Unbreaded

Op-Ed: Sandwich Safari Gets Lost In The Jungle

Holly Moore has been working in and writing about the food industry long before Philadelphia’s restaurant renaissance. Holly’s work spans all forms of media – his food column in Philadelphia City Paper ran for over 14 years, he worked on the fantastic PBS documentary “Sandwiches That You Will Like,” and currently runs the website Holly Eats. You can follow him on Twitter at @HollyMoore.

The Eagles’ best quarterback over the last 50 years? I’ll consider WIP’s Glen Macnow’s take. Who builds the best sandwich – not so much. For the past three years, Glen and his band of merry eaters have saddled up and chowed down in search of Philadelphia’s greatest eating traditions. Two years ago it was John’s Roast Pork for cheesesteaks; last year, Paesanos their hoagie. Close both times, but not out of the park. Steve’s Prince of Steaks rules cheesesteaks and Sarcone’s Deli wins over Paesanos by inches.

This year Macnow strikes out on a “Sandwich Safari” and is really mucking it up. He has grouped Philadelphia pork sandwiches with basic sandwiches. Philadelphia serves more great pork sandwiches than cheesesteaks or hoagies. If ever a sandwich deserves its own annual contest.

Odder still, Macnow’s Sandwich Safari rating system. The top rating is “To die for.” Kinda metrosexual for a sports guy. You don’t hear, “ Yo, the roast pork with broccoli rabe is to die for” all that often in the line at Tony Luke’s. Sort of like a couple of regulars at Dirty Frank’s comparing Philadelphia sandwich “genres” over bottles of Rolling Rock.

The eat-off finals for the sandwich challenge is Thursday, July 22, at the Fieldhouse at 11th and Filbert. As of now, Nick’s Roast Beef at 20th and Jackson heads the list. Can’t argue with that. The Schmitter is a sound second. Then it gets murky. Along with pork sandwiches – meatball, chicken parm, even Vietnamese bahn mi. Macnow is comparing apples to oranges to ‘57 Chevies.

Sandwiches are missing from Macnow’s list. Little Pete’s spectacular Reuben – oozing more grease per bite than any other Philadelphia sandwich; Cajun Kate’s brisket po boy, maybe the best sandwich this side of Bourbon Street; even Sam’s Morning Glory Diner’s perfectly balanced BLT.

It is probably a little late to salvage the Sandwich Safari’s credibility. At least, take the pork sandwiches of the list. That should be next year’s competition. And if it was my call, I’d put one of the pros from Unbreaded.com on the judging panel.