Jim Pappas, the most prolific cheesesteak taste-tester in Philadelphia, has visited over 1,000 cheesesteak shops throughout the region, writes Ali Mohsen for Billy Penn at WHYY.

In 2018, Pappas began his self-assigned mission to try 1,000 cheesesteaks across the region. He received media coverage for his various milestones, including his final conquest in 2022. But once that ended, he was unsure on how to proceed.

He had previously planned collaborations to capitalize on his moment of fame, but these soon fizzled out. He went on to find new spots to try out, but sadly his heart no longer seemed to be in it anymore.

“I was wondering if it was all a waste of time,” he said. “And thinking of all the mistakes I made.”

But after a period of self-reflection, he has now returned to the cheesesteak scene reenergized and refocused.

He has been working on a clothing line since late last year and has already started preparing a new podcast, Cheesesteak Stories, which he plans to launch on May 16, exactly six years since the start of his quest.

And as far as his cheesesteak tasting is concerned, he is just a few shy of No. 1150.

Read more about Jim Pappas and his cheesesteak adventures in Billy Penn at WHYY.

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