We spotlighted the late Tony Bourdain’s fave sandwich yesterday. While we’re on the subject, let’s shift our gaze to another TV celeb Chef who doesn’t do game shows… Here’s Stanley Tucci’s favourite sandwich…
Stanley introduces his Instagram video on how to make his fave sammy with the teaser: “In the colder months of the year I think it’s important to eat a lot of sandwiches, this is one of my fa-vourites. Prosciutto cotto, mozzarella, tomato, basil, salt, olive oil”
I, for one, never heard of that ‘rule’ about eating more sandwiches in cold weather before. But this is ‘Stanley’s post’. So we’ll take it as read…
What’s in it
As you know Signore Tucci made quite a splash on CNN a few years ago when he hosted the fist of the networks limited series food travel shows Searching for Italy. It seems fitting that his fave sammy has an Italian theme and heritage…
Like Bourdain’s fave, Stanley’s is simple to make. It has only 6 ingredients: Prosciutto cotto, mozza-rella, tomato, basil, salt, olive oil. And most of those you probably have on hand in your pantry and fridge already…
Cotto? What’s Cotto?
To start with… It’s an adjective, not a noun. It simply means something that’s ‘cooked’. Re-member the classic Italian espresso-dunking pastry, Biscotti? The name translates literally as ‘Twice Baked’.
Tucci is apparently referring to ‘Cooked Proscuito’, a delicacy I was not heretofore aware of.
How to stack it
This one you can stack in whatever order you like. But experts (and Tucci) suggest you place the cheese right next to one or the other of the slices of bread. It’s a toasted sammy, and placing the Provolone near the outside ensures it will get a nice melt on it before the bread burns. And don’t forget just a pinch of salt on top of the pile.
The Olive oil is drizzled on the hot sauté pan. Actually, a Cast Iron Skillet is Grill Pan is Stanley’s pre-ferred toasting platform. Press down with your spatula or weigh down with a second heavy pan to ensure you get the structure Tucci says is essential for authenticity. Turn several times as the sand-wich toasts.
“As the sandwich turns golden brown and melty, the London-based actor adds a dab of butter to the pan and on top of the bread,” Food & Wine’s Merlyn Miller relates. But that’s a point of contention with Italians… “Many Italians voiced their concerns in the [Instagram] comments, insisting that only olive oil should be used, but butter adds flavor and promotes browning. Additionally, Tucci refers to this sandwich as a ‘toastie’, making it a bit of a British-Italian hybrid.”
My take
Perhaps the most important instruction pertaining to Tuccu’s Sandwich is, ‘Cut in half and enjoy immediately!’ It’s essential that the sammy is savoured while the meat is still warm and the cheese is at its peak of melty goodness.
~ Maggie J.