What makes a sandwich super? Some say special ingredients. Others argue the key is the bread. At TJ's Trio of Restaurants in downtown Wooster it starts with the name. New on the menu is the Super Duper Veggie Delight named for its creator and local resident, Duper Pallotta.
Pallotta was high bidder for the sandwich naming rights at the annual Sweet Jubilation fundraiser benefiting The Village Network (TVN). Her family favorite will be featured on three of the four menus at TJ's Trio for six months with a portion of the proceeds donated to TVN.
Imagine fried eggplant and melted provolone topped with onions, cucumbers, alfalfa sprouts and basil pesto on toasted homemade bread served open face and you have aSuper Duper Delight. Pallotta, a vegetarian, chose this recipe because the two men in her life, husband Mike Pallotta and son Joey, are big fans.
"I'm delighted with Duper's new menu item," said Greg Tieche, owner of TJ's Trio. "It is a great combination of textures and flavors and I really like the blend of hot and cold ingredients. We have always featured a vegetarian option but this sandwich is a wonderful upgrade."
Both Pallotta and Tieche are long-time supporters of TVN and they share a friendship with Bob Maruna, former recreation director and now development associate for TVN-Boys' Village Campus, Wooster. Naming rights to a menu item was Maruna's brainchild according to Tieche.
Getting to label a sandwich is a fun idea according to Pallotta but the draw was helping the agency with its mission of rebuilding the lives of troubled and neglected boys and girls.
"Way back when I was a life guard at the city pool Bob (Maruna) asked if any of us would give swimming lessons to some of the guys at Boys' Village in the morning before the pool opened," said Pallotta. "I said sure. We had a blast! I still remember it and it makes me smile. "
If you run into Pallotta, remember to ask for her superbusiness card and get $1 off the new sandwich. If you can't track her down, CLICK HERE for a copy of the coupon!
