Tour de Italian Deli 2.0 Nominations
Somehow it may be possible that the FLB is stacking together three quarters of tours into a three month time frame. The spring ice cream tour was in July. The summer savory tour will be in August. And if we’re lucky, the fall cider donut tour should be in September.
Egads. I guess this is what happens when we have such a long winter, and there’s a delay in the spring tour.
Oh well. We move on.
Last year, we launched the summer Tour de Italian Deli. As it turns out, the event was both so interesting and so fun, that I want to make it a regular feature. At least for a few years, until we can cover off most of the region’s excellent Italian Delis. And the best way to do that is by tackling one corner of the region at a time.
Today, I announce the date for our next outing and open up the floor to nominations. So if you have a favorite place you would like to see make the tour, this is the time to speak up.
Mark your calendars for Saturday, August 13.
This year, we’ll be heading off to Schenectady. The Electric City got the shaft when it came to the Tour de Soft Serve this year. So this seems like a great way to spread the Fussy love. And we don’t have to stick to just Schenectady proper. Any of the adjacent areas to Schenectady are fair game, like Rotterdam and Scotia. But I’d also be open to considering some of the outlying areas to the west, if there’s a place worth putting to the test.
Here are the places that make my own personal short list:
The Classics
Cappiello’s
Capri Imports Italian Deli & Catering
La Gioia Deli
The Highly Recommended
Nikki P’s Pizza Deli Bakery
And as is often the case, I’m having trouble finalizing the list. Schenectady has a couple more beloved and classic sub shops including Ken’s Subs and Brown Bag Sub Shoppe. But they aren’t exactly Italian Delis per se. I wish Garofalo’s made subs, but they don’t. Sal’s Quality Market in Rotterdam has 8” sub rolls, and that’s definitely Italian, however subs are not at the core of what they do.
These are the hard decisions to make. And I’m glad I don’t have to make them entirely on my own. Surely, there are also other places off the beaten path that I’m missing. We’ll only be able to visit five spots on August 13.
Which delis do you think deserve to be included on the tour?
FUSSYlittleBLOG 
Andy & Sons on Delaware is good. Also Pellegrino Importing Company on Rt 4. Meatball subs??? I hope I can join you on this one – should be fun!!!
Andy’s won last year’s tour. They make a serious sandwich. This year we’re sticking to Schenectady.
You may want to check out Civitello’s or for that matter More Perreca’s. Both are not traditional sub shops, but they certainly offer some tasty sandwiches.
Positano Imports on the Schenectady County border with Latham is the only one I can think of thats not on this list. I’ve always enjoyed their sandwiches when I’m over there visiting my parents.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/positano-latham
http://www.yelp.com/biz/sainatos-deli-albany
Not the best in the area but certainly and old standby using Nina’s bakery bread and very tasty homemade meatballs
I don’t know your criteria for Italian Delis, but you may want to check out Pizza Buono or Home Style.
As someone who was born and bred in Sch’dy & still a resident of the county, Nikki P’s has to be on the short list