Gaetano’s is one of Westport’s favorite delis. Lee Shufro is a fan. He writes:
While you can chase immortality by putting your name on a building, there is no finer honor than to have a sandwich named after you.
The “sandwich” itself was named for John Montagu, the 12th Earl of Sandwich. The Reuben (pastrami or corned beef with sauerkraut on rye) was supposedly named after Arnold Reuben, owner of NYC’s Reuben’s Deli.
While Westport has many great sandwich purveyors, my favorite is Gaetano’s, off Post Road opposite Stop & Shop.
What makes it a great deli? In my opinion you not only need the finest ingredients, but also some personality.
As important as the homemade mozzarella and aged salami are, is a high degree of banter. “Hey!” “Yo!” Gaetano’s has it all in spades.
Which brings us to my problem. I have followed a plant-based (aka vegan) diet for over 20 years. It prohibits me from eating meat or cheese — their entire menu.
The Food Network used this photo to illustrate Gaetano’s menu. It was not on Lee Shufro’s plate, however.
When I gaze upon Gaetano’s sandwich board, I see sandwiches a carnivore would love — but not one for vegan/vegetarians.
Over the years I ordered bespoke sandwiches, with various veggies.
Finally, after hundreds of experiments, I had hit upon the optimum non-dairy, non-meat concoction. I took a picture of it, to reference it on my next order.
My visits followed a routine. Whenever I got to the front of the line I was greeted with a hearty “How ya doin’?” I always replied, “The King is good.”
I don’t know what goes on in my head, but that was the routine every time I ordered.
To make it easy, I just showed the picture of my veggie sandwich. Affter a while, I began calling my sandwich “The King of Westport.”
Recently I said, “I think there may be other people who want this type of sandwich.”
They said, “Print it up, and we’ll hang it by the sandwich board.”
I was amazed. As far as I can remember, the menu has never changed.
I ran home, worked all day on my sandwich sign, and proudly hung it up. The King of Westport was born!
Lee Shufro (left), with the King of Westport sign.
So if you are in the mood for something a little healthier or different, head over to Gaetano’s, and order my sandwich. J
And be sure to tell them the King sent you.
The King of Westport Sandwich
Broccoli Rabe
Sun-dried peppers
Portabella mushroom
Grilled artichoke
Hot peppers
Pesto
(“06880 covers every inch of Westport — including our delis and restaurants. If stories like this are to your taste, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Who you gonna believe: the comments section of “06880,” or your own ears?
With local elections looming, Westport’s League of Women Voters has scheduled 3 important debates. All take place in the Town Hall auditorium.
Planning & Zoning Commission candidates take the stage October 11 (7 p.m.). They’re followed by a double-header October 12: the Board of Education at 7 p.m., Board of Finance at 8:15.
This is your chance to hear — and assess — the men and women vying to lead our town. Come to Town Hall; then make an informed decision.
Yesterday, with the help of the Waterbury Police Department, Westport detectives took 22-year-old Garrett Gibbs of Waterbury into custody for his involvement in the September 17th carjacking incident.
The arrest followed an intense investigation. Gibbs was charged with the following crimes:
Home Invasion
Burglary 1st degree
Robbery by carjacking
Assault 3rd degree
Larceny 1st degree
Conspiracy to commit larceny 1st degree
Robbery 1st degree
he is being held at the Westport Police Department on a $500,000.00 bond. He will appear in Stamford Superior Court on October 16.
Westport Police detectives are still working this case, and anticipate additional arrests.
Yesterday was a busy one for the WPD. They also arrested a 17-year-old juvenile from Stratford for an incident on July 11, when shots fired in Saugatuck.
The youth is currently incarcerated at Manson Youth Institute, following a previous arrest by another agency. The arrest came after a lengthy investigation by the Detective Bureau, involving multiple interviews and search warrants.
The teen was charged with:
Unlawful discharge of a firearm
Conspiracy to commit unlawful discharge of a firearm
Reckless endangerment 1st degree
Conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment 1s degree
Breach of peace
Conspiracy to commit breach of peace.
He will appear in Bridgeport Juvenile Court on October 13. Police anticipate additional arrests.
A twice-postponed Parks & Recreation Commission meeting has been rescheduled to October 18 (Town Hall Room 201, 7:30 p.m.). The agenda includes discussion of the Longshore Capital Improvement Plan.
The first meeting was interrupted due to a medical emergency. The second — this past Thursday — was planned as a virtual session. It never began, due to technical issues.
Among the concerns of attendees: where on the property to place the planned pickleball courts.
Gaetano’s Deli is a favorite with Staples students.
