New Canaan`s Best Breakfast Sandwiches,Tony`s Deli: `New

Did You Hear … ?
An entity identifying itself as ‘New Canaan Merritt Apartments
LLC’ has filed a lawsuit saying a town man has failed to pay
rent on a Park Street unit while subletting it out. The
defendant lives on Valley Road and he didn’t pay rent in March
or April, then failed to clear out of the unit as instructed,
according to a complaint filed April 29 in state Superior
Court in Norwalk. According to the New England Real Estate
Journal, a limited liability company more than three years ago
purchased the 4-building, 34-unit Merritt Apartments in New
Canaan. New Canaan Merritt Apartments LLC has dissolved,
according to records on file with the Connecticut secretary of
the state.
Looking up at 50-52 Oak St.
from the back yard of 64 Oak
St., from the Green Avenue
side. Credit: Michael Dinan
***
The Oak Street homeowner who had applied to the Planning &
Zoning Commission for approval to rebuild the multi-family
structure there has since pulled that application, Planning &
Zoning Commission members said at their most recent meeting.
P&Z had heard the application in April and May, when the
neighbors’ attorney raised concerns on behalf of his client.
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Like talking about what’s happening in New Canaan? Join
NewCanaanite.com at our free monthly Community Coffee, to be
held 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 9 in the Lamb Room
at New Canaan Library.
_____________________________________________
A mother duck and several ducklings died last week following
an unfortunate incident on Thayer Pond Road. According to a
police report, several kids waiting at a bus stop reported
that a family of ducks had become stuck in a storm drain.
Officials were able to pull out some ducklings, but a handful
of those birds then were lost in nearby woods, and then a
grate on the storm drain was replaced before their mother was
able to escape, meaning she and whatever ducklings were still
in the drain likely succumbed to hypothermia, according to
Officer Allyson Halm of the New Canaan Police Department’s
Animal Control section.
A scoop of Fresh Orange gelato
in a sugar cone.
Mackenzie Lewis.
Photo
by
***
A recent list that named “the 50 best things to eat in
Fairfield County, Connecticut before you die” included these
four items from New Canaan:
New Canaan Special at Tony’s Deli
Gelato at Gelatissimo
Huevos Rancheros at Rosie
Iced Flavored Latte at Zumbach’s
***
A woman jogging on Summer Street at about 10:30 a.m. on June 1
(which was Global Running Day) passed a small white dog that
leapt up and bit her in the arm, according to police. It isn’t
clear who owned the animal or whether it was up-to-date on its
shots, officials said.
***
Here’s a gallery with a roundup
announcements from around town:
of
other
news
and
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Berzini Family Circus sponsors (L-R):, Jeremiah Miller
(Hawthorne, Ackerly, & Dorrance, LLC), Carolyn Williams
(Toddlertime Nursery School), Jamie & Kim Loner (Jack & Jill
Pet Sitting), Jenny Esposito (TD Bank) and Steve Karl (Karl
Chevrolet). Tickets are now on sale for the Annual Zerbini
Family Circus.
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Lisa McDonnell, Vice President and Business Cash Management
Specialist at Bankwell, has been named to the Board of
Directors of The Fairfield County Sports Commission. The
Stamford-based organization is a not for profit educational
organization dedicated to promoting youth fitness and an
active, healthy lifestyle, as well as personal development
through sports. McDonnell’s primary role will be community
advocate and spokesperson for The Fairfield County Sports
Commission’s programs and activities. She had joined Bankwell
in 2014 and has 12 years of experience in the financial
industry, primarily in Sales Management and Business
Development.
