Sometimes cultural epicenters sprout up in unlikely places. Take Wooster Street in New Haven, Connecticut, for example — absent any previous knowledge, one wouldn’t expect to find arguably the best pizza in the world here, but one does. Similarly, Newtown Square, PA happens to have a mile-long stretch of Rt 3 in that houses three of the best Italian-style roast pork sandwiches anywhere. Because Philadelphia is famous for these sandwiches (much like NYC is famous for pizza), it is not all that surprising to find a good pork sandwich in the suburbs — but 3 great ones in one mile? It’s odd for sure, but we aren’t complaining.

All three are slightly different, but excellent in their own way, and we haven’t been disappointed with any of them. Here’s a little more info on each:

Luigi and Giovanni’s

L & G make our favorite sandwich of the three — a whole pig is de-boned, seasoned with six fresh herbs, and roasted (with skin intact for extra flavor) overnight in a brick oven rotisserie, then pulled/chopped and mixed with an Italian-style gravy. The cooking method for this pork renders the fat slowly, creating meat that is tender, juicy and extremely flavorful. Pulling the meat instead of slicing it gives it a texture more like Carolina Barbecue, which is perhaps what makes this sandwich extra tasty. Once the meat is ready, a Sarcone’s-style sesame semolina roll is scooped (to remove excess insides, if desired), layered with sharp provolone and house-made roasted red peppers, and piled high with steaming pork.

These sandwiches are available on the patio outside Luigi and Giovanni’s Italian Market (located just off Rt 3 on Chapel Rd.) on weekends only, until they run out. Chicken cutlet and Italian sausage sandwiches are also available. Though it is mostly a takeout business, there are a few small tables available if you just can’t wait for sandwich bliss.

Cut Above Deli

The Roast Pork Italiano (pictured above), similar to Luigi and Giovanni’s, is served with provolone and sweet roasted peppers. Cut Above’s pork is thin-sliced in a more traditional manner, however, creating a different texture. Thinly sliced garlic is slipped into the folds of the meat, plenty of Italian spices are mixed in and it’s all piled on a freshly delivered Sarcone’s roll, resulting in an extremely flavorful sandwich.

Cut Above offers a wide variety of other Italian-style hoagies and hot sandwiches, all on that great Sarcone’s bread.

Soprano’s Deli and Catering

On the final Saturday of every month, Soprano’s Deli offers freshly-roasted porchetta sandwiches with sharp provolone and your choice of broccoli rabe and/or roasted peppers. (Interestingly the only of the three that offers rabe, the traditional Philly topping to Roast Pork Italian. It may be possible to get at the other places — I have not asked because I prefer peppers.) The pork itself is chopped into chunks and served in gravy. Though we prefer the L&G sandwich, Soprano’s wins our pick for the best atmosphere: Picture walking into an Italian grandmother’s kitchen during the holidays, with regulars sitting around sipping espresso and eating from an endless spread of food. Service is prompt and friendly, but I honestly felt like I was at someone’s house, not a restaurant. It’s a shame they don’t serve porchetta more often, though there is an extensive menu of other hoagies and Italian dishes to choose from for the rest of the month.

Websites:

• Luigi and Giovanni’s
• Cut Above
• Soprano’s

Whole Wheat Baguette

South Philly Italian bakery Carangi Baking Company has recently opened at 1556 Lancaster Ave. in Paoli, bringing a wide variety of freshly-made breads, pizzas, stromboli and other Italian specialties to the ‘burbs.

On our first trip, we tried a whole wheat baguette, which was insanely fresh, and had a flaky, crunchy crust and a wonderfully light interior. It was great both as a sandwich holder and dipped in olive oil with dinner. All the breads looked spectacular, though most are, in the Italian tradition, made with exclusively white flour. We also tried the decadent ricotta cannoli in chocolate-dipped shells, which certainly rivals any cannoli we’ve had. La Colombe coffee is served (also available for whole bean purchase); the espresso we tried was not spectacular, but still one of the better ones we’ve had on the Main Line.

chocolate-dipped cannoli (a little roughed up from the trip home)

Carangi also offers Sicilian-style pizza in a variety of flavors, including tomato pie, several types of Stromboli, such as broccoli rabe, roasted peppers & cheese, plus a variety of breakfast treats including pepper and egg sandwiches, bagels and assorted muffin varities. All the food is take-out only, as there is no seating inside.

Our only complaint about Carangi is the hours — they close on the early side (6pm weekdays), and are closed completely on Mondays.

View Larger Map

Carangi Baking Co Mainline
1556 Lancaster Ave, Tredyffrin, PA
(610) 648-9393‎
http://carangibakery.com (Philly location only)

When riding home after experiencing Butcher & Singer’s “Best of Philly” $6 burger special (which was very good but unlikely the actual best in Philly), we got thinking about where one would find the best burger on the Main Line. Magazine Main Line Today recently crowned TJ’s in Paoli the winner, which, out of the ones we’ve tried, is a solid choice. But what of the ones we haven’t tried? Surely there are some other contenders out there.

So… To the point: we’re on a mission to find the Main Line’s very best burger, and we need your help. If you have a favorite burger, post a comment below with where to get it and why it is so great. This fall, we’ll try to eat as many as we can (prioritizing the most compelling descriptions below) and pick our winners at the end of the year.

Oh, and one more thing: No chains. We just can’t be bothered with that.

Go!

Read the post on Unbreaded.

*Of course there are plenty of easy ways to make this less healthy as well…

Ingredients:
1 Whole Wheat Thomas’ Bagel Sandwich Square (or bagel of choice)
3/4c Egg Substitute or Beaten Egg
1/8c fat-free half & half
Part Skim Mozzarella Cheese
Pure Maple Syrup
Lean Chicken or Tofu Breakfast Sausage, cooked (optional)

Mix 1/4c egg and 1/8c h&h in a shallow bowl or dish. Dip inside of each bagel half in bowl so it soaks up half of mixture.

Scramble remaining eggs in a pan. When they are close to done, mix in cheese to taste.

Meanwhile, heat another pan sprayed with oil and cook bagel halves until golden brown on inside. Flip to briefly heat outside.

Butter each inside bagel half and drizzle a small amount of pure maple syrup on each side. Put enough eggs to cover bottom half of bagel, top with a little sausage. Grind coarse sea salt and black pepper on top of eggs, then close sandwich and enjoy.

p.s. This recipe not endorsed by Thomas’ Bagels — we just think the square ones make easier sandwiches, and their soft texture work well here (though we wouldn’t recommend for use as actual bagels).

At least we still have Murray’s!

http://lewsnydeli.com/

Great news for Western Main Liners though: Deli War II is set to begin! Murray’s will be opening a Berwyn location, and while that isn’t exactly across the street from the planned Lew’s NY Deli in Paoli, we’ll be sure to compare the pastrami as soon as possible.

Update: along with the deli, upscale bistro M is also planned for the same location (575 W. Lancaster Ave.)

How did Luigi and Giovanni’s of Newtown Square not make the list? For our money, their Italian-spiced pulled pork sandwich, with a slice of sharp provolone and lots of homemade roasted red peppers on luscious, chewy, sesame-seeded Italian bread, is one of the best — if not THE best — sandwich around, pork or otherwise. It’s available out front of the store on weekends, and some weekdays as well. If you’ve never had the pleasure, it is worth the detour. (3601 Chapel Road., 610-353-2080)