Cheesesteak Vendor Tony Luke Is Expanding His Business Into The Middle East

Tony Luke Takes Cheesesteaks To The Middle East

March 1, 2011 7:38 AM

Reporting Michelle Durham

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Cheesesteak, Gulf Food Show, Tony Lukes

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Citizens of the Middle East have the opportunity to take a big old bite of classic South Philly cuisine: the cheesesteak. Tony Luke has opened a store in Bahrain, will be opening one in Afghanistan and has his eye on several other countries in that region as well.

The Gulf Food Show is the world’s biggest annual food and hospitality event and the Tony Luke’s booth is one busy place.

“There are 50 people in line — 100 people in line. So many people that they blocked the walkway,” Luke said.

Luke says the political situation in that region is not affecting business at all. In fact, he finds food to be the great equalizer.

He said he attended a gathering in Bahrain, where everyone brought food from their culture, “And all of a sudden there was no more American Middle East. There was no more Christian or Muslim. It was a bunch of people sitting down talking and enjoying food and I thought, ‘what a way to get people to understand each other,’ because food brings the walls down. We let our guard down.”

Luke said he has a much different perspective of the region than when he arrived.

Reported by Michelle Durham, KYW Newsradio 1060

Tony Luke Takes Cheesesteaks To The Middle East

CobbsCreekShaman

Vets: Don’t act like your surprised! You know damn well the undelined agenda in this war besides “Getting Bin Laden” was to set up enterprise over there. Like the song says, Tony Luke’s getting that Arab Money. It’s not just about radicals & oil my friends. Enterprise and American influence. Which is one of the reasons why we are disliked/loved in the Middle East. For 1492 to 2012. The expansion continues. I wonder if they will have a Halal meat option for Islamic folk?
Sarge

VETERANS, Please take note of this article………….
Sarge

AFGHANISTAN??? You HAVE to be kidding me!! I will never buy ANYTHING from this Clown again!!

VERY, VERY disrespectful to anyone even remotely associated with the Military……..OMG! If that’s your mission in life, at least be smart enough not to brag about it to TRUE American people……what a slap in the stones!
EX CUSTOMER

Hey Tony, how about investing in the “Good Ol USA”? You have just lost a VERY GOOD customer, as well as MANY of my peers. Wake up Tony!……what can you POSSIBLY be thinking……….

To all military or ex-military people……STOP going to Tonys. Remarkable, at the VERY least!!
Deacon Yermouth

I hope he brought toilet paper for them as well.
Mrs. Clifton Phifer

No way you can get good broccoli rabe in Bahrain. Tony must have taken the Italian Specials off the menu.
Anne Frankenstein

I would like an order of your Chicken Gaza Strips and hold the struggle on that, mmm thanks!
Marc

Eat! Enjoy!