Newly opened in Gulf Gate Village, Piccolo Market and Deli has already found its niche, even before its grand opening, which is scheduled for Nov. 12.
A recent weekday afternoon found several friends and customers having lunch and sipping espresso or iced tea, as owner Antonio DiRende and assistant Alessio Bellante chatted away in English and Italian.
The cold cases are filled with all manner of Italian cold cuts and cheese, homemade mild or hot Italian sausage, a variety of olives and several different pasta and antipasto salads, such as the favorite Caprese salad of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, oil and basil.
Hot or cold sandwiches, served on brick oven baked Italian bread brought in from St. Pete, are another favorite. A very generous sized sub starts at $4.95, and comes in many versions: Parma, Italian beef, Tony Soprano special (capicollo, hot sopersata, provolone, hot giardiniera) and Palermo (mixed spicy meats).
Hot sandwiches include favorites such as meatball, chicken, or eggplant Parmigiana, as well as combo subs.
All are made to order, and so are the entree salads, at $4.95-$6. 95.
With a few tables in the front, customers can take their lunch out or eat in. And it’s easy to pick up something special for dinner too, with a complete assortment of Italian groceries, tomatoes, oils and pastas.
Fresh baked Italian bread is available (semolina or ciabatta), as well as pizzelle, biscotti and other traditional Italian cookies. And to wash it down, of course, an espresso or cappuccino, or one of the several varieties of Italian sodas or bottled mineral waters.
For a ready-to-eat dinner entree, Piccolo offers take-home trays of meat lasagne, manicotti, stuffed shells, ravioli, sausage and peppers, eggplant or chicken Parmigiana, penne with vodka sauce or chicken piccata. These are available in single-serving containers for $5-$6, up to trays that will serve 20-35 at $25-$35.
Party trays (deli, cheese or cookie) and three to 6-foot long subs are also available and off-site catering is a specialty. Delivery is available for commercial orders (not residential delivery) of $15 or more.
The grocery section is constantly expanding as orders arrive, with a large section of pastas, canned goods, olive oils, coffees, imported olives and cookies and sweets.
Piccolo will also be carrying a full line of frozen ravioli, and seasonal Italian dishes.
Riccotta-filled cannoli are a special dessert offering and so is the house made tiramisu, and Sfogliatelle (thin layered filled pastries that are shaped like shells or cones), which needs to be ordered in advance.
| HIGHLIGHTS ▼ Piccolo Italian Market and Deli, 2128 Gulf Gate Dr. Telephone: 923-2202, fax: 923-7760. Locally owned and operated market, with eat-in or take-out lunch offerings, and heat-and-serve entrees to take home ▼ Open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Catering available ▼ Major credit cards accepted |
November 4th 2008 - 6:09PM