Italian salad a popular item at Anthony’s
Q: I’m a huge fan of Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza and love their classic salad, especially the dressing. I’d like to include the salad in my holiday dinners if you can get the recipe? Thanks. — Sean S., Delray Beach
A: You’re not alone, Sean. The Classic Italian salad happens to be one of my go-to dishes as well. I do enjoy the “well-done” pizza, but the salad and oven roasted chicken wings are my personal favorites. We featured Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza’s (multiple locations, acfp.com) sought-after wing recipe in 2014, one of our most requested recipes.
As for the salad, Anthony’s sells about 2,000 per day nationwide, according to Chief Culinary Officer Dean Courtelis. I was fortunate to recently catch up with Courtelis, who oversees the food and beverage operations. He had just returned from a trip to Italy. His itinerary included a visit to Naples, where their plum tomatoes are grown and sourced.
“We visited the fields and tasted the tomatoes to ensure they have the flavor and quality we want,” he said. “Those tomatoes will be canned for the entire year so we have the same delicious, consistent sauce for every guest.”
The culinary voyage offers a glimpse into the success of the Florida-based company that founder Anthony Bruno launched in
Fort Lauderdale in 2002. Bruno sold Anthony’s in 2015 but sits on its board of directors. He launched Anthony’s Pronto earlier this year and Andy’s Live Fire Grill & Bar in late 2018.
When asked about the popularity of their Classic Italian salad, Courtelis explained, “The simple, fresh ingredients make it a favorite of everyone that tastes it. When you add the tart dressing that we make in-house daily, it becomes a true expression of Italian flavors.” Like many of their dishes, the recipe came from Bruno’s family and has been featured on the menu for 17 years, since the day they opened.
When balancing your holiday entertaining workload, Sean, keep in mind that Anthony’s Italian dressing is available bottled at the restaurants. Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza’s meatball pot is also a timesaving, clever offering that comes ready-toheat in a stainless-steel pot with 13 large meatballs in tomato sauce. And you get to keep the pot, making it great for gifting, too.