Unbreaded

Porchetta On The Porch At Luigi And Giovanni’s

Submitted by Unbreaded reader Mike M., whose blog Main Line Dine covers restaurants and food in Philadelphia’s western suburbs.  Have a sandwich you love? Submit it to us and we’ll post it on the site.

Much like the cheesesteak, the Roast Pork Italian is a revered sandwich in the Philadelphia area; just hearing the name conjures images of thinly sliced, juicy pork sidled next to piquant provolone cheese and mounds of garlicky, wilted greens, served at hallowed counters Tony Lukes, John’s and DiNics. “Porchetta Aruzzese”, on the other hand, isn’t exactly household material. It is a sandwich made of the Abruzzo-inspired pork roast, however, served at Luigi and Giovanni’s in Newtown Square, that wins my pick for best roast pork sandwich in the area.

To make said sandwich creation, a whole pig is de-boned, seasoned with six fresh herbs, and roasted (with skin intact for extra flavor) overnight in a brick oven rotisserie, then pulled/chopped and mixed with an Italian-style gravy. The cooking method for this pork renders the fat slowly, creating meat that is tender, juicy and extremely flavorful. Pulling the meat instead of slicing it gives it a texture more like Carolina Barbecue. Once the meat is ready, a Sarcone’s-style sesame semolina roll is scooped (to remove excess insides, if desired), layered with sharp provolone and house-made roasted red peppers, and piled high with steaming pork.

These sandwiches are available on the patio outside Luigi and Giovanni’s Italian Market on weekends only, until they run out. Chicken cutlet and Italian sausage sandwiches are also available. Though it is mostly a takeout business, there are a few small tables available if you just can’t wait for sandwich bliss.

Inside the store, there’s also a deli that serves great traditional hoagies and sandwiches on a variety of breads. In addition, Luigi and Giovanni’s is an excellent butcher shop and Italian market, featuring a wide variety of meats, cheeses, breads, olive oils, prepared foods and other imported items.

Luigi and Giovanni’s
3601 Chapel Rd Newtown Square, PA 19073 (Google Map)