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On Thursday June 9, 2016 at 4:30 pm the Fairfield County
Hospice House board of directors and the community will
celebrate the completion of the roof and provide tours of the
house under construction. The six-bedroom home located at One
Den Road in Stamford will serve as a home away from home for
patients at the end of life, and a place for families and
friends to spent time with loved ones. More information here:
http://newcanaanite.com/new-canaanites-help-drive-fairfield-co
unty-hospice-house-project-36450
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Following a surprise assembly to celebrate him, Pear Tree
Point School retiring Headmaster David Trigaux receives
congratulations from fourth grader Ainsley McKee. Contributed
***
Finally, here are the names of the NCHS students who are in
the National Honor Society, class of 2017:
Bhaskar Abhiraman
Rachel Annulli
Jackson Appelt
Ellery Baran
Olivia Barden
Kaylin Bean
Matthew Berger
Matthew Bisceglia
Meghan Brady
Shannon Bucci
Jackson Butler
Jason Campe
Lauren Carlson
Amy Chu
Katherine Conese
Faustino Cortina
James Crovatto
Abigail Crowley
Madeleine Culpepper
Kavya Dagli
Edward Dahill
Emma Dahill
Drew Davis
Camaren Dayton
Trevor De Ghenghi
Abigail Deery
Kimberly Dyrvik
Catherine Ellsworth
Daniel Fairchild
Mariana Ferreira
Alice Gelhaus
Christopher Greene
Annalee Greenspon
Anne Greer
Jefferson Grigsby
Francesca Guynn
Christopher Harte
Tyler Hill
Jack Hoelzer
Edward Holappa
Robert Hoover
Graham Jameson
Molly Keshin
Rachel Keshin
Samuel Klearman
Katherine Kurz
Katherine Kushner
Alexander Lambrinos
Caroline Leeber
Ellen Ludtke
Dana Lurie
Anna Lysenko
Grace Manges
Kelly McClymonds
Aurelie Moutran
Caileigh Murray
Siobhan Naughton
John Norton
John O’Connor
Mackenzie O’Malley
Margaret Owen
Samantha Pepe
Tessa Piontkowski
Hugo Potter
Jack Rechtermann
Molly Rochlin
Carroll Rudman
Elizabeth Rudman
Holly Santero
Camryn Schlim
Rebecca Serven
Andrew Shizari
Madeleine Smith
Patrick Song
Michael St. George
Samuel Stoner
Gabriella Sulpizi
Ashley Tedford
Natalia Tomczak
Fredericka Trahanas
Carolyn Valenti
Riley Ward
Katherine Zaborowska
New Canaan’s Top-10
Sandwiches
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The College Wrap, Chicken Joe's. Credit: Terry Dinan
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The #29 Wrap, Club Sandwich. Credit: Terry Dinan
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Meatloaf Special, CT Sandwich Co. Credit: Terry Dinan
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The Eclectic Cheeseteak. Credit: Terry Dinan
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Italian-Style Pepper & Egg, Joe's Pizza. Credit: Terry Dinan
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The BBQ Pulled Pork, Rosie. Credit: Terry Dinan
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The Big Kalooski, Silvermine Market. Credit: Terry Dinan
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The Manhattan Club, Walter Stewart's. Credit: Terry Dinan
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Chicken Cutlet Cordon Blue, Tony's Deli. Credit: Terry Dinan
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The "Macho Man", Dinan's Deli. Credit: Terry Dinan
There is an amazing ratio of sandwiches to people here in New
Canaan. So amazing, that a couple of places (most notably the
Best Würst and the Forest St. Deli) closed while we compiled
this list. It’s important to note that this specific list was
relegated to counter service restaurants or delis only. We are
well aware of many of the amazing sandwiches that are served
at traditional sit-down restaurants here in town. We’ll save
those for another time. For now, we hope you
enjoy this list—sorted alphabetically—of our top-10 sandwiches
in New Canaan. Feel free to comment below to weigh in if we
missed your favorite, and be sure to click on the links to our
business directory where you can add your own ratings and
reviews.
The College Wrap, Chicken
Joe’s. Credit: Terry Dinan
Chicken Joe’s – The “Home of the High School Special” is also
home to some terrific, inventive sandwiches and wraps. With
all due respect to my bud Kevin—a big fan of the
“Electrician’s Combo” (Chicken Cutlet, Fresh Mozzarella,
Lettuce, Mayo, Oil, & Vinegar)—we were partial to the popular
“College Wrap” ($7.50) which combines the signature chicken
nuggets, potato cones, American cheese and honey mustard in a
flour tortilla.
