Why do some Italian subs come with relish?
LA TimesThe Italian subs at Giamela’s come with chopped tomato, onion and pickle. In my survey for the best Italian subs in Los Angeles, I came across a handful of delis, all in the San Fernando Valley, where a chopped relish involving onions and tomatoes — and at some places pickles — supplants the more common thinly sliced tomato and onion on an Italian sandwich. According to Salvatore Palilla, who has owned Santoro’s Subs in Burbank since 1996, the chopped vegetables came with founder Pat Santoro from Boston. “But the day I put lettuce on I will no longer be in business.” Matt Giamela, owner of Giamela’s Subs and RC Provisions, said his dad started putting cubed vegetables on sandwiches in the ‘60s, “because it fit better.” “My dad moved from New Jersey to Burbank in the 1950s and would get subs at Santoro’s,” Giamela said. That’s what inspired him to open the first Giamela’s on Riverside Drive in 1964.” Other local delis that pile chopped vegetables on their sandwiches include Monte Carlo Deli at Pinocchio’s Restaurant in Burbank, DeFranko’s Submarines in Van Nuys and Matt & Tony’s in Mission Hills.
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