The Area’s Top Hoagie Makers Will Go Head-to-Head at Delicious City Philly Podcast’s “Hoagie Throwdown” Featuring Live Wrestling
Hoagie culture and professional wrestling go hand-in-hand, right? Well, in Philadelphia, they do now, as Chef Eli Kulp and the Delicious City Philly Podcast team, featuring Philly’s favorite radio producer Marisa Magnatta and food influencer Dave Wez (aka @FeedingTimeTV), are hosting the podcast’s inaugural Hoagie Throwdown on Sunday, September 7th from noon to 5 p.m. at Other Half Brewing at 1002 Canal Street in the city’s Fishtown neighborhood.
The event will bring together more than a dozen of the region’s top hoagie masters for a day packed with serious flavor, fierce competition, and Philly pride. Alongside the hoagie makers – which includes competitors such as Angelo’s Pizzeria, Farina Di Vita, Breezy’s Deli and Market, Càphê Roasters, and many more – will be high-energy live pro wrestling from Pro Wrestling Entertainment (PWE) inside a full-size wrestling ring, a lineup of entertainment and local vendors, and an iron chef-style celebrity hoagie making competition (inside the boxing ring) judged by some of Philly’s most discerning hoagie aficionados.
There will be 500 tickets available, with early-bird pricing (first 50 tickets) starting at $45. The event will be one day only, with one champion crowned, and this will become an annual event. VIP entry ($85) will begin at noon, with general admission ($55) entry beginning at 12:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here beginning on Monday, July 28th.
At the end of the event, attendees will vote on their favorite hoagie, and the maker with the most votes will be crowned Delicious City’s Hoagie Champion for 2025, taking home a custom championship belt.
General admission grants guests access to hoagie samples from all of the sandwich makers, a complimentary seasonal beer from Other Half Brewing, entry to all the live wrestling matches, one vote, wrestler signings and meet-and-greets, live DJ and entertainment, access to the vendor marketplace featuring local producers and wrestling memorabilia, and a Hoagie Throwdown lanyard and commemorative card. The VIP experience includes all GA benefits along with early access to a VIP-only lounge, food from Liberty Kitchen, a commemorative poster signed by featured wrestlers, a VIP-only meet and greet with the wrestlers, two exclusive hoagies created by top local chefs, and two votes in the People’s Choice competition.
“Philly has the best, and some might say the only real hoagie scene in the country – no question about it. From corner delis to chef driven sandwich shops, the level of creativity and craft happening on seeded and unseeded rolls here is unmatched,” said Kulp. “Hoagie Throwdown is our way of celebrating this love affair. We’re not just honoring the sandwiches themselves, but the people behind them and the culture that makes Philly so proud of its cuisine.
This isn’t just another food festival. It’s a day where hoagies meet high energy entertainment, where local legends compete for the crown, and where the community comes together to eat, cheer, and have a blast. It’s bold, it’s loud, it’s delicious, just like the city itself.
