Post by Chase Lane on Aug 24, 2014 20:11:13 GMT -6
I always get a tug in my heart when I think about people I haven't seen in a while. As I mentioned in previous threads, I am housebound now, and have been for some years. The last time I was at Mama Toscano's I had to pull myself up through their door. Some from being overweight and some from breathing issues, which seem to keep getting worse. Funny, when you think you'll see someone again you don't realize how much breaking a leg and months in a hospital can do to make you lose track. Two broken legs in two years and six months in a hospital worse. As usual, I digress.
I want to say (as I mentioned Toscano's in my Max German post) that Max German has one of the better Italian Sausages out there. BUT, and that is a big BUT!, Toscano's has always been tops. I can vacuum down their home made Raviolis, to the point I would go broke, but the subject is SALCISSA or Italian Sausage to us that don't like to check spelling.
Pops and I go back forty years with the Toscanos, as well as many others who have come and gone on The Hill, in Saint Louis. We would sell hams and some cheese to them and Nick, Sr. would also let us bid on ham deals for Christmas or large orders of pork butts, when they had some large orders going out. To say that the people on The Hill are were the best customers we had would stop way short of doing them justice. There were times we would forget to bill Toscanos for an item or maybe deliver one too many of something. Nick would always fix the bill and call us. While I was looking up info on their store (as I want to do some ordering now) I notice Nick, Sr. and Virgina Toscano have passed on. However, as long as I've known Nick, Sr. I have known Nick, Jr. and later his wife Patty. Last couple times I was in there I even got to meet their son.
Now for the reason I am writing this. I've been an Amazon shopper for years, and since my last bout with health issues, I have relied on Schnuck's to deliver food. I keep thinking, Damn, I wish I had some good Italian Sausage, or like with Max German, wishing I had some of their Braunschweiger. Every so often I was peeking into things online. Sure, I could find addresses to the stores. I just wasn't sure about ordering online. It's still difficult with many places. However, if you've ever had Toscano's Italian Sausage you base every other Italian Sausage on it. You will find many good, but you will not find many as consistently juicy, sweet, and flavorful as theirs.
Back in my peddler days I would stop at Rumbolo's, make a delivery. Then I would stop at Gioia's and get a hot salami, and then onto Toscano's. Sometimes the crew were trying something new and I would get to sample the wares. Even after a Hot Salami I would order a Poor Boy from Nick and/or Nick. Believe it or not, even the Mayo or Salad Dressing they used set their sandwiches apart. No kidding! Sometimes if Nick had some bread ends he would make me a deal. Who was I to refuse?
During several events people would take orders for another sandwich shop. I'm not going to try to spell the name, but all I could think of was, "This could have been a Toscano's." I believe they still use Fazio Bakery, which happens to be a relation, so no complaints there. Their items are tops.
Nick and Patty made me feel like family, as Nick's parents did. I'm really bad at saying to someone, "Hey, my body won't let me out to your store anymore." I figure people are too busy. However, I know Nick would remember me. Patty probably too. Nick hadn't seen me in years, due to my working nights, and called me out the minute I walked through that store. Old times can still be part of our future.
The really good news is it's pay week. I've signed on to mamatoscano.com/store/ and see that they have their Salcissa for a great price. In checking other prices (for the sake of objectivity) I saw one that was about a dime a pound cheaper. Most were higher. I can say that the other brand has always been somewhat dry, so I have intentionally stayed away from it. Nick and Patty also have a great price on Provel or Pizza Cheese. So, my basket will start with that. And, after I get my feet wet again, I'll be asking if they can sell some of the other cheeses and things that are components of their sandwiches, like Swiss, Mozz, etc. Oh, and their meatballs and sauce are to die for. However, my Vietnamese wife prides herself on some of her sauces, so I don't want to be in the doghouse. Vietnamese are really fond of sausages and other charcuterie, so I know I'll have a mini crowd pleaser here.
Please visit Nick, Patty, et al, and really... try everything on the menu. I miss them, but I look forward to doing some business with them again.
