A California maker of authentic, traditional salami is spotlighting one of the oldest and most iconic Italian restaurants in L.A. County as part of its celebration of National Salami Day on Sept. 7.
Today, Oceanside, Calif.-based Olli Salumeria is honoring Domenico’s Restaurant in Long Beach as one of the inaugural inductees in the Salami Hall of Fame – a digital celebration of iconic restaurants, delicatessens and specialty grocers around the country that are elevating the status of salami through creative menu items and retail offerings.
“For National Salami Day, we wanted to have some fun while recognizing those who have helped popularize salami in this country,” explained Oliviero Colmignoli, founder and president of Olli Salumeria. “Introducing Americans to the versatility and taste of authentic slow-cured Italian salami is what we’re all about at Olli, so our Salami Hall of Fame campaign is celebrating others who share our mission, such as Domenico’s Restaurant.”
Opened in 1954 in Long Beach’s historic Belmont Shore neighborhood by founders Domenico and Beverly Spano, Domenico’s Restaurant is one of the oldest, continuously operated Italian restaurants in L.A. County, and the oldest restaurant in Long Beach. The restaurant has served-up pizza, pastas and other authentic family-style recipes for generations and is known for its famous “ground pepperoni” pizza and salami-based entrees and appetizers.
“We are excited to be honored in the Salami Hall of Fame. We both slice and ground our salami for our pizzas, sandwiches and salads. We have been doing it the same way for 70 years,” said Mike Rhodes, owner of Domenico’s Restaurant.
To celebrate its induction to Olli’s Salami Hall of Fame on National Salami Day, Domenico’s Restaurant is offering lunch guests a free slice of salami pizza on September 7 between 11:30am and 1:00pm, while supplies last. The restaurant is located at 5339 2nd Street in Long Beach.
National Salami Day is an annual holiday established in 2006 by the Salami Appreciation Society, a group of amateur salami admirers determined to raise salami’s profile in the world of deli meat.
In addition to Domenico’s Restaurant in Long Beach, Olli is honoring four other notable restaurants and retailers across the country that have helped popularize salami, with other Salami Hall of Fame inductees in San Diego, Chicago, Seattle and Atlanta. Olli will celebrate each of these inductees with holiday-specific social media posts and on the company’s website.
To extend the holiday to salumi lovers across the country for an entire week, Olli is hosting a special salami-based recipe contest for a chance to win the “Ultimate Salami Experience” and be named as the latest addition to the Salami Hall of Fame.
From now through September 13, U.S. residents can submit their most creