My father grew up in a mill town—Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania—tucked into western PA. It’s a place known for its deep Italian roots, and for me, it’s always been a place tied to food and family. A few times a year, my family would pack into the car—my brother, my parents, and me—and head off to visit my grandparents in Beaver Falls. It was the highlight of my year. I have vivid memories of Oram’s Donuts—arguably the best I’ve ever had—and a little spot called The Hot Dog Shoppe that served exactly what you'd expect: hot dogs, done right.

 

But above all, what stuck with me most from those road trips to western Pennsylvania were the sandwiches. My love for prosciutto actually started there—but that’s a story for another time. As a Maine kid with French roots and Italian lineage, I was being introduced to what a real sandwich could be. The ingredients were fresher, the options different from what I knew growing up in New England. The dishes more varied, more abundant than the classic red-sauce joints I’d come to know later in life. I wanted more of that.

 

And so, I give you Mancini’s—a sophisticated sandwich menu that changes with the seasons but always brings me back to those road trips. Back to that feeling of discovery, comfort, and good food shared with family.

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– Evan Mancini