Vegan Cheesesteak Contest judges announced

WITH 25 NOMINEES and counting, the 2015 Best Vegan Cheesesteak in Philadelphia contest is in full swing, and the competition is already getting fierce. If your favorite is among the existing nominees, you can vote for it once per calendar day here: philly.com/vegancheesesteak.

And if it's not, write it in!

The top 10 vote-getters will be listed in the Daily News on March 19. The top three qualifying finalists will submit sandwiches for final judging at a gala event at Weavers Way Chestnut Hill on March 20 at 4 p.m.

Our judges will be:

* Frank Olivieri Jr., proprietor of Pat's King of Steaks and grandson of cheesesteak co-originator Harry Olivieri.

* Cindy Bass, City Councilwoman for Mount Airy and Chestnut Hill, who strives to live vegan and is eating totally plant-based for Lent.

* Ana M. Negron, M.D., member of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and author of the upcoming Nourishing the Body and Recovering Health.

* Ed Coffin, registered dietician and owner of Natural & Organic Marketing.

For their participation, judges will receive animal-friendly gifts, including samples from a great new line of cookies by Philly vegan maven Christina Pirello. The final winner will be announced in the Daily News on March 23.

- Vance Lehmkuhl