WIP sandwich quest has a new No. 1

Unlike some other WIP gabbers, when Glen Macnow uses words like hot, juicy and drool, he's usually talking about food.

For the sixth straight year, the midday cohost is hunting for the area's tastiest example of a type of saucy, greasy, gut-gorging grub.

In previous showdowns, he's chowed down on ribs, burgers, pizza, cheesesteaks and Italian hoagies.

Yesterday, Old Original Nick's Roast Beef of South Philadelphia moved into the top spot in this year's "Hot Specialty Sandwich Safari."

"Heaven on a bun," Macnow dubbed it, slathering it with 97 points of a possible 100 - one of his highest scores ever.

Last year's winner, Paesano's Italian hoagie, wowed its way to a 99, Macnow said.

The new category's a grabbag - the likes of roast pork, chicken cutlet and meatballs, but no burgers, grinders, cheesesteaks or hoagies.

Just look at the next few high scores so far:

92 - Chicken Italiano, Shank's Pier 40, South Philadelphia.

90 - Hot pastrami on Rye, Hershel's East Side Deli, Reading Terminal Market, Center City.

88 - Hot roast pork, Carlino's Specialty Foods, Ardmore.

86 - Adirondack Sandwich (sliced filet mignon with provolone), Ugly Moose, Manayunk.

Veal scallopini, eggplant parmesan, veal parmesan, a crabcake slider, a fried shrimp po boy and even a Portabello Maximus are on the list of about two dozen fist feasts rated so far.

Each gets a long paragraph review at www.610wip.com.

"I still need to try a good 15 to 20 more," Macnow said.

One heavy contender - literally and figuratively - still to be judged is the Schmitter, an assemblage of steak, grilled salami, cheese, fried onions, tomatoes and "special sauce" on a kaiser roll. It's served at McNally's Tavern's on Germantown Avenue, and at Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field.

After the last sandwich has been savored, Macnow will update his reviews and declare his winner.

That verdict, though, will get some second-guessing at noon on Thursday, July 22, as celebrity judges at the Fieldhouse sample the top half-dozen and vote for their own best "hot specialty sandwich." The public can watch and try free samples at the sports bar, 1150 Filbert St. in Philadelphia. The show will be also be broadcast on WIP (610 AM).

The panels are always opinionated, but somehow, every year, they've upheld Macnow's champs: the burgers at Rossi's Bar & Grill in Trenton, the ribs at Fat Jack's in Clementon, the pizza at Tacconelli's in Port Richmond, the cheesesteak at John's Roast Pork in South Philadelphia, and the Italian hoagie at Paesano's in Northern Liberties.