COOKING SICILIAN: Ever Had a Vasteddi Sandwich

Sunday, June 9, 2024

Ever Had a Vasteddi Sandwich

PANE MEUSA

BEEF SPLEEN SANDWICH

PALERMO

Antica Focacceria San Francesco

PANE MILZA

"MARITATA"

MARRIED with EVERYTHING !!!

BEEF SPLEEN SANDWICH with RICOTTA

And CACIOCAVALLO CHEESE

PANE MEUSA

ANTICA FOCACCERIA San FRANCESCO

Me & MY VASTEDDI

I moved to New York City, late in 1982. November I believe. I didn't have an apartment yet, and my co-worker Yuri let me live with him until I found an apartment. My good friend Jay Fahy from Carlstadt wanted to move into the city, and we planned on being roommates. It took 5 months, but I found an apartment. I was at the corner of Avenue A and St Marks Place. It was a two bedroom apartment at only $600 a month. Not bad.

There were a lot of great little restaurants, Polish & Ukranian Diners and Meat Markets, Bars, and Korean Markets that sold fruits and vegetables real cheap. We had it made.

Among the many good restaurants was La Focacceria on 1st Avenue, between East 7th Street and St Marks Place. I was checking out all the places to eat, and most were quite affordable.

La Focacceria was a little Sicilian Focacceria / Trattoria. They had a few Sicilian Specialties that were most amazing, and dirt cheap. They sold Arancini (Rice Balls), various Sicilian and other Italian Pasta Dishes, meat and fish as well.

The main attractions were Sfincione (Real Sicilian Pizza), Arancini, Lasagna Cacate, and the main attraction, their Vasteddi Sandwiches, which only about 3 other places in all of New York City made. A Vasteddi is a Sicilian Specialty from Palermo. It's a sandwich made with Beef Spleen fried in lard, with Ricotta and Caciocavallo Cheese. It's quite tasty, but not for everyone. The most amazing things were that Vinny made them to perfection. As good, or better than any place in Palermo, were the sandwiches originated from. The other amazing thing was the price. They only cost $1.60 a piece, and even way back in 1983 when I discover Vinnie's and the Vastedda, they were still dirt cheap. Amazing ! The Sfingione, which is Sicilian Pizza from Palermo and the surrounding area, is made with a thick dough crust that is topped with a mixture of minced onions that are sauteed in Olive Oil with minced Anchovies and breadcrumbs. Once this mixture cools down, some grated Caciocavallo is mixed in, and this mixture is spread on top of the dough and baked in the oven. Vinny used to make Sfingione only on Thursdays and Saturdays, and he made a great one. Just like in Palermo.

At first, I tried a number of dishes, but after I learned most of the menu, I would usually get a few different items, 2 at a time. Mu favorites were, of course the Vastedda, which I got almost every time I went. I loved the Lentil Escarole Soup, which was the best I'd ever had. Vinny made a great one. So many times I'd get a Vastedda and the Lentil Escarole Soup, and I'd be set. If I was there on Thursday or Saturday, I'd get a piece of Sfingione, and either a Lentil Soup or a Vastedda and Sfingione. Sometimes I'd go just for a Meatball Parm or Sausage & Pepper Sandwich. Vinny's was awesome. I almost cried the day they closed the place down. Vinny's father had started it 60 years befor, and the original location was on 1st Avenue between East 11th & E. 12th Street, before moving 4 blocks down on 1st Avenue.

Also on the block of 1st Avenue between East 12th & 11th Streets was a cool little place called Brunetta's that I ate at a few times before they sadly closed. Brunetta's was a cool super Old-School Family Italian Joint that you just don't see anymore. So was Vinny's (La Focacceria).

Since La Focacceria closed in 2014, the only place that make the Vastedda Sandwich are

Joe's of Avenue U, and Ferdinanda's on Union Street, both in Brooklyn. The one at Ferdinanda's used to be good, but sadly the sandwich has gone way down in quality. I was at Joe's last week, and their Vasteddi are pretty good, but nobody comes close to the quality and perfection of Vinny's Vasteddi at the old La Focacceria. Nobody.

Just to let you know, I've eaten many a Vasteddi Sandwich in Palermo, and Vinny's were actually better than even most in Palermo, and even in Palermo, most couldn't make one as good as at La Focacceria (Vinny's).

La FOCACCERIA

VINNY Made The BEST VASTEDDI Ever in NYC

Nobody ever came Close !!!

BASTA !!!!!