Once upon a time in Naples, people would argue over who gets the cuzzetiello, the end part of the cafone bread that was dipped in the ragù simmering on the stove. Childhood memories that are relived today thanks to various street food formats that have spread from Naples to all over Italy. Giving life to this tradition in the city was O' Cuzzetiello, the establishment opened in 2016 by Dario Troise, who institutionalized this typical "marenna" (the Campanian lunchbox) with fillings of all kinds: ragù, sausage and friarielli, polpo alla Luciana, and many delicious seasonal variations.
O' Cuzzetiello, the stuffed cafone bread in Naples
Many have followed the trend (here are the places to taste cuzzetiello in Naples), but the sandwich from Via Rimini is unique in the world. At the heart of it all, a good cafone bread, a loaf of re-milled semolina wheat typical of peasant origin used to accompany any dish, but above all for a custom "scarpetta" (bread-dipping). The fragrant crust is emptied of its compact and soft crumb, creating a perfect shell to collect the heartiest sauces, soak up the oil and tomato with the ragù, or with the excellent eggplant parmigiana, which in this Neapolitan take-away temple is truly delicious.
The sandwiches to try at O' Cuzzetiello
The venue is small: a counter full of bread and ready preparations welcomes customers along with the intense aroma, a smell of home, of Sunday lunch. In the kitchen is Katia, Dario's life and work partner, who prepares every vegetable, stew, and seasoning "just like they used to." The portion is more than generous, and for meat lovers, it's ideal to fill with local specialties, starting with the unbeatable meatballs in tomato sauce and ending with the sausage and peppers combination, not forgetting the Genovese, the creamy white meat and onion ragù.
Vegetarians? No problem, there's the provola and escarole cuzzetiello, the (divine) one with eggplant parmigiana that brings to mind grandma's kitchen. For those who prefer seafood, the polipetti alla Luciana are a must, but for the most nostalgic palates, nothing beats the homemade cutlet. And there are also fried pasta frittatas, to be enjoyed just a stone's throw from the station.
O’ Cuzzetiello Panineria Take Away – via Rimini, 51 - facebook.com/oCuzzetiello
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