Grazie Carmella's

I woke up this morning with the best of intentions. I was going to make some coffee, get dressed, and go rent a combine with which to cut my lawn. Then I put on some music and so inspired was I that I decided instead to get Cuba Sugar and go to Zummo's for an egg sandwich and a cup of coffee. I got the coffee, but was once again foiled in my attempt to secure the sandwich. I can't even begin to count the number of times that I have gone there only to find that they had run out of the lovely egg, sausage, and cheese laden beauties. I find it amazing that they should EVER run out of an item like that, much less than by 10 or so on a Sunday morning, but that is perhaps a subject for another posting. I really love Zummo's, and was delighted to learn about their soon to be opened West Scranton Fidelity Bank location, but they seriously need to rethink their food requirement projections. It is said that every cloud has a silver lining, and out of the dearth of biscuits this morning was born a most delightful encounter with a sfogliatelle in Westside.

I had been wanting to try Carmella's on Main Avenue near Jackson Street for some time now, and the disappointment regarding the egg sandwich was just the nudge that I needed. The first thing I noticed upon walking into Carmella's was the unmistakable and mouth-watering smell of aged imported cheese and cured meat. I breathed deeply and my expectations soared. This place is wonderful. The combination of the beautifully stocked pastry case, the swirling aromas, the tin ceiling, and dark wood trim brings to mind Little Italy in NYC. There are a half dozen or so small tables inside and two more out on the sidewalk. We chose a table in the middle of the dining area and opted to share a sfogliatelle and the Carmella's Classic. The Classic is an Italian sandwich made with prosciutto, Genoa salami, provolone, roasted red peppers, oil, and balsamic vinegar on a crisp Italian roll. Absolute perfection. I can honestly say that I would put this sandwich in the same league as those available at Cara Mia's in Dunmore and that, dear reader, is saying something.

The menu at Carmella's begins with a daily selection of freshly made soups. It also features a variety of salads ranging from garden salad to antipasto and a tempting item known as "Eugene's Famous", which consists of homemade fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, onion, and lettuce finished with a balsamic vinaigrette. The Specialty Sandwich selection lists variously named creations featuring combinations of premium quality meats from roast beef, bologna, ham, and turkey, to Italian cuts such as sopressata, capicola, prosciutto, and hard salami. The available cheeses include the aforementioned fresh mozzarella, domestic Swiss, American, and an awesome provolone. The sandwiches are rounded out with the usual condiments in addition to high quality olive oil and Balsamic vinegar, roasted red peppers, hot or sweet pickled peppers, and hot cherry peppers. I am confident that I would have been happy with whatever I chose there today based on my experience with the Carmella's Classic.

The pastry case will most likely be the subject of a future post. As I mentioned before, Cuba and I shared a sfogliatelle. I have no idea where they get this stuff, but it was absolutely delicious. The pastry itself was buttery and crisp, similar to phyllo, and with a filling that was dense and sweet, but not too sweet, with a nice citrus note. It was so good that we bought two more to take as a gift for some friends that we were visiting later in the afternoon. Perhaps the most pleasant surprise I had today at Carmella's was the coffee. It was great. The menu features espresso, cappuccino, mocha, brewed coffee, hot chocolate, and tea. There is a sign in the window announcing that the place uses Starbuck's coffee. They take the preparation seriously, and it shows. In a town that seems to treat coffee as an afterthought, Carmella's can be solidly placed among the exceptions.

I highly recommend giving this place a try the next time you need to have a quick lunch or are in the mood for some really special pastries. Life is too short to settle for corporate donuts! We will be back soon. Oh... and I did manage to cut the grass.

Carmella's Italian Deli and Pastries
106 North Main Avenue
Scranton, PA 18504
(570) 969-2112