By Brett Callwood
“Frances and Gaetano Giuliano’s goal,” the people of Original Giuliano’s Deli tell us online, “was to bring the tradition of classic Italian cuisine to southern California. In 1952, Giuliano’s in Gardena opened its doors for the first time, presenting only the now famous torpedo sandwich.”
As history lessons go, this one is important for context. When we think of Italian dining, tradition is always a vital ingredient. Recipes that are passed down from generation to generation, and the freshest ingredients.
“As the years passed, Frances and Gaetano’s ambitious vision of preparing everything fresh had been achieved,” they say. “Whether it’s potato salad, spaghetti sauce, eclairs, cookies, meatballs or sausage. Mr. and Mrs. Giuliano made sure it was fresh and inexpensive.”
Today, the Original Giuliano’s Deli on Gardena Boulevard is much more than just a torpedo sandwich shop, or a bakery, or really any one thing. The place is a specialty grocery store, selling everything from quality pasta to breads and sweets.
The deli counter is a tempting place to find yourself though. The desserts and pastries all look tantalizing, maybe a little too tempting when trying to keep the weight down before the holidays get into full swing. That said, we allowed ourselves a couple of treats.
First though, we had to try one of the sandwiches that the place is so very proud of, and with good reason. We opted for the intriguingly named All American Hero sandwich: “Our own tender roast beef, premium ham and turkey breast team up with American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and mayonnaise.”
Everything about this sandwich is immaculately put together. The beef, ham and turkey might seem a bit like meat overkill, but all three are fresh and full of flavor, and they blend magnificently well here.
The cheese and salad sit wonderfully well in the soft French bread that we chose (over country French, croissant and wheat). While the blend is perfect, the key here is that every individual ingredient is of the highest quality. It all makes for a great sandwich.
We also ventured into the refrigerated section of the store and tried their bread pudding. As desserts go, bread pudding is always a heavy choice but it’s also, when done right, delicious. This one is certainly well put together. The cakey bread is soaked in syrup and full of fruit. Plus, you don’t have to eat it all in one sitting.
With a lot of hot sandwiches and other desserts on the menu, there’re plenty of choices to enjoy at Original Giuliano’s.
Original Giuliano’s Deli is located at 1138 W. Gardena Blvd., Gardena 90247. Call 310-323-6990 or visit giulianosgardena.com.
