A Whopper of a Chocolate Egg
While many of you are out shopping for Cadbury cream eggs and pastel jelly beans to fill Easter Baskets, consider this: At Dante’s Gourmet Deli in White Plains, someone bought a 30-pound chocolate egg imported from Italy.
“We were going to raffle it off,� Anthony Perrotta, the owner of Dante’s, told me. “But someone bought it first  for their granddaughter.�
The egg cost $268 and was completely made by hand. It’s not solid  inside there is a gift: a piece of jewelry, Anthony says, like a bracelet or a necklace.
Lucky girl!
But from what I can tell, just about anything you can buy at Dante’s should make anybody happy.
I had a panino made with speck  a type of Italian ham  broccoli rabe, mozzarella, roasted peppers and pesto, and it was  To. Die. For. Check it out:
And Anthony  who knew I was in the shop taking photos of the egg  threw in a taste of his homemade mozzarella, which is really a treat. I haven’t had mozz like that since Valente in Nyack closed several years ago.
There are lots of cool things at Dante’s, mostly because Anthony’s family has an import/export business in Genoa and makes sure he gets all the products that are popular in Italy, like a new pasta made from farro.
I was quite taken with the seed display.
Anthony used to be a CPA and his wife used to be a schoolteacher, but 10 years ago, they took over the place from two Italian couples (one of the men was named Dante) who had owned it for 30 years before that. (At least being a CPA he can do his own books, right?)
Check out some of the goods.
And they do the cooking from Anthony’s grandmother Louisa’s recipes.
Just during the time I was in there today for lunch, I noticed the great rapport Anthony has with his customers. Take this exchange, for instance:
“HI Antonio. I’ll have a couple of those stuffed mushrooms.�
“Great  how’s the little one?�
“Just great, thanks. And what’s in the stuffed peppers? Meat?�
“Yes, those have meat, but the mushrooms don’t  would you like a few more of those?�
“I already have enough of those, but I’ll use them tomorrow and the peppers for tonight.�
You know  like it’s totally normal to tell your deli guy your dinner plans for the week.
And this week is a busy one for Anthony. He’s got his Easter orders for leg of lamb, ravioli and fettucine (which he makes fresh in the store), lasagna and tons of antipasti. People order from as far away as Florida and North Carolina.
I’m just glad I’m not that far away.
Liz, I’m dizzy for Dante’s myself. I agree, his fresh mozzerella is the absolute best! You can also buy fresh pasta here. But if you want something like paparadelle you need to call ahead… it goes fast!
I didn’t know about his Genoa connection and that certainly helps explain why this place seems so authentically Italian… often you can overhear Anthony chatting with his customers in their native tongue …. makes me want to jump on the next plane to Rome! (could I possibly use any more explanation points?!)
PS The huge chocolate egg sounds great, but I do love my Cadbury creme eggs … maybe a little too much… And by next week they’ll be gone … boo hoo…
Where in White Plains is it located?
They used to make a heck of a macaroni salad, too. They took the ordinary and made it extraordinary, although I haven’t seen it in there for quite a while.
It’s the best place to go on Central Ave. for a lunch to go! Eggplant parm to die for!
Kathy, they are in a small building across the street from TJ Maxx & McDonald’s, near Kentucky Fried Chicken (same side). My only complaint is that the parking lot is so small angled funny and people can really be vicious over spaces there.
Thanks CR. I’m on Bank Street in WP so it’s close to me. I could probably even walk….
Sorry Kathy! I just saw these comments.
Dante Delicatessen
429 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY 10606
(914) 946-3609
Yes, the parking is a nightmare!
I suppose if I’ll have to stop by this place if I’m ever in New York! Anyone know how long a drive White Plains is from the Greater Toronto Area?
I suppose I’ll have to stop by this place if I’m ever in New York! Anyone know how long a drive White Plains is from the Greater Toronto Area?
That’s quite a coincidence, Dante.
Thanks for the address and telephone number. I can’t believe I live so close and never realized it was there.
Thanks for reminding me about Dante’s. I used to go there for lunch quite a bit when I worked down the street. Even though I still live nearby, I don’t think of it – probably because of the parking situation. But I’ll give it a go again, especially after seeing the olives and that panini!
Good and perfect.
Precious work.
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