I can see the finish line ahead of me.
Itโs fourth down and inches, and Iโm on the 6-yard line; I just need to call a tush push to get me to the end.
When it comes to tush pushes, thereโs only one place to look to: Philadelphia. Which is exactly why Iโm ending my exciting journey with a classic cheesesteak.
I need one more local spot to chow down at to complete my Marana Dine and Discover Challenge and win my Vince Lombardi trophy, aka a super cute Marana-themed T-shirt.
For my fourth and final stop, I wanted to go somewhere that was out of the box for me, especially since this challenge is all about going out and trying something new.
My dad had been telling me about how he wanted to try Frankieโs Cheesesteaksย at 3780 W. Ina Road, so I figured that would be the perfect spot for me to get my grand finale meal.
Now, a little embarrassing fact about me: Iโm pretty picky when it comes to sandwiches, and for some reason, dishes like cheesesteaks or French Dips have never appealed to me.
That was until I tried Frankieโs Cheesesteaks.
I headed over to the Philadelphia deli on Wednesday for lunch, ready to be converted into a cheesesteak fanatic. Their menu had so many options: South Philly cheesesteaks, pizza cheesesteaks, chicken cheesesteaks and cheese fries.
Iโd suggest going there with a plan; otherwise, you may be left staring at the menu for hours trying to decide what to get and whether or not you want peppers added to your sandwich.
I know cheesesteaks are sacred to people and there are huge debates on what ingredients belong and donโt belong on this classic Philly dish, but I decided to go with what my heart was telling me, so this is my formal apology if my cheesesteak offends you.
A cheesesteak with a side of fries from Frankie's Cheesesteaks.ย
I ordered a classic cheesesteak with provolone cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms and hot peppers. I was a little nervous the peppers were going to be too spicy, but I was feeling crazy, so I decided to take the risk.
Soon, my cheesesteak and a side of crispy, golden fries were placed in front of me. Staring at me was a soft, chewy roll filled with thin slices of beef covered in gooey provolone cheese and peppers. It was truly a beautiful sight, and I suddenly couldnโt remember why I didnโt like cheesesteaks in the first place.
I took a big bite and was in heaven. The beef was savory and had a great flavor to it. The cheese was perfectly melted, ensuring you got a taste of creamy, velvety cheese with every bite. The grilled onions brought a subtle sweetness to the meal that added an extra umph to the sandwich.
My favorite part had to be the hot peppers. They added a spicy kick to the cheesesteak that really brought everything together. I couldnโt tell you how happy I was that I decided to go with hot peppers instead of sweet ones.
Even though I was full, I couldnโt help but keep eating until it was fully gone. I left Frankieโs feeling like a new person, excited that I finally saw the hype around a good cheesesteak.
After Frankieโs, I headed straight to the Marana Visitor Center to pick up my prize. I showed my Dine and Discover digital card to the kind lady at the front desk and was shown to the merch area. There were so many cute shirt and hat options to choose from.
(Fun fact: the Marana Visitor Center has a saddle on display that Linda McCartney used. I was definitely fangirling a bit when I saw it.)
One of the merch options you can win after completing the Marana Dine and Discover Challenge.ย
I decided to go with a vibrant pink cropped t-shirt with the quail design. Of course, I had to send a picture of it into my family group chat to make everyone jealous.
Though I love the shirt, the real prize is that I found four new places that I can add to my rotation. From the silky iced lattes at Al Gusto to the life-changing cheesesteaks at Frankieโs, Marana has much to offer the foodie scene and deserves all the love downtown Tucson gets.
So jump in your car and take the quick journey up to Marana and try something new; who knows, you may find the meal youโve been missing your whole life.
