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John Ingrassia, a music industry veteran and long-time Nashville resident, is proud to announce the opening of Ingrassia & Sons Italian Deli at 461 Humphreys St. in Nashville’s Wedgewood Houston neighborhood. Inspired by the classic Italian American delis where customers know and interact with the people serving them, John hopes to bring a modern version of an old-school neighborhood deli to Nashville, one that is as much about the experience as it is about the food. The kitchen is led by Jack Trooper, a veteran chef who has worked at some of the world’s most celebrated restaurants, including Eleven Madison Park when it was named the best restaurant in the world—and he also happens to be John’s godson! The menu includes signature and classic sandwiches served on house-made bread, prepared foods, and house-baked pastries. www.ingrassiaandsons.com
Italian sandwiches are the stars of the show at Ingrassia & Sons. And, as both John and Jack know—and anyone who’s ever had a great sandwich—it begins with exceptional bread. To this end, the deli is baking two signature breads every day; a light and airy focaccia and a crusty, seeded hero with tons of sesame seeds. As for what’s between the bread, diners can expect classics like The Godson, which is stacked with a variety of Italian cured meats and cheeses, and the holy trinity of parms: chicken, eggplant, and meatball, as well signature sandwiches like Porchetta, slowly braised and roasted pork belly wrapped around pork shoulder, served with arugula, pickled onions, and a lively kick of salsa verde, and the Sneaky Italian Turkey, house-roasted turkey, stracciatella, sun-dried tomatoes, pesto, and arugula on focaccia. Other highlights include Sicilian caponata, sauteed broccoli rabe, and fried chicken cutlets, a mainstay at any respectable NY Italian deli. Ingrassia & Sons also offers several dessert items made in-house, including olive oil cake, NY-style cheesecake, and tiramisu.
“The concept of Ingrassia & Sons is rooted in tradition and fundamentally Italian-American. But having worked for years in some of the world’s best kitchens, I also wanted to take some of that experience and have a little extra fun with the menu,” said Jack, who grew up in Nashville and whose family once owned Bobbie’s Dairy Dip. “Ultimately, we’re looking to think outside the box, flex our creativity, and best serve our neighbors.”
For John, it was Leggio's on Long Island, where he grew up, Di Bruno’s in Philadelphia, where he went to college, and Faicco’s in Manhattan, where he lived for 25 years, that served as the inspiration for Ingrassia & Sons. “These were places that were fun and interactive the moment you walked in the door,” said John. “The people behind the counter had big personalities and lots of East Coast attitude and were always happy to introduce you to Italian food and ingredients that you never tried before and weren’t available at supermarkets. And, of course, they cared deeply about the food they were serving.”
Housed in a 1700 square-foot space designed by local interior designer Hannah Crowell, Ingrassia & Sons has a small grocery section where customers can find the typical staples of the Italian pantry—olive oils, vinegars, pastas, canned tomatoes—as well as harder-to-find ingredients like bottarga, passata, colatura, and whole anchovies preserved in salt. The space will also boast a classic jukebox stocked with a rotating mix of vinyl 45’s from John’s extensive personal collection, which customers can use free of charge.
While this godfather/godson duo are at the helm of Ingrassia & Sons, the deli’s name honors a long line of sons, including John’s grandfather and his four brothers, who arrived in the U.S. from Sicily in 1928, and his father and many uncles. “These were the men who instilled in me a love and appreciation for all things Italian,” John says, “and they also had a band!”