Welcome to the 11th edition of What’s Good? This week I’m just talking about sandwiches, with a few links of things to read and listen to. Go have some fun this weekend.
If you say the word “Mama’s” to most people in Queens, they’ll know exactly what you’re talking about — the one and only Mama’s of Corona (or Leo’s Latticini, if you’re a real stickler.)
I’d gone to Mama’s for years but things changed for me the first time I went with my good friend Lisa Colangelo, whose article about the legendary namesake still hangs in the display cases at the deli.
As part of Lisa’s Crew I now also get treated like family at Mama’s, and I bring only my most trusted friends to experience the deli and the bakery two doors down, with the big table in the back and the beautiful garden outside.
My go-to order has always been the Mama’s Special with everything (mushrooms, peppers) on it. But earlier this month I decided to branch out and get the hot roast pork, which was the day’s special (Thursday.) Gravy, fresh mozz, on a fluffy focaccia – it was amazing. And Irene and company are back from their summer vacation, which coincided with a long away stretch for the Mets, so you can go and get a sandwich, too.
I ended up eating this for lunch and dinner. I’d recommend asking for extra gravy.
Mama’s, 46-02 104th St., Corona
Related: Chris Crowley at Grub Street recently visited Mama’s with Queens rapper Despot, where he got the daily special (although they don't specify which day they were there)
Earlier this month I headed down to Asbury Park for my friend Mary Anne’s birthday celebration. Our first stop was breakfast at Frank’s Deli and Restaurant, an old-school diner known for their giant Italian sandwiches. We weren’t there for mortadella and salami, but instead that meat produce that is often the subject of heated debates on what exactly is its proper name. I am not wading into any Jersey drama, so will call it by both of its names: Taylor ham pork roll.
I first encountered Taylor ham pork roll while working at a deli in Breezy Point. One morning a woman came in and frantically asked if we had it and if it was possible I could slice all of it up for her. She was headed to her sister’s in California, she explained, and they didn’t sell it anywhere in California (have not confirmed this.) Once I found the log in the back of the fridge I sliced about 2 lbs of it, but I didn’t taste any of it. I didn’t want to take away a precious slice from a woman desperate enough to eat Taylor ham pork roll after it was flown to California in a cooler bag from New York.
At Frank’s in Asbury Park, we ordered a few things to share at the table including an egg, cheese, and Taylor ham pork roll sandwich on an onion roll our waitress described as “our delicious onion roll.” When a waitress is that excited, you order what she says. After one bite I understood why that woman in California was so desperate, and why everyone in New Jersey feels so strongly about Taylor ham pork roll. This is a true special occasion breakfast sandwich, maybe best shared with good friends.
It was the cheese melted on each slice of Taylor ham pork roll that really made it
Frank’s Deli & Restaurant, 1406 Main St., Asbury Park, NJ
Related: Here’s the Times’ guide to the ‘perfect weekend’ in Asbury Park, but I’d like you all to know I visited before this story came out. I also highly recommend the pinball museum, pictured above.
Other interesting stories from this week
“The Brooklyn pastor who says he was robbed in the middle of giving his Sunday sermon stole $90,000 in retirement savings from one of his own parishioners, a lawsuit filed last year in Brooklyn Supreme Court alleges.” [THE CITY]
Dashawn Carter missed nearly 100 clinic appointments at Rikers before dying, records show. [THE CITY]
LISTEN
Sometimes I’m happy that The Machine is spying on my every move, because the algorithm recommends exactly what I needed to hear. It’s how I (or, an Instagram ad) found Welcome to Paradise: Italian Dream House 1989-1993. I stream the whole ‘euphoric’ album whenever I want to pretend I’m someplace else.
One more thing: Let’s go Mets!
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Thanks for reading!
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Oh man I want ALL these sandwiches!!!