cheesecakes are made with Tofutti cream cheese, and topped with everything from chocolate to coconut. Other D-free treats include cookies, babkas and biscotti.

 

All reader comments are subject to our Terms of Use. By clicking Post Comment, you acknowledge that you have reviewed and agree to these Terms.

Name	please enter your name
Email (will not be published)	please enter a valid email
Comment	please enter a comment
Enter the security code on the right in the textbox below.
Security Code	please enter the code
	Join the City Paper Mailing List

Small Bites
The Week In Eats
Chain Gang
ChriSteven's
Yours Truli
Feeding Frenzy
Local Foodie Jobs
1601