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The Maine Italian sandwich (also called an Amato's Italian^[1], after its namesake, or simply an Italian^[2]) is a submarine sandwich in Italian-American cuisine.^[3] The Maine Italian sandwich was invented in Portland, Maine. It is similar to, but distinct from, other types of sandwiches called "Italians" and is closely associated with the Amato's sandwich shop chain, though it is found widely throughout the state.^[4]^[5]^[6] The sandwich is named for the Italian-American community in Portland and not for its ingredients.^[7]^[8] Italian sandwiches have been referred to as "a part of people's lives" in Maine.^[9]

History

Giovanni Amato, a grocer in Portland, Maine, claims to have invented the "Italian sandwich" in 1902.^[10]^[11] While selling bread on his street cart, Amato received requests from dockworkers to slice his long bread rolls and add sliced meat, cheese and vegetables to them.^[10]^[3] Amato later opened a sandwich shop named Amato's, and today the sandwich continues to be prepared by Amato's sandwich shops.^[3]^[12] The Amato's version is traditionally prepared using fresh-baked bread, ham, American cheese, slices of tomato, onions, green pepper and sour pickle, Kalamata olives and salad oil.^[12]

Many other Italian corner markets in Portland sold Italians. In the 1960s, Portland reportedly had an Italian sandwich shop "every couple of blocks."^[6] In the 1970s and 1980s, Italian sandwich shops added vegetarian versions of the sandwich without the ham.^[13] Monte's Fine Food in Portland was the first Italian shop to add a vegan Italian to the menu in 2019.^[13]

Preparation

The Maine Italian sandwich is prepared using a long bread roll or bun with meats such as ham along with American or provolone cheese, tomato, onion, green bell pepper, sliced dill pickles, Greek olives, olive oil or salad oil, salt and black pepper.^[1]

Veggie Italians are made with American or provolone cheese, tomato, onion, green bell pepper, sliced dill pickles, and olives. Sometimes lettuce is added to Veggie Italians. Vegan Italians are made with vegan cheese, vegan ham, tomato, onion, green bell pepper, sliced dill pickles, and olives.^[13]

Comparison with other Italian sandwiches

The Maine Italian is usually served on a long soft roll similar to a New England–style hot dog bun (also invented in Maine).^[14] It usually has a single cold-cut meat - ham is the most common, though other meats can be found as well. By contrast, Italian sandwiches elsewhere often include Italian meats like capocollo, Genoa salami, and mortadella.^[15]^[16] The Boston variant of the Italian sandwich is typically prepared on spuccadella and was historically called a "spuckie," though the use of this term is in decline.^[17] This comes from the distinction in the sandwich's name: the Maine Italian is so-named because it was commonly eaten by Italian immigrants, not because the sandwich contains Italian flavors or ingredients.^[7]