Meet the Owner: Mel Glickstein of Mel's International

As a native of Penn Valley, I had driven past probably about a thousand times on my way to the city. I don't have a good reason for not having gone there for dinner. But I guess it's to be expected since the restaurant is so close. Truth be told, I didn't go to the Liberty Bell until my cousin visiting from Korea came to town, which was almost ten years after we first moved to the Philly area. When I sat down with Mel Glickstein, he was clad in a Phillies World Champions hat.  I knew that it would be a fun interview with a hometown guy. Read below to find out more about this local who grew up in Belmont Hills making egg on a roll with his parents.

Name: Mel Glickstein

Age: 63

Years in the Industry: 26 years as owner of Mel's. I had been in the car business prior to that. I used to live up the street from Mel's back when it was a nice neighborhood bar. I was interested in taking over the business with some of my buddies so we could turn it into sort of a "clubhouse" but my friends backed out. After a few failed attempts to take over the bar I finally succeeded. I changed it from a bar into a Thai-Italian restaurant, then into an Italian restaurant then finally into a Jimmy Milan restaurant. Jimmy Milan's was an institution in Center City, it was a great steakhouse and everyone loved the food there. When I heard it was closing, I hired the chef to come work for me. We still have items from the Milan menu including the Milan salad which is greens, shrimp, eggs, bacon and secret dressing.

Do you do any work with the community? Yes, we work with the fire department and library and help them with fundraising and donations.

Earliest Cooking Memory: Cooking with my mom and dad, eggs and peppers on an Italian roll.

First Restaurant Job: Twenty-six years ago, when I opened Mel's, I worked every single job in the restaurant.

Advice for Home Cooks: Come to Mel's.

Favorite Thing to Cook: Ping Pong Pasta, it's spaghetti with shrimp, crab and lobster in a rose sauce.

Favorite Local Restaurant: Chickie and Pete's, they have those crab fries...

Favorite Restaurant in the World: Mel's International

Guilty Pleasure (food or drink): Chocolate

Have you cooked for any celebrities? Yes, Barry Manilow, Phyllis Hyman (soul singer), Frank Salvatore (the politician) and Patti Labelle.

What are your favorite food shows? We watch a bunch of them to get some ideas and inspiration, they're all OK.

Last Meal on Earth: Breakfast, lunch and dinner...

Biggest Kitchen Disaster: Broken dishes...