The #29 Wrap, Club Sandwich.
Credit: Terry Dinan
Club Sandwich – Anyone who lived in New Canaan in the mid-80’s
knows Club Sandwich. In business since 1986, this Cherry
Street staple took the town by storm with its numeric,
categorized menu featuring more than 45 sandwiches and wraps.
The one that most New Canaan old timers will remember is the
#29 Wrap ($6.99), an often-imitated, never-duplicated
concoction of smoked turkey, bacon, apple butter, lettuce and
mayo on a four tortilla. It’s a true New Canaan original, just
like the place that serves it.
Meatloaf Special, CT Sandwich
Co. Credit: Terry Dinan
CT Sandwich Co. – Eugene Chun’s Pine Street shop has quickly
become a popular destination for hungry New Canaanites, with a
unique lineup of offerings made from gourmet ingredients. And
while the sweet and spicy chicken sandwich gets most of the
headlines, it’s the meatloaf sandwich ($10) that has caught
our attention of late. Taking comfort food to a new level, a
healthy dose of tender, flavorful meatloaf is smothered with
caramelized onions, melted fontina cheese and garlic mayo. The
grilled country bread holds up nicely and provides a nice,
crispy contrast to the rest of the sandwich. Currently
classified as a “special,” we are lobbying Chun to make this a
permanent part of the menu.
The Eclectic Cheeseteak.
Credit: Terry Dinan
Eclectic – Situated well off the beaten path on Vitti Street,
chef/owner Robert Milano’s gourmet establishment showcases
some innovative, New American cuisine that has garnered welldeserved critical praise in its year-plus of operation. We
sampled—and loved—the Eclectic Cheese Steak ($10), which
features real shredded steak (as opposed to the ubiquitous
“steak-umm” product frequently seen in these parts), sautéed
mushrooms and onions, Havarti cheese, scallions, honey ham,
sweet, peppers and aioli on grilled bread.
Italian-Style Pepper & Egg,
Joe’s Pizza. Credit: Terry
Dinan
Joe’s Pizza – Serving generations of New Canaan families for
more than four decades, Joe’s is not only a great place for
pizza and wings—they also have a terrific sandwich menu. And
while many will go for the flashy choices like the Cluck N’
Russian (chicken cutlet, bacon, swiss, lettuce, tomato,
Russian dressing), we like the simple, traditional Italian
Style Pepper & Egg grinder ($6.99). With eggs & peppers
perfectly cooked and served on a buttered, grilled wedge, it’s
also the sandwich of choice of New Canaan First Selectman Rob
Mallozzi as well as owner Lorenzo Colella’s neighbors at the
New Canaan Fire Station. Now those are impressive referrals.
The BBQ Pulled Pork, Rosie.
Credit: Terry Dinan
Rosie – It’s tough to look past the amazing breakfast/brunch
items on Rosie’s menu, but if you can muster up the willpower
to do so, give the pulled pork sandwich ($12, served with
fries) a shot. A huge helping of sweet, tender BBQ pork
accompanied by a healthy dose of spicy, colorful firecracker
slaw packed onto a delicious brioche roll, this sandwich is
literally a head-turner as you have to crane your neck in
different directions to eat it. After one bite, you’ll know
it’s well worth the extra effort.
The Big Kalooski, Silvermine
Market. Credit: Terry Dinan
Silvermine Market – Perhaps New Canaan’s best-kept secret,
this quaint little emporium nestled in the middle of a largely
residential area on the New Canaan-Norwalk line features a
surprising sit-down dinner transformation on Friday and
Saturday nights. That said—it’s best known for its hearty
breakfast and lunch menus, featuring dozens of clever sandwich
combos. Appropriately listed as #1 on the menu is the Big
Kalooski ($8.50), a simple-yet-delicious blend of hot roast
beef, melted Swiss, A-1 Steak Sauce on a toasted garlic wedge.
