I might be biased, but Italians are pretty damn awesome. It’s common knowledge that Little Italy is the safest neighborhood in inner Baltimore. Plus, we Italians make some mean sandwiches.
Since picnic weather is upon us and I would hope you’d leave the sandwich-making to professionals, I’m going to take you through some of Baltimore’s best Italian delis. We’ll start in the county and move south.
Pastore’s Italian Delly on Loch Raven Boulevard in East Towson offers a fine selection of imported and domestic Italian meats and cheeses.
If you have a working knowledge of Italian consumables, feel free to make your own. Otherwise, I suggest hot sopressata, domestic prosciutto, sharp provolone and salami.
If you like spice, then you might want to ask for some hots; they just add a little tanginess to your sandwich.
Be careful, Pastore’s isn’t open on Sunday, so you’d better have a back up.
Oh wait, I have the back up.
It’s Mastellone’s Deli on Harford. Their Old World subs are equally as divine as my own concoction at Pastore’s. Plus, there is a debate raging (in my family, at least) on whether Mastellone’s bread is better than Pastore’s.
To be honest, I like the Pastore’s bread consistency, but the flavor of Mastellone’s might edge out Pastore’s. But Mastellone’s crunchy bread is like Peanut Butter Crunch: it might cut the roof of your mouth. Of course, I might be exaggerating, but the crust of Mastellone’s bread is very . . . crusty.
Next is a deli I have honestly never been to, but I love solely due to its reputation. Trinacria Foods. They label themselves the best Italian deli in Baltimore. Word has it their wine selection is pretty impressive. Plus a birdie (my parents) tell me that their Italian sub ranks up there with Pastore’s and Mastellone’s. That same birdie claims that these Italians are nicer than normal Italians.
In SI units of niceness (the Bambi) for the average Italian is about 34 Bambis. That means that the folks at Trinacria’s must have northwards of 50 Bambis. That’s a lot of big-eyed faun. On an unrelated note, you should all start using the Bambi to describe niceness. I’m trying set a trend here.
Finally, if you want to picnic at Patterson Park, you should try DiPasquale’s on Gough (that’s Goff . . . I think) Street. I heard from a Lebanese that they have the best French baguettes that are supposed to be Italian bread. Now, there is something you should know: there are a bajillion (or two) DiPasquale’s stores. I have this theory that they are all related. I’m not sure, but everyone in Baltimore is related somehow. Hell, I’m “related” to Martin O’Malley on my mother’s side, except when I get pulled over by state troopers.
Y’all are officially informed of my awesome Italian brethren’s delightful shops.
So whenever you need a sandwich fix, get yourself over to my Ferrante-approved shops. I guarantee your picnic will be outstanding, stupendous and out of this world . . . but in a Baltimore park.
