Heyo!!!
Did you know that I’m on a mission to devour every worthwhile Italian sandwich in the Detroit Metro area??? It’s true! And I’m not just shoving deli meats in my face for my own sick personal leisure; the goal here is to compile one big giant list of Italian subs and then rank them for a publication.
This self-imposed sleuthing has led me to some really neat spots like Gonella’s and Rocco’s, and it’s also made me realize that boy, every Italian sandwich is wildly different. You’re not likely to ever have the same one twice; there’s just too many variables.
With regard to bread: Soft or hard? Cut or closed roll like a hoagie? Is the sandwich tightly wrapped in butcher paper? What kind of deli meats did they use? Did they apply a thin layer of mayo for richness? Or do they omit mayonnaise altogether? Was the provolone sharp or just the cheap kind? Hots? Sweets? Giardineria? Oregano? I plan to write about all of these Italian sandwich tenets and more, hopefully over the Summer.
The inspiration for this project? I really enjoyed how Bill Addison did his pizza ranking in Los Angeles a few years back. He spoke about 10 new pizzerias, but then he ranked them “for fun.” I love that. It’s not incredibly serious, just a breezy way to let readers know about some of the more exciting Los Angeles pizza spots while also adding his own expert opinion. Bill rules, and the whole list was thoughtful and engaging.
So, about once a week, I’m going to mosey on over to a different deli, grocer, or sandwich spot around the Detroit area. Over the weekend, my travels took me to Livonia, a city in Michigan about 30 minutes West. There lies an Italian market with a very crappy pre-made Italian sub, but plenty of other worthwhile provisions…like French feta cheese.
Cantoro’s Italian Market Rocks
When you pull into Cantoro’s Italian Market, one of the first things you’ll see is somebody else pulling out. This place has a lot of traffic, and for good reason: It’s a wonderful store full of Italian and Greek provisions—a one stop shop for all of your Sunday dinner needs.
They have a full service deli, bakery, frozen food section with pre-made lasagnas and frozen pastas, plenty of Siciliana brand sodas, and multiple aisles of beautiful jarred things like sardines, anchovies, tomatoes, beans, spicy peppers, and pickled vegetables. Cantoro’s has a wide variety of Cento brand items, and Cento is a brand I use often at home.
I walked out of Cantoro’s with some awesome Pecorino Romano, several jars of lupini beans, a big jar of Calabrian chil peppers from Cento, and also three different types of feta. THREE.
Did you know there are many different types of feta cheese? Each one packs a different flavor, too.
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