Maine Italian sandwich
The Maine Italian sandwich (also called an Amato's Italian[1], after its namesake, or simply an Italian[2]) is a submarine sandwich in Italian-American cuisine.[3] The Maine Italian sandwich was invented in Portland, Maine. It is similar to, but distinct from, other types of sandwiches called "Italians" and is closely associated with the Amato's sandwich shop chain, though it is found widely throughout the state.[4][5][6] The sandwich is named for the Italian-American community in Portland and not for its ingredients.[7][8] Italian sandwiches have been referred to as "a part of people's lives" in Maine.[9]
History
[edit]Giovanni Amato, a grocer in Portland, Maine, claims to have invented the "Italian sandwich" in 1902.[10][11] While selling bread on his street cart, Amato received requests from dockworkers to slice his long bread rolls and add sliced meat, cheese and vegetables to them.[10][3] Amato later opened a sandwich shop named Amato's, and today the sandwich continues to be prepared by Amato's sandwich shops.[3][12] The Amato's version is traditionally prepared using fresh-baked bread, ham, American cheese, slices of tomato, onions, green pepper and sour pickle, Kalamata olives and salad oil.[12]
Many other Italian corner markets in Portland sold Italians. In the 1960s, Portland reportedly had an Italian sandwich shop "every couple of blocks."[6] In the 1970s and 1980s, Italian sandwich shops added vegetarian versions of the sandwich without the ham.[13] Monte's Fine Food in Portland was the first Italian shop to add a vegan Italian to the menu in 2019.[13]
Preparation
[edit]The Maine Italian sandwich is prepared using a long bread roll or bun with meats such as ham along with American or provolone cheese, tomato, onion, green bell pepper, sliced dill pickles, Greek olives, olive oil or salad oil, salt and black pepper.[1]
Veggie Italians are made with American or provolone cheese, tomato, onion, green bell pepper, sliced dill pickles, and olives. Sometimes lettuce is added to Veggie Italians. Vegan Italians are made with vegan cheese, vegan ham, tomato, onion, green bell pepper, sliced dill pickles, and olives.[13]
Comparison with other Italian sandwiches
[edit]The Maine Italian is usually served on a long soft roll similar to a New England–style hot dog bun (also invented in Maine).[14] It usually has a single cold-cut meat - ham is the most common, though other meats can be found as well. By contrast, Italian sandwiches elsewhere often include Italian meats like capocollo, Genoa salami, and mortadella.[15][16] The Boston variant of the Italian sandwich is typically prepared on spuccadella and was historically called a "spuckie," though the use of this term is in decline.[17] This comes from the distinction in the sandwich's name: the Maine Italian is so-named because it was commonly eaten by Italian immigrants, not because the sandwich contains Italian flavors or ingredients.[7]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Lovell, John (2022-07-21). "Ode to the Amato's Maine Italian Sandwich". New England. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ "Eat and Run: Anania's, South Portland". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. September 27, 2012. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ a b c Stern, J.; Stern, M. (2009). 500 Things to Eat Before It's Too Late: And the Very Best Places to Eat Them. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-547-05907-5. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ "Maine Italian Sandwich". rock929rocks.com. 2023-11-05. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ "The Maine "Italian" has many names in US". Lewiston Sun Journal. 2021-06-10. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ a b "Maine Voices: That was amore: When Portland was known for Italian sandwiches". Press Herald. 2016-01-25. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
- ^ a b "Dominic Reali and the Amato's Italian are both very real". newscentermaine.com. 2017-11-01. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ Bennett, Troy R. (2024-11-13). "Portland's last family-run Italian-American corner store is closing". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ "Legendary owners of Anania's Variety Store close up shop on Congress Street". newscentermaine.com. 2024-11-11. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ a b Stern, J.; Stern, M. (2007). Roadfood Sandwiches: Recipes and Lore from Our Favorite Shops Coast to Coast. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 186. ISBN 978-0-547-34635-9. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ Smith, A.; Kraig, B. (2013). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink in America (2d ed.). OUP USA. p. 351. ISBN 978-0-19-973496-2. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ a b Thorne, J.; Thorne, M.L. (2008). Mouth Wide Open: A Cook and His Appetite. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. p. pt106–107. ISBN 978-1-4668-0646-7. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ^ a b c Kamila, Avery Yale (2024-05-26). "A classic Maine sandwich gets a vegan makeover". Press Herald. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
- ^ "Video: How to Make an Authentic Maine Italian Sandwich". Maine Public. 2016-07-11. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ Behymer, Jim (2017-02-01). "The Maine-style Italian Sandwich | Sandwich Tribunal". www.sandwichtribunal.com. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ Kang, Matthew (2023-02-24). "Highly Opinionated: An Editor's Favorite Italian Deli Sandwiches in LA". Eater LA. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
- ^ Emde, Laura. "Why do some Bostonians call subs 'spuckies'?". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2024-12-05.
Further reading
[edit]
- Smith, Bill (January 25, 2016). "Maine Voices: That was amore: When Portland was known for Italian sandwiches". The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