Submitted for your approval,
Chase Lane
Mama Toscano's
Macklind Ave & Bischoff Ave
On The Hill
Contact us by phone
314.776.2926
Stop by and visit,
2201 Macklind Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
Click on for larger image
Screen Grab copyright 2011 Google
I want to say (as I mentioned Toscano's in my Max German post) that Max German has one of the better Italian Sausages out there. BUT, and that is a big BUT!, Toscano's has always been tops. I can vacuum down their home made Raviolis, to the point I would go broke, but the subject is SALCISSA or Italian Sausage to us that don't like to check spelling.
Pops and I go back forty years with the Toscanos, as well as many others who have come and gone on The Hill, in Saint Louis. We would sell hams and some cheese to them and Nick, Sr. would also let us bid on ham deals for Christmas or large orders of pork butts, when they had some large orders going out. To say that the people on The Hill are were the best customers we had would stop way short of doing them justice. There were times we would forget to bill Toscanos for an item or maybe deliver one too many of something. Nick would always fix the bill and call us. While I was looking up info on their store (as I want to do some ordering now) I notice Nick, Sr. and Virgina Toscano have passed on. However, as long as I've known Nick, Sr. I have known Nick, Jr. and later his wife Patty. Last couple times I was in there I even got to meet their son.
Now for the reason I am writing this. I've been an Amazon shopper for years, and since my last bout with health issues, I have relied on Schnuck's to deliver food. I keep thinking, Damn, I wish I had some good Italian Sausage, or like with Max German, wishing I had some of their Braunschweiger. Every so often I was peeking into things online. Sure, I could find addresses to the stores. I just wasn't sure about ordering online. It's still difficult with many places. However, if you've ever had Toscano's Italian Sausage you base every other Italian Sausage on it. You will find many good, but you will not find many as consistently juicy, sweet, and flavorful as theirs.
Back in my peddler days I would stop at Rumbolo's, make a delivery. Then I would stop at Gioia's and get a hot salami, and then onto Toscano's. Sometimes the crew were trying something new and I would get to sample the wares. Even after a Hot Salami I would order a Poor Boy from Nick and/or Nick. Believe it or not, even the Mayo or Salad Dressing they used set their sandwiches apart. No kidding! Sometimes if Nick had some bread ends he would make me a deal. Who was I to refuse?
During several events people would take orders for another sandwich shop. I'm not going to try to spell the name, but all I could think of was, "This could have been a Toscano's." I believe they still use Fazio Bakery, which happens to be a relation, so no complaints there. Their items are tops.
Nick and Patty made me feel like family, as Nick's parents did. I'm really bad at saying to someone, "Hey, my body won't let me out to your store anymore." I figure people are too busy. However, I know Nick would remember me. Patty probably too. Nick hadn't seen me in years, due to my working nights, and called me out the minute I walked through that store. Old times can still be part of our future.
The really good news is it's pay week. I've signed on to mamatoscano.com/store/ and see that they have their Salcissa for a great price. In checking other prices (for the sake of objectivity) I saw one that was about a dime a pound cheaper. Most were higher. I can say that the other brand has always been somewhat dry, so I have intentionally stayed away from it. Nick and Patty also have a great price on Provel or Pizza Cheese. So, my basket will start with that. And, after I get my feet wet again, I'll be asking if they can sell some of the other cheeses and things that are components of their sandwiches, like Swiss, Mozz, etc. Oh, and their meatballs and sauce are to die for. However, my Vietnamese wife prides herself on some of her sauces, so I don't want to be in the doghouse. Vietnamese are really fond of sausages and other charcuterie, so I know I'll have a mini crowd pleaser here.
Please visit Nick, Patty, et al, and really... try everything on the menu. I miss them, but I look forward to doing some business with them again.
Submitted for your approval,
Chase Lane
Mama Toscano's
Macklind Ave & Bischoff Ave
On The Hill
Contact us by phone
314.776.2926
Stop by and visit,
2201 Macklind Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
Click on for larger image
Screen Grab copyright 2011 Google