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The Art of Italian Deli: Originale Cafe and Deli's Journey to Authenticity

As I sit down at table three in Downtown Anchorage, Alaska, I'm surrounded by the warm and inviting atmosphere of Originale Cafe and Deli. The husband and wife team behind this establishment have taken Italian deli to new heights, creating a truly authentic experience that will transport you back to the Tuscan countryside. Owner Sergio Ancelotti shares his story, having moved to the United States at the age of five, then Brazil, before finally settling in Alaska with his wife. Their search for a real authentic Italian place led them to this spot, where they decided to create their own culinary haven.

This is no ordinary deli; every aspect, from the bread to the meats, cheeses, and spices, is sourced directly from Italy. Sergio's passion for authentic Italian cuisine shines through in every dish, ensuring that customers taste the difference between a standard deli and this culinary gem. The bread, meats, and cheeses are all expertly prepared to evoke the flavors of Italy, transporting diners back to the region.

When it comes to their famous Roman-style pizzas, Sergio explains that his team uses a blend of wheat flour, rice flour, soy flour, and sourdough to create a light and crispy crust. The dough is proofed for 72 hours, allowing the natural yeast to ferment, giving it a unique flavor. After baking at 500°F for 7-8 minutes, the pizza is topped with an assortment of ingredients, including fresh meats, olives, capers, and secret spices.

Sergio takes us through the process of creating their signature Panisa Pizza, explaining that it's not just about tossing a few toppings on top of a crust. The combination of flavors and textures is what sets this pizza apart from its regular counterparts. With 16 ingredients in total, including fresh meats, green olives, capers, and secret spices, every bite is a symphony of flavors.

The next step involves adding tapenade to the Panisa Pizza, which Sergio describes as "the bomb." The sauce is made with a blend of ingredients, including olive oil, parbake beans, and shredded mozzarella. This unique combination creates a rich, velvety texture that complements the crispy crust perfectly. As we watch Sergio prepare the pizza, he explains that the magic happens when it's baked to perfection at 500°F for 11.25 minutes.

The finished product is nothing short of spectacular. The strella cheese, which Sergio claims is high-end and doesn't even feel like traditional pizza crust, adds a luxurious texture that elevates the entire dish. The pepper sauce, with its unique flavor profile, is the perfect complement to the crispy crust. As I take my first bite, I'm transported to a world of flavors that are both familiar and excitingly new.

The Pepper Sauce: A Whole Different Category

Sergio's enthusiasm for his pepper sauce is palpable as he explains that it's a category all its own. Unlike regular pizza sauces, this one has a unique flavor profile that sets it apart from the rest. The secret to its success lies in the combination of ingredients, which Sergio refuses to disclose.

As I taste the pepper sauce on its own, I'm struck by its complexity and depth. It's both spicy and tangy, with a subtle sweetness that balances out the heat. This sauce is not just a condiment; it's an experience that elevates every dish it touches. Sergio's confidence in his pepper sauce is evident as he encourages me to try it on anything – even a plain pizza crust.

The Secret Spice: A Game-Changer

As I delve deeper into the world of Originale Cafe and Deli, I begin to appreciate the attention to detail that goes into every aspect of their culinary offerings. The secret spice, which Sergio has sworn to secrecy, is a game-changer when it comes to adding depth and complexity to even the simplest dishes.

Sergio's passion for his food is contagious, as he shares stories about the inspiration behind each dish and the care that goes into preparing every ingredient. This dedication to authenticity shines through in every bite, ensuring that customers leave with a newfound appreciation for Italian cuisine and a renewed sense of excitement about trying new flavors.

