In the past couple of years Westporters have voted for their favorite pizzas, burgers and soups.
Next up: sandwiches.
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce’s Great Sandwich Contest runs throughout March. It’s dedicated to the memory of longtime A&S Fine Foods owner chef Albert Pizzirusso. The longtime Chamber supporter died earlier this month.
I have no idea what this sandwich is, or who made it. I found it on the internet. You didn’t think I’d play favorites, did you?
So far, 19 sandwich-making restaurants have signed up:
A&S Fine Foods
Calise’s
Capuli
Don Memo
Fortuna’s
Grammie’s Donuts & Biscuits
Joe’s Pizza
Kawa Ni
Layla’s Falafel
Manna Toast
Match Burger Lobster
Mystic Market
Organic Krush
Outpost Pizza
Rive Bistro
Rizzuto’s
The Granola Bar
The Whelk
Winfield Street Deli.
They’ll compete in 10 categories:
Best chicken sandwich
Best steak sandwich
Best vegetarian sandwich
Best combo sandwich
Best club
Best New York deli
Best pressed sandwich
Best breakfast sandwich
Best wrap sandwich
Best fish/seafood sandwich.
Judges — that’s all of us — have the month of March to visit the venues and enjoy the offerings. Then click here to vote. To post on social media, use the hashtag #greatwestportsandwich.
The winning restaurants and/or markets will receive plaques. Contest sponsor is the Berchem Moses law firm.
Albert Pizzirusso, a longtime Westport resident and owner of A&S Fine Foods in Westport and Stamford, died Sunday. He was 46
The Yonkers, New York native graduated from The Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park. He became chef at legendary restaurants, including the Rainbow Room, the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and others.
At the Rainbow Room he impressed Julia Child with his dedication. He was the only person in the kitchen who did not stop working when she entered. She noted that that commitment and focus proved he had what takes to go into business for himself. She was right.
Albert combined his love of Italian culture, great food and old school “let me make you an espresso” traditional service in his businesses, with quality of service and offerings from a bygone era.
He added value to his community through great generosity to local charities and organizations.
He is survived by his wife Patricia, with whom he ran A&S Fine Foods for 2 decades; parents Agnes and Angelo; brothers Mario (his twin), and Michael; sister-in-law Laura; nephews Matthew and Eric, and his beloved Yorkie, Eddie.
Due to current restrictions, services will limited to family and close friends. A lover of celebrating just about anything, a Celebration of Life will be held in his honor in Westport this summer.
For years, Optimum/Altice has had a monopoly on cablevision services throughout the area.
A new group — the Tristate Coalition for Fair Internet Service — is working on legal challenges through the New York State Attorney General’s office, and promoting alternate providers. They’re also collecting data on customer experiences with the longtime cable service.
Valentine’s Day is gone. But love remains in the air.
And in cyberspace.
Play With Your Food’s performance of “Love Notes” — an evening of thought-provoking play readings and stories — is available online for a limited time.
Click here for the selections: “I Was Fine Until You Came Into the Room,” “My Life in France,” “Bar Mitzvah Boy,” “Love Poems for Married People” and “The Diaries of Adam and Eve,” followed by a talkback with the director and cast.
For more Play With Your Food information click here; follow on Facebook (@PWYFood) or Instagram (@playwithyourfoodct), or call 203-293-8729.
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome — and appreciated! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to: Dan Woog, 301 Post Road East, Westport, CT 06880. Or use Venmo: @DanWoog06880. Thanks!)