The Philadelphia Story

‘You've got all the arrogance of your class, haven't you?’

It’s Philadelphia in the 40’s and socialite Tracy Lord (played by Katherine Hepburn)  is getting ready for her second marriage to self made George Kittridge. There’s buzz all over the house getting ready for their wedding, but not as much buzz as is all over the tabloids. However Tracy is a very private person that doesn’t like the media in her business so of course no one from the press is allowed to cover the wedding.

……..

Meanwhile C.K. Dexter Haven, (played by Cary Grant) a descendent of one of Philadelphia’s oldest families, former employee of Spy Magazine, drunk, and also Ms Tracy Lord’s first husband devises a plan to allow the magazine to cover the ‘Wedding of the Year.’ He enables writer Mike Connor (James Stewart) and Liz Imbrie into the Lord’s mansion by posing as very good friends of Tracy’s absent brother. Now he’s not doing this to get back at his ex. Sure they married quickly and had an equally passionate divorce as they did marriage. But, Dexter is bargaining with Spy’s editor in chief not to publish a very unflattering story about Tracy’s father Seth, who is believed to be having an affair in New York with a dancer. Even Tracy herself believes this story.

Tracy, smart and hard headed, figures out who they are but reluctantly allows them to stay (they don’t know she knows they’re reporters). With them in the house Tracy gets to know Mike much more through his writing, feels sympathetic towards Liz, and continues to fight with Dexter. Hilarity ensues, multiple love triangles form, and Ms. Tracy discovers who she really is. I can’t get into anymore of the story line without giving away what happens so you’ll just have to watch.

 'I'm going crazy. I'm standing here solidly on my own two hands and going crazy.'-Tracy Lord

This is one of my absolute favorite films! Every time I watch it I still laugh, swoon, and get excited about how things are all going to work out in the end. All of the characters are likeable, the story lines are entertaining, and the dialogue fantastic! All of which make this such a fun film to watch! Creating this menu was a lot of fun and I even got some help from a couple of my friends that are from Philadelphia. I wanted to create a menu that showcased the city. Though we’re dealing with rich families this meal is not at all stuck up. First up for the appetizer, a Philly staple: Soft Pretzels. Next, Philadelphia Cheese steaks of course. One of my friends said every time she goes back home for a visit she get’s a Philly on a Kaiser Bun. “It’s gotta be a Kaiser and cheese  whiz.“ I went to my friend Timothy about how the most authentic way to prepare a ‘proper cheese steak’ and his tips were great considering I’ve never even been to Philadelphia before. Tim’s great advice was ‘Ok, I do em on the cheap, so they aren’t as good, but nothing can touch a real Philly, so why bother? Find a good sub roll, grill up some steak-ums, and melt cheez whiz. I slather the cheese on the bun and load it up with meat ( I don’t do onions, but you can. Peppers too.) It’s not pretty or elegant-but it’s not suppose to be, it’s a goddamn cheese steak!’ This advice was better than anything I could have researched on the internet. But my favorite thing he said was ‘Just do me favor: if you make it fancy and use a croissant or nice cheese or something, don’t call it a Philly. Call it a Cheese Steak.’

Well Tim, and all Philly fans I decided to stick to the original in this case and keep that Cheese Steak as authentic as possible. I wanted to create a sandwich that Mike Connor would love.

For dessert we have cool Lemon Ice. This tangy treat is very popular in Philadelphia and is perfect to enjoy while taking an ‘innocent swim in the pool’ or on a yacht with your love.

And finally we’ll wash it all down with a Millionaire Cocktail, a strong drink that I think C.K. Dexter Haven would appreciate. I even prepared it with egg whites to stay true to the way classic cocktails were made. I hope you enjoy these recipes with this wonderful film, whether you choose to see it again or discover it for the first time!

'The prettiest sight in this fine pretty world is the privileged class enjoying its privileges.'-Mike Connor

Soft Pretzels:
1 Packet Dry Yeast
4 ½ Cups All Purpose Flour
1 ½ Cups Warm Water
1 Tablespoon Sugar
2 Teaspoons Kosher Salt
4 Tablespoons unsalted Butter, Melted

10 Cups Water
2/3 Cup Baking Soda

1 Egg Yolk & 1 Tablespoon water for Egg Wash

Combine water, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl, then sprinkle the yeast on top. Let sit until mixture gets foamy about 5-8 minutes. Add the flour and butter and with the dough hook mix on low speed for 30 seconds or until ingredients are combined. Turn to medium speed and allow dough to mix for 5-6 minutes until dough pulls away from the bowl. Place dough in a separate oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Put bowl on top of stove while oven is preheating as a warm spot to help the dough proof nicely. Dough needs to sit and double in size, this will take about an hour.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees and place parchment paper on a cookie sheet and brush with oil.  Combine water and baking soda in a pot and bring to a roiling boil. Remove dough from bowl and place in a slightly oiled surface. Divide into 8 equal parts. Roll each piece into a 22 inch rope. Hold it up in a ‘U’ shape and cross each end over each other and press into the bottom of the ‘U’ to make the pretzel shape. Place each pretzel on cookie sheet. Two at a time drop each pretzel into the boiling water for 30 seconds. Remove from water using a flat spatula. Place puffed pretzels back on the cookie sheet and brush with egg wash and sprinkle coarse salt. Bake 12-14 minutes. Serve with spicy mustard and enjoy!

           
                  

'I thought all writers drank to excess and beat their wives. You know one time I secretly wanted to be a writer.'-C.K. Dexter Haven' 

‘Philadelphia Story’ Cheese Steak:
1 Container Cheese Whiz
4 Hoagie Style Sub Rolls or Kaiser Rolls
1 Green Pepper, Sliced
1 Sweet Yellow Onion, Sliced
2 Cloves of Garlic, Chopped
1 ½ Pounds Tenderloin Steak (Any beef of your choice.)

Place steak in freezer for about 20 minutes to make it easier to slice. Slice as thin as possible and season with salt and pepper. Preheat skillet with some Olive Oil and sauté garlic with peppers and onions until translucent. Set aside. Preheat skillet again and cook steak until well done. Heat cheese whiz jar in microwave for 30 seconds at a time until warm and easy to spread. Plop some cheese on bottom bun, layer meat, then pepper and onion mixture and top with more cheese whiz. Place on top bun and dig in!

'You have everything it takes to make a lovely woman except the one essential: an understanding heart. And without that you might just as well be made of bronze.'-Seth Lord

 Lemon Ice:
3 Cups Water
1 Cup Sugar
1 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice
1 Tablespoon Grated Lemon Zest

Mix water and sugar in saucepan and bring to a boil, stir occasionally until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and zest. Pour into a 13x9 baking dish and freeze for one hour. Take a fork and stir ice. Do this every hour for about 4 hours. Scoop into serving dish and pucker up!

Millionaire:
2 oz. Whiskey
½ oz Grand Marnier
1 Dash Grenadine
½ Egg White

Mix ingredients in shaker with crushed ice and shake it up! Serve in martini glass and sip.

 'A magnificence that comes out of your eyes, in your voice, in the way you stand there, in the way you walk. You're lit from within, Tracy. You've got fires banked down in you, hearth-fires and holocausts.'- Mike Connor

'I don't seem to you made of bronze?'-Tracy Lord

The Philadelphia Story: Starring Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Ruth Hussey, and John Howard. Directed by: George Cukor. Released 1940 MGM. Oscar wins for Jimmy Stewart as Best Actor and Donald Ogden for Best Screenplay. Nominated for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, & Best Picture.