Meatballs, Cheesesteaks, & Food Critics | Cosmo Salerno: Ep.005

Food Fight

Welcome to Ep.005 of the Food Fight Podcast in the Loop Internet studio hosted by Brian DiMattia! Cosmo Salerno, the mastermind behind Cosmo’s Cheesesteaks, joins me today for a flavor-packed episode into the heart of our local food scene and the personal journeys that shape a restaurateur’s life. We start by slicing into Cosmo’s own story — the unforeseen challenges that nearly toppled his business and his unwavering enthusiasm for the perfect meatball, a dish curiously absent from his menu. We also discuss the world of online food criticism, where the spicy opinions of armchair critics mix with the sweet success of a well-favored dish. Cosmo and I swap war stories of menu innovation, the allure of Cheese Whiz, and our path from taking every comment to heart, to serving up humor with a side of satire in response to less-than-stellar reviews — a reminder of the resilience it takes to thrive in the food business.

Thank you to our Show Sponsors:

Dino’s Pizza & Restaurant: Taste the Tradition at Dino’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant! https://dinospizzaandrestaurant.com/

Visit Luzerne County: Join the Pizza Trail! Eat pizza. Earn points. Turn those points into prizes! Sign up for FREE at https://www.visitluzernecounty.com/

Genoa Wholesale Foods: Servicing the Pizza & Restaurant Industry Since 1947! https://www.genoafoods.com/

T-Shirts in 24: Create your own custom apparel online at https://tshirtsin24.com/

Sweat Tent Portable Sauna: Get $100 OFF with code OTS at: https://www.sweattent.com/discount/OTS

Friends of the Show:

Tom Munley Law, Brute’s Barbershop, & Brasi’s Pizza