So it’s a natural location for the high school radio station’s live broadcasts today.
Award-winning WWPT will set up a tent and remote facility outside the Post Road East spot. Everyone is welcome to stop by, and see these great young radio broadcasters in action.
And if you can’t be there, listen in: 90.3 FM, or online.
It’s tough: How can parents talk honestly with their children about drug use, without sounding preachy, unrealistic or clueless?
All this month, the Westport Prevention Coalition is offering free streaming access to a 52-minute documentary, “Don’t Wait.”e.
Substances have changed over the years. Cannabis concentrates can deliver 96% pure THC with no CBD or plant matter. Delivery mechanisms like vapes and pouches are relatively new too.
The film updates parents’ knowledge, and helps them answer tough questions from their kids. Click here to stream the video.
As follow-up for parents who want more information, WPC plans 2 Zoom sessions for parents (October 24 and 26). Click here to register.
PinkLand — the Pink Aid online auction, raising funds to help people with breast cancer — opens Monday. It runs through Thursday.
Over 300 items are available for online bidding. They include:
Brendan Murphy painting (value: $21,000)
Yankees Legends seats for 2024 ($3,000)
2 tickets to “Watch What Happens Live” with Andy Cohen (TBD)
4 VIP wristbands for Governor’s Ball Music Festival 2024 ($3,200)
3 night Oceanview King stay at Mauna Lani, including buffet breakfast ($5,000)
Clase Azul Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Reposado tequila ($4,999)
Keith Urban Guitar ($500)
Courtside Knicks tickets ($2,500)
4 tickets and field passes to Mets-Giants ($150)
Sholeh Janati painting ($5,800)
Tickets are still available for the October 12th luncheon at Mitchells of Westport (11 a.m.). Click here for more information — and to see all auction items, and bid.
Westport celebrates UN Day with a special Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Memorial Lecture.
Kuwait Ambassador to the UN Tareq Albanai will speak on “Identifying Opportunities for Creative Diplomacy to Solve Global Challenges: A View from the Arabian Gulf” (October 24, 7 p.m., Westport Library). He’ll take audience questions afterward.
Ambassador Albanai has long experience dealing with issues of disarmament. A graduate of George Washington University, he is fluent in Arabic, English and Spanish.
Click here to register for in-person participation or streaming. The event is co-sponsored by the Library, and the United Nations Association of Southwestern Connecticut.
Kuwait Ambassador to the United Nations Tareq Albanai.
Rachel Rose is a 2014 Staples High School graduate. She now lives in Fairfield.
The former Orphenian, who studied privately with Cynthia Gibb, is now a professional singer. She calls her style achel calls her style “Jewish soul, contemporary soul and R&B.”
She entered a Jimmy Fallon “Battle of the Instant Songwriters” contest a year ago. On Wednesday, a representative called to see if she wanted to appear on the show.
On Thursday, there she was: on national TV. She and a fellow musician were given an hour to write a song, then perform it.
The title she was provided: “I Think This Airbnb is Haunted.”
Alert “06880” reader Rita Corridon was checking out the New York Times’ “The Morning” feature today.
One piece began:
My hometown has a gardening store so lavish, so over-the-top curated with weather-stained terra-cotta planters the size of vintners’ casks, crumbling concrete birdbaths rescued from Eden and a jungle’s worth of fronds and boughs and leaves that it is a destination.
Out-of-towners come to gaze at its tableaux of mosses, hand-forged shears and fairy lights, to dine on seasonal produce at its in-house café. I think there might be an actual waterfall back by the table linens.
I love going to this store, wandering its aisles and imagining how different my life would be if I could inhabit its forever-green promise, like Keats gazing on the Grecian urn.
“That must be Terrain!” Rita thought.
She looked up the author, Melissa Kirsch.
Sure enough, the “hometown” she talks about is Westport.
Another teardown: Tom Lowrie reports: “A week ago, the house at 148 Old Road was demolished.
148 Old Road then … (Photo/courtesy of Google Maps)
“The site was covered with large trees and brush. The following week all but the best trees were cut down. A mountain of wood chips, logs and house materials were carted away.
“Then the CAT machines went to work, digging out stumps and and piling all the topsoil for future leveling of the site.”
Just another day in the world of Westport real estate.
Westporter Howard Matson — a past international president of the Circumnavigators Club — hosted a dinner last nigh at New York’s Union League Club honoring Tony and Maureen Wheeler, writers and publishers of the Lonely Planet guidebook empire. The couple received the club’s highest recognition: the Order of Magellan.
