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Dining Out
www.theconnectionsnj.com 73 Morris Street Morristown NJ 07960 MorristownDiner.net CATERING AVAILABLE FOR ALL OCCASIONS OPEN 24 HOURS For Take-Out Orders, Please Call 973-538-0228 M ORRISTOWN DINER Newly Renovated “Spot It” and send your answer with your name, town & phone number to: spotthefake@theconnectionsnj.com Subject Line: FAKE Somewhere in the magazine is a theconnectionsnj.com SAPORI D’ITALIA 7 West Main Street Mendham, NJ 07945 973-543-4300 By: Kate Kleinle Walking into Sapori d’Italia , I know instantly that this store is all about quality. Cases of pizza beckon from underneath decorative vaulted ceilings, in a room walled by shelves lined with fine imported goods. As I watch employees bustling behind the counter, Anna Passalacqua, the store’s proprietor, explains to me that they cook only according to centuries-old Italian tradition. In fact, she has been involved with these traditions her whole life. Born in Italy and raised in America by her family of Italian immigrants, Anna fondly remembers childhood years spent in her family’s pizza par- lor. Her commitment to the culture even brought her back to Italy itself, when she moved to Sicily and mar- ried an Italian man named Matteo Lo Piccolo – now her business part- ner, and yet another resident expert on Italian culture. During years spent living in Sicily, they learned firsthand how to craft the finest possible meals. “In Sicily, we were working with fresh ingredients for every single recipe – like fish so fresh they still moved,” explains Anna. The influence this has had upon Sapori d’Italia’s recipes is clear. Everything they make is both fresh and from scratch; whether it’s seasoned dough, fresh mozzarella, milled marinara, or their house bolognese – which is painstakingly crafted with the finest meat, fresh tomato, and spices over the course of three hours – their foods are fresh, high-quality, and authentic to their core. Even among such an impressive menu, certain items stand out. The Grandma pizza has proven endless- ly popular, tempting customers with its thin shell covered in hand- crushed tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, oregano, and high-quality Ital- ian olive oil. It is so popular that they sell upwards of 20 a day, often selling out altogether. Another big hit is their beloved Eggplant Parme- san, a house specialty. Made with flour, egg, parmesan, and eggplant from the finest, freshest sources, it is available both in-house and as a ready-made, take-home meal. In addition to the renowned Egg- plant Parm, Sapori d’Italia offers an entire case of dishes ready to take home. This selection boasts sal- ads, chicken marsala, meatballs, and more – offering a plethora of options for a quick, nutritious, high- quality fix which feeds the whole family. These dishes are also the per- fect catering option for small par- ties, and have satisfied customers hosting guests for Halloween, birth- days, Christmas Eve, and more. Many of the incredible ingredi- ents put into each dish can also be purchased individually. Sapori d’Italia directly imports Italian vine- gars, olive oil, pepper, jarred and marinated goods, and more, and much of it is available for purchase alongside the dishes so many of their customers know and love. With so many options, and such commitment to authentic Italian culture, Sapori d’Italia is truly a cut above the rest. Whether it’s to be eaten in their beautiful, historic store or taken back to the comfort of your own home, I highly recom- mend purchasing a dish – you sure- ly won’t regret it.PAGE 54
