East Coast meets West Coast in new meat lover’s paradise
Surf Dog is gone, but fear not meat lovers—as of two months ago, Munch has taken its place. The new joint on Pacific Avenue specializes in Philly cheesesteaks, burgers and hot dogs. And while they do the basics, they also have insanely gluttonous versions of their entrees. This is high-quality fast food, with a lot of character. We spoke with General Manager Mike Underwood, who was behind the concept and the menu.
What’s your approach to the Philly cheesesteak?
MIKE UNDERWOOD: In Philly, the two main cheeses are provolone and cheese whiz. We do our original Philly with the provolone. On the West Coast, people tend to view the provolone as a more natural product. We have cheese whiz available. People can request it. My main thing is I wanted to make it as authentic as possible.
What about your special Munch Cheesesteak sandwich?
It’s more of a West Coast type of style. We have a special guacamole that has this very special seasoning you won’t find anywhere else. We add some green peppers, onions, two types of cheeses—mozzarella and white American—and then we put mushrooms on it that have been marinated in butter, garlic, oregano, and they’re spooned on top, and just a little touch of marinara sauce. It’s just the biggest meatiest, pizza type of flavor. There’s just something really magical about the way everything melts.
You deep-fry Twinkies, too?
Oh yeah! Oh man! I tell you, people are so addicted to them. What you do is take the Twinkies and dip them in this really good waffle batter. It’s got lots of vanilla in it. You deep fry it real quick, just enough to crisp it up and get it warm on the inside and creamy. You dust it with powdered sugar and just a little drizzle of chocolate sauce. Then it just melts in your mouth. We sell them, I think, a dollar cheaper than on the Boardwalk.
719 Pacific Avenue, 316-5234. PHOTO: Mike Underwood reveals the secret of deep-fried Twinkies and Philly cheesesteaks. CHIP SCHEUER
