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News & ArtsWednesday, August 19, 2009
Chow Now That's an Italian
Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Aug 19, 2009 at 1:17 PM
My favorite sandwich doesn't exist in Seattle. In Maine, where I was born and raised, every corner store sells an Italian sandwich for three dollars or less. It's never anything fancy: ham, cheese, peppers, tomatoes, black olives, onions, and pickles on a foot-long roll, cut in half and doused with olive oil, salt, and pepper. It's kind of a honky banh mi.
Well, Stranger reader Russell is my hero: He ordered a big box of Italians from Amato's in Maine and had them shipped out here overnight in a refrigerated box, and he gave one Italian to me. This is a very special Italian sandwich for me: I'm not going to be able to get back to Maine in 2009, so I was going to miss out on my favorite sandwich in the world for a full year. On the left, you'll see a full-body shot of the Italian. It's incredibly simple, like I said above, and probably made from the cheapest ingredients, but no place in Seattle is able to pull it off, and certainly not for three bucks.
I ate the sandwich in something like 2.5 seconds, but it was the happiest 2.5 seconds of my week. Thanks so much, Russell. If I ever have a bunch of Alex's Pizzas shipped in from Maine, I'll be sure to toss a pie your way.
(And for those of you philistines who don't care about Italians, news intern Alexander Brown informed me that BoingBoing linked to a gallery of sandwich sculptures that is well worth your internet browsing time.)
2
Hmph. I was in New England in June (not Maine, though). Didn't eat any Italians; was too busy stuffing my face wuth lob-stah.
3
Oh man I am so jealous! I completely understand the deal with italians. I miss them so much I try to recreate them The secret I think is that squishy bread and cheap ham. Since I can't find it around here I try to make that kind of bread and after many experiments I'm getting closer but, man, its just not the same.
I am seriously jealous.
I am seriously jealous.
5
Italians are worth the trip to Maine...I like mine veggie..actually just pickles/cheese/salt pepper and oil..yummmmmmm. From Amato's.
Me hungy
Me hungy
6
I'm leaving for Maine next week. Italians aren't my thing, but I do have a list of Maine foodstuffs that I can't wait to eat (including, but not limited to, Rte 160 Ice Cream in Kezar Falls, Federal Spice in Portland, blueberry pancakes pretty much anywhere, and, of course, lobster rolls).
This post has reminded me that I need to pack my running shoes...
This post has reminded me that I need to pack my running shoes...
7
Then there's the Hoagie, which is a variant on that. Dang, I miss those. No, Subway ain't the same thing.
8
Argh. Now I want an Italian. Preferably from George's in Biddeford.
The biggest issue I've had recreating them isn't the bread - it's the pickles. Kosher dills just won't do, you need a good sour dill, and they've been hard to come by.
The biggest issue I've had recreating them isn't the bread - it's the pickles. Kosher dills just won't do, you need a good sour dill, and they've been hard to come by.
9
I like Italians, and sandwiches, and your writing for the Stranger. But that looks like a shitty sandwich. Thanks for playing blog commenters.
10
That looks delicious, but I can't believe you just said "pie". Also unacceptable, "wheel" and "za".
12
I love me a good Italian sandwich. I think it's important that those 'from away' learn how the sandwich is pronounced: "eye-talian". Otherwise, people might not be able to be understand when they are ordering, at long last.
13
I know what you mean. I miss a good old Chicago hot dog. I don't know what they do, but those things are out of this world.
14
God, I miss those and Subways from my native Connecticut--I grew up about 5 minutes from Subway corporate HQ, and let me tell you: the things do taste different, and better, back there.
Also, our Maine lobstah prices here are obscene.
Also, our Maine lobstah prices here are obscene.
15
Also: proper Maine salt water taffy, and proper Vermont maple syrup. None of the Canadian crap, I mean the real stuff, like Maple Valley Farms. I saw a bottle the other week in Ralph's on 4th, and squeed with delight, only to see it was like $25.99 for a small bottle. That bottle back home? About $4.99ish.
16
Most welcome! Your mention of them reminded me that I've been meaning to order a cooler-full for a couple years now. Ordering an extra one seemed like a good way to say 'thanks'. :)
The squishy bread and the pickles are the key I think, everything else you can reproduce out here.
The squishy bread and the pickles are the key I think, everything else you can reproduce out here.
17
http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/cucin…
Cucina de Santis, Sodo. Get thee hence. Not 100% sure that they have the exact thing but brother it is a place where sandwiches are made in large size by Italians. I seem to recall a giant sandwich on a crusty french-bread base with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, ham, salami, and maybe beef or turkey, plus lettucey-or-maybe-green-and-red-bell-pepper crunchy veggies with an oil and vinegar dressing. Maybe some more dressing too.
Anyway, everything there is soooo good perhaps it won't matter if i have hallucinated this meal.
Cucina de Santis, Sodo. Get thee hence. Not 100% sure that they have the exact thing but brother it is a place where sandwiches are made in large size by Italians. I seem to recall a giant sandwich on a crusty french-bread base with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, ham, salami, and maybe beef or turkey, plus lettucey-or-maybe-green-and-red-bell-pepper crunchy veggies with an oil and vinegar dressing. Maybe some more dressing too.
Anyway, everything there is soooo good perhaps it won't matter if i have hallucinated this meal.
18
Amato's is catering my brother's wedding next month. It's a big selling point to make the flight!
23
That looks great.
But it makes me want a Cuban sandwich, heated and pressed, from Tampa. I ate 3 of those last month when I was back home.
But it makes me want a Cuban sandwich, heated and pressed, from Tampa. I ate 3 of those last month when I was back home.
25
Wait, 24 comments and no one has suggested that Paul simply make himself wunnadoes? Easy to do. More than $3, sure...but you will have the ingredients to make more!
26
Just got back from my 20 yr high school reunion in Gorham, ME. My first stop after checking into our B+B was the Amato's on the cornah. In 20 years, about the only thing that has changed is a new tile floor and some fresh paint on the walls, otherwise it was exactly how I remembered it. And yeah, it's the squishy bread, the outrageously over-salted pickles, the bland cheese, and some kinda crazy nostalgic alchemy that makes the whole thing perfect. Can't be recreated.
28
@26...We used to eat there every year after some marathon/road race my dad would run..YUMMY! But kinda creepy that we would eat in the graveyard next to it picnic style?
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