all’Antico Vinaio – Las Vegas, Nevada
Whether a sandwich shop calls its bill of fare a submarine, hoagie, po’ boy, grinder, hero, bomber or just plain “sandwich,” one commonality is that most sandwich shops have an “Italian” sandwich. Beyond that, the actual Italian sandwich varies in composition as well as in preparation. Typical ingredients include layers upon layers (especially on the East coast) of paper-thin capicola, salami, pepperoni and ham often drenched in a vinegar, mayo or mustard and topped with shredded lettuce, fresh tomatoes, sliced onions, and cherry peppers. There is no one standard as to what constitutes an “Italian,” not that most of us would care much. Also falling under the purview “Italian sandwich” are panini which are constructed with grilled Italian bread,…