Bee Appetit: This iconic grocery store’s deli sandwiches are a grab-and-go treat
I don’t know why it took six months for it to occur to me that The Bee’s offices are not terribly far from iconic grocery store Corti Brothers. This changes everything.
For me, Corti is more than just a grocery store. It’s something of a mecca.
Growing up in Schenectady, my Italian-American great aunt would take me with her to the markets, notably one called Gabriel’s, which had an extensive deli counter filled with a kaleidoscopic array of cured meats, cheese and various salads and side dishes. It’s still there.
The deli counter at Corti transports me back there, a homecoming.
I also go for the entire aisle of pasta, charmingly labeled “Macaroni” as if it’s still the 70s. A better selection cannot be found.
One of the best features of the deli counter is their sandwiches. At any given lunchtime, crowds of people queue up, filling out their order forms, choosing their bread, meats, cheese and garnishes.
Or, to make things easy, you can go with their Corti Special ($8.49). When you order, you can choose the bread, cheese and garnishes – they choose the meats.
Easier yet, they have a bunch of pre-made wrapped sandwiches ready to go, including the Corti Special. The grab-and-go version is a full dollar cheaper, presumably because they don’t have to answer to the whims of customers.
The one I picked up on Tuesday had prosciutto cotto (ham), salami, pepperoni, hard salami and provolone, dressed with mayonnaise, mustard and a healthy confetti of shredded iceberg lettuce, all on a sesame roll. The prefab ones benefit from a little sitting time to allow the flavors to marry. I often split one with my husband, and it’s enough to satisfy.
Corti Brothers was founded in 1947 by brothers Frank and Gino Corti. Frank’s son Darrell Corti took over the market in 1964, and immediately began leveraging his extensive knowledge of global food and wine to expand the market’s offerings, opening the current Folsom Street location in 1970.
He’s responsible for introducing countless gourmet products to Sacramento, and beyond. He’s widely credited with being the first retailer to sell white truffles to the United States in 1969, as well as real balsamic vinegar, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, European olive oils and more. He remains a revered figure in the national food and wine scene.
Even though I have a perfectly good Nugget practically walking distance from my house, I still would make the occasional schlep across town simply because I want to bask in the old school glory of the place. Now, I can simply make it a small diversion on the way home or a lunchtime errand.