The Manhattan Club, Walter
Stewart’s. Credit: Terry Dinan
Stewart’s Market – A New Canaan institution for more than a
century, Walter Stewart’s has seen many a competitor come and
go. The reason for its success is good, old-fashioned customer
service coupled with an uncanny ability to evolve with the
times. One example is the Stewart’s deli, which goes beyond
the standard supermarket-style of “take a number” and offers a
terrific menu of sandwiches, Panini and wraps—all made with
care by an extremely friendly and efficient staff. Our choice
was the delicious and filling Manhattan Club ($6.99),
featuring a combo of hot pastrami and corned beef, topped with
melted Swiss, Russian dressing and coleslaw served on a
Portuguese roll. It’s the Stewart family’s way of bringing a
little bit of NYC to New Canaan.
Chicken Cutlet Cordon Blue,
Tony’s Deli. Credit: Terry
Dinan
Tony’s Deli – A hotspot for teens and families seeking a quick
fix, Tony’s is justifiably jammed throughout the day with fans
clamoring over a menu dotted with dozens of intriguing
choices. And while many will cry foul over looking past the
famous Joe Co. wrap (chicken cutlet, potato cones, bacon,
Monterey Jack, avocado, lettuce, tomato, honey mustard), we’re
going to go with the Chicken Cutlet Cordon Blue ($8.79). A
breaded, fried chicken breast covered with blue cheese
dressing, melted American, ham, lettuce and tomato, this is a
filling, delicious take on an old favorite. It’s also the
sandwich of choice of New Canaan’s 6’6, 243-lb., Boston
College-bound football star Zach Allen. And we’re not going to
be the ones to argue with him.
The “Macho Man”, Dinan’s Deli.
Credit: Terry Dinan
Dinan’s Deli – OK, so we don’t actually have a deli, but we
took some liberties to pay homage to our dad, Tim Dinan. Born
and raised in the Bronx, dad has many fond memories of local
NYC delis and the amazing sandwiches they served “back in the
day.” One day, our old man took it upon himself to create his
own sandwich, consisting of liverwurst, horseradish cheddar,
Bermuda onion, beefsteak tomato, Dijon mustard on pumpernickel
bread. He called it “The Macho Man”(ingredients cost about $14
at the supermarket, yielding two sandwiches), and true to its
name, it packs quite a punch. All nepotism aside, it is really
a great sandwich, ingeniously interspersing bold flavors and
textures, with the juicy tomato and smooth liverwurst
perfectly balancing out the horseradish cheese and crisp
onion, and the mustard giving it a little extra kick at the
end. Dad was so high on this sandwich he (unsuccessfully)
implored our restaurateur uncle Terry to put it on the
menu—first at the ‘21’ Club, then at his eponymous restaurant
at 34th & Park. So while it never gained notoriety in the NYC
power lunch scene of the 1980s, Mike and I wanted to give a
tip of the cap to our dad by ensuring The Macho Man’s place in
history here on NewCanaanite.com.
Eye Openers: New Canaan’s
Best Breakfast Sandwiches
It’s often a morning-after “cure-all” and other times simply a
meal. Whatever the purpose, the breakfast sandwich has a
firmly established niche in the culinary world.
In New Canaan, the Deli-Bake is long-gone and we recently lost
the Forest Street Deli’s legendary “Big O”. That said, we
still have more than a half-dozen eateries featuring some form
of breakfast sandwich on their menu.
Here is a look at our five favorites:
Apple Cart Food Co. – The Mead Park Breakfast Wrap
Apple Cart Food Company’s Mead
Park Wrap.
With a menu featuring fresh salads, sandwiches and wraps, Emad
Aziz’s Mead Park mainstay is a dining destination that
transcends the average public park snack bar. The Mead Park
Breakfast Wrap follows the trend, with eggs, cheese, potatoes,
avocado and a choice of bacon, ham or sausage topped with a
spicy pepper sauce and held together in a grilled whole-wheat
tortilla.
Chicken Joe’s – The Hotsy
The Hotsy at Chicken Joe’s.