Matson, who now serves on the club’s Board of Governors, has hosted in past years Jacques Cousteau, Walter Cronkite and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.
Howard Matson (center) with Maureen and Tony Wheeler.
================================================
“Westport … Naturally” features our town’s natural wonders. Horseshoe crabs — which have been around for 440 million years — certainly qualify.
But these guys didn’t climb on the (man-made) Burying Hill Beach pier by themselves.
They needed help from humans. Our species is about 300,000 years old.
And finally … speaking of the candidates’ debates next week (story above):
(“06880” is your place for healthy debate — and local journalism. If you appreciate our work, please consider a tax-deductible contribution. Just click here — thank you!)
Countless Westporters — including scores of Staples students — know that Gaetano’s is a great deli.
Now the rest of America knows it too.
The Post Road East place — it’s in a basic mini-strip mall diagonally across from Stop & Shop — has just been named the Best Deli in Connecticut, by the Food Network.
The Westport location shares the honor with 2 other Gaetano’s, in Stratford and Monroe.
The Food Network says:
Here’s a NYC insider tip: Manhattan’s Little Italy may draw the tourists, but locals head instead to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx.
It was there that the owners of Gaetano’s Deli got their start. Guy Catalano and Milanno Ukehaxhaj worked together at the famous Mike’s Deli on Arthur Avenue before bringing their own Italian-style delicatessen to Stratford, Connecticut, more than 2 decades ago.
The pair have since expanded their operation into 3 locations to keep up with local demand for Gaetano’s mix of Italian grocery items (including housemade mozzarella) and stuffed breads crammed with pepperoni and cheese, eggplant parm and the like.
The Food Network used this photo to illustrate Gaetano’s great menu.
The selection of panini alone takes up nearly an entire page of the menu, with more than 20 different ways to fill the grilled sandwiches. Each one starts with Italian bread picked up daily from Addeo’s Bakery in the Bronx, which is then piled high with classic deli meats.
Options include bresaola (cured filet mignon), Oldani salami and plenty of Boar’s Head varieties.
If you haven’t tried Gaetano’s yet, that should whet your appetite.
If you need even more, here’s a link to their mouth-watering menu.
Tell ’em the Food Network sent you.
(Click here for the full Food Network story, with all 50 Best Deli in the State selections. Hat tip: Frank Rosen.)
An alert “06880” reader living in Westfair Village — behind Westfair Center, between Post Road East and North Bulkley Avenue — writes:
This is a fantastic neighborhood. In the last few years, many homes have turned over to new families with young children. There is almost a full school bus just for our little area. There are also families that have lived here for decades.
All of the houses are on lots of about 1/3 acre, so there is a tremendous feeling of community. It’s common to see kids and parents walking the streets each day. Of course, there’s an annual block party. It’s a Halloween destination for many families who live elsewhere, because it’s so easy to walk to so many homes.
Westfair Drive. (Photo/Google Maps)
We (and many of our neighbors) truly love the area — and its proximity to the Post Road.
However, Westfair meets the Post Road near the shopping complex that houses Shanghai Gourmet, Gaetano’s and Yamafuji Sushi. Over the years, the back parking lot has become progressively more of a dumping ground.
An oil dumpster has leaked for years. The lot is littered with boxes, bottles and cans — no one looks after it. A bin of soiled aprons is a permanent fixture — along with a discarded refrigeration unit.
The building needs a good paint job. And the roof fence needs fixing.
It’s unclear whether anyone has complained to the owner: 1701 Post Road East LLC (registered to a parent company with an address of 30 Shorehaven Road, Norwalk).
If so, and they’ve done nothing: Shame.
If no one has contacted them: They should know what’s going on with their tenants, anyway.
Forget donuts. In 2015, police officers have a much more discerning palate.
Even so, Celia Offir was impressed — but not surprised — to see motorcycle cops from 4 different towns parked outside Gaetano’s the other day.
Gaetano’s
Never heard of it? Gaetano’s flies under the radar. But in just a year the Italian deli near Super Stop & Shop has gained a fervent following for fantastic food, great service and a very friendly vibe.
Click here to help support “06880” via credit card or PayPal. Any amount is welcome, appreciated — and tax-deductible! Reader contributions keep this blog going. (Alternate methods: Please send a check to “06880”: PO Box 744, Westport, CT 06881. Or use Venmo: @blog06880. Or Zelle: dwoog@optonline.net. Thanks!)
GET THE “06880” APP
The “06880” app (search for it on the Apple or Android store) is the easiest way to get “06880.” Choose notifications: whenever a new post is published, or once or twice a day. Click here for details.