In the world of culinary delights, Originale Cafe and Deli stands out as a beacon of excellence. Sergio's commitment to authentic Italian cuisine has created a haven where diners can indulge in a truly unique experience that will transport them back to the Tuscan countryside. Whether you're a foodie or simply looking for a new adventure, this deli is an absolute must-visit destination.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enwell listen I'm here in Downtown Anchorage Alaska where a husband and wife and daughter team are taking Italian deli to the next level this is originale Cafe and Deli Glen's ready for table three please everything that they have here is just delicious you taste the difference compared to what you'd call an average Deli oh yeah the bread Meats the cheeses spicy Coppa everything's from Italy everything's really authentic just like owner Sergio ancelotti moved to United States when I was 5 years old then Brazil and then wife went to Italy Italy United States what and Brazil came up to Alaska looking for a real authentic Italian place and just couldn't find anything so I said this is where we're going to do something it really truly does bring me back to my studies in Italy it's become like our Friday lunch dat okay there you go you know how to prepare it right absolutely so it's a market a deli a restaurant to go catering yep the focus is paninis and our pzas now pzas pzas this is not like any other kind of P Pizza it's a Roman style it's nice and light and crispy it's just perfect so we're going to make the pizza dough now wheat flour rice flour soy flour and then a blend of sourdough and we add water now we just go to proof 72 hours yep a little pillow here treats it like a little baby into the tray and bake it what temperat we going to cook this at 500° 7 to 8 minutes then we're going to bring it out and top it yeah I guess you'll tell me when we get there yes good talk where are we going you'll know when we arrive p Tesa today I had the panesa pizza it was really delicious fresh cut Meats on it the olive taput is so good it feels like it's 16 ingredients in there what's the next step tapanade to put on that panisa green olives Capers the secret spice the bomb olive oil what you make here no we've got our parbake Bean do you know what this is right that's the mother sauce shredded mozzarella with provolone tapenade now we're ready to bake let me guess 39 1° for 11.25 minutes 500° for 7 to 8 minutes it's where the magic happens madella strella so fresh Ms and little heavy cream this is high-end doesn't even eat like pizza crust it eats like Brio really nice texture the pepper sauce is just a whole different category of itself I'll eat that on a flipflop the strella gives this total Ju flavors sweet salty crunchy Tangy smooth silky that's something different man may look like pizza but it's outrageous laa everything that's on there is just completely different from a regular pizza Super Fresh and the chees is just really bring it homewell listen I'm here in Downtown Anchorage Alaska where a husband and wife and daughter team are taking Italian deli to the next level this is originale Cafe and Deli Glen's ready for table three please everything that they have here is just delicious you taste the difference compared to what you'd call an average Deli oh yeah the bread Meats the cheeses spicy Coppa everything's from Italy everything's really authentic just like owner Sergio ancelotti moved to United States when I was 5 years old then Brazil and then wife went to Italy Italy United States what and Brazil came up to Alaska looking for a real authentic Italian place and just couldn't find anything so I said this is where we're going to do something it really truly does bring me back to my studies in Italy it's become like our Friday lunch dat okay there you go you know how to prepare it right absolutely so it's a market a deli a restaurant to go catering yep the focus is paninis and our pzas now pzas pzas this is not like any other kind of P Pizza it's a Roman style it's nice and light and crispy it's just perfect so we're going to make the pizza dough now wheat flour rice flour soy flour and then a blend of sourdough and we add water now we just go to proof 72 hours yep a little pillow here treats it like a little baby into the tray and bake it what temperat we going to cook this at 500° 7 to 8 minutes then we're going to bring it out and top it yeah I guess you'll tell me when we get there yes good talk where are we going you'll know when we arrive p Tesa today I had the panesa pizza it was really delicious fresh cut Meats on it the olive taput is so good it feels like it's 16 ingredients in there what's the next step tapanade to put on that panisa green olives Capers the secret spice the bomb olive oil what you make here no we've got our parbake Bean do you know what this is right that's the mother sauce shredded mozzarella with provolone tapenade now we're ready to bake let me guess 39 1° for 11.25 minutes 500° for 7 to 8 minutes it's where the magic happens madella strella so fresh Ms and little heavy cream this is high-end doesn't even eat like pizza crust it eats like Brio really nice texture the pepper sauce is just a whole different category of itself I'll eat that on a flipflop the strella gives this total Ju flavors sweet salty crunchy Tangy smooth silky that's something different man may look like pizza but it's outrageous laa everything that's on there is just completely different from a regular pizza Super Fresh and the chees is just really bring it home\n"