The Hotsy is a bacon, egg and cheese with the added attraction
of Chicken Joe’s delicious home fries and their signature
spicy chili. Unlike many places, the bacon is cooked fresh on
the grill and not pre-cooked. It costs about as much as a
bottle of Rolaids and tastes a heck of a lot better. Add in
the chance to dine under the watchful eye of Joe Marotta and
other New Canaan sports figures immortalized on the Chicken
Joes’s wall…it’s the perfect way to kick-start your morning
after a night out on the town.
Connecticut Sandwich Co. – French
The French at CT Sandwich
Company.
Eugene Chun’s unique twist on a standard ham, egg and cheese
is a new and most-welcome addition to the pre-noon New Canaan
dining scene. The eggs are scrambled and cooked to fluffy
perfection. Gruyere and Dijonnaise add a complexity not found
in the oft-used American cheese. Add in a healthy amount of
fresh ham and a delicious brioche and we have a gagneur. Oh
and be sure to wash it down with one of three delicious
juices.
Rosie – Superico Burrito
Rosie’s Superico Burrito.
As tough as it may be to bypass (no pun intended) the famous
Huevos Rancheros at this Elm St. staple, the Superico Burrito
is a great alternative. At $12 it’s the most expensive
sandwich on the list but with that said it’s also a classic
example of getting what you pay for at this popular Elm Street
staple. Three eggs, ham, cheese, a healthy dose of avocado,
salsa and fresh herbs make the Superico a meal sure to fill
the emptiest of stomachs, and could carry you right through
lunch.
Tony’s Deli – New Canaan Special
Tony’s New Canaan Special.
Tony’s is mobbed most mornings and one only needs glance at
the menu to figure out why. Dozens of inventive sandwiches,
wraps and salads as well as premade entrees and homemade soups
make this a popular choice among New Canaanites both young and
old. Leading the way on the breakfast menu is the New Canaan
Special…a bacon egg and cheese with those addictive potato
cones on a poppy seed roll. Go big and order it with a double
egg.
Tony’s Deli: ‘New Canaan
Landmark’ Consistently
Delivers
With its warm staff and dazzling array of inventive
sandwiches, wraps and salads, Tony’s Deli has carved a special
niche as a destination for hungry New Canaanites since opening
on Pine Street in 2007.
East School students Meredith
Sloan, Kiki Brainard and
Carolina Welch of Girls Scout
Troop 173 pose with Tony's deli
owner Tony Gencarelli.
While Tony’s certainly has broad appeal, it specifically has
forged a unique place with youth and high school sports
programs. Take a look around the interior of Tony’s and you’ll
see “thank you” posters from various Rams teams, from
cheerleading to hockey to football.
“Tony’s is a New Canaan landmark,” NCHS senior Connor Buck
told NewCanaanite.com. “Going back to youth football, after a
long game our team would always go to Tony’s. Everyone loves
them.”
A major part of Tony’s synergy with the high school kids in
particular is due to some old-fashioned features they’ve
instituted in recent years.
“They’ll deliver to the high school,” Buck said. “They know a
whole bunch of us now personally. So if you go there enough
they’ll set up a house account, like a tab, with your name. So
it’s awesome.”
Despite owning another deli
in Greenwich, Tony’s owner
Anthony Gencarelli spends 90
percent of his time in New
Canaan. He feels that the
convenience and flexibility
the house accounts afford the
students is just part of the
deli’s customer service.
“I love the kids in here,” Gencarelli said. “Some of the kids
don’t have cash with them, so we say it’s fine to start a
house account and pay on a weekly basis. I have no problem
with that.”
Tony’s has also been known to name a sandwich after a student
athlete or two. For example, one of the more unique–and
popular–choices at Tony’s is the “Joe Co.” wrap (chicken
cutlet, potato cones, bacon, cheese, avocado, lettuce, tomato
and honey mustard), reportedly named for 2011 NCHS graduate
Joe Costigan.
NewCanaanite.com asked Buck if he had a sandwich named after
him. The 6’5” 244-lb. Colgate-bound defensive lineman smiled
and said, “I’m working on it.”
If it ever comes to fruition, it will undoubtedly be a big
one.