Having grown up in the suburbs south of Philadelphia, I've truly enjoyed the ongoing dialogue in Food about "hoagies" (no self- respecting person from Philly would ever use the word "sub" or "hero") ["Sub Conscious," Foraging, June 6]. Needless to say, just thinking about a Philly hoagie got my taste buds all worked up.

No disrespect intended, but Philip Lanks's recipe (from central Pennsylvania) just doesn't cut it (salt??!!). When I went up to visit my parents on a recent weekend, I brought back hoagies (packed to travel) for myself and three of my colleagues at work. What a treat. But tasting is believing. If you want the real thing, try the Little Hut Sandwich Shop in Ridley Park, Pa. (call 610-532- 9679). It will pack and ship hoagies to anywhere in the United States. Now true hoagie lovers don't have to settle for all the lousy imitations.

Nancy J. Kiefer

Falls Church

I've been enjoying the responses to the Foraging column, with most readers bemoaning the scarcity of high-quality local subs. For several years in the early '70s I had the good fortune to live on Capitol Hill and enjoyed many a Saturday lunch sandwich from Mangialardo & Sons, a small Italian grocery and deli at 1317 Pennsylvania Ave. SE. I now create excuses to be in the neighborhood at lunchtime whenever I can.

I would recommend that any regional, self-proclaimed sub aficionados make a visit for a "G-Man," reputedly named after the law enforcement personnel of various agencies with whom you will be sharing the small storefront while you await your sandwich.

The sandwich is a perfect mix of high-quality Italian meats, cheese and vegetables. I typically go for a hard sub roll (soft are also available), "canoed" (some of the softer bread from the middle of the roll is removed), with lettuce, tomato, onion, hot peppers, oil and vinegar, and seasoning.

Your first will not be your last!

Derek Walker

Alexandria

The best place for a hoagie (I'm from Philadelphia, so it's a hoagie, not a sub) or cheese steak is the Philadelphia Tavern [at 9413 Main St.] in Old Town Manassas. It's pretty darned authentic since the owners are from Philadelphia. The food is terrific, the staff is efficient and friendly, and it's a comfortable place for everyone in the family to kick back and relax and enjoy good food.

Kathy Joseph

Washington