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.

Apparently eating 40 cheesesteaks, and 60 Italian hoagies wasn’t enough for 610 WIP’s Glen Macnow. This morning “The Professor” announced his Hot Specialty Sandwich Safari, an adventure to take down as many sandwiches as possible by June.

So what constitutes a “hot specialty sandwich”? In Glen’s eyes it’s anything besides cheesesteaks, grinders, burgers and hot dogs – roast beef, roast pork, meatball or chicken cutlet and others are all game. Macnow has already kicked it off with eight sandwiches; including some of our favorites like Paesano’s Arista, Bubby’s Brisket at Honey’s Sit N’ Eat, and the Chicken Cutlet from Tony Luke’s.

Macnow is taking user submissions, so head over to the official Sandwich Safari page and lend him your sandwich expertise. We’d love to know in the comments here what sandwich you submitted!

Sports talk radio in Philadelphia is usually fixated on the Eagles, Phillies, Sixers or Flyers latest news, but if you tune in to Glen Macnow’s show, you might just find the conversation has turned to sandwiches.  That is because Mr. Macnow spent the past two months sampling over 50 Italian hoagies from around the region.  His exhaustive search spanned from South Jersey to the Main Line to the Far Northeast, with more than a few stops in South Philly along the way.  But Macnow’s winner is Paesano’s in Fishtown, the new gourmet sandwich shop that has emerged as a true contender for the city’s absolute best.

Mr. Macnow has previously blanketed the region searching for the ultimate Philly cheesesteak.  So what’s next?  Roast pork?  Chicken cutlets?  Hot dogs?  Yes, please.

A big Unbreaded tip of the cap to Glen Macnow.  You are an inspiration to our entire organization.

See Glen Macnow’s rundown of Philadelphia’s best Italian hoagies and cheesesteaks over at 610 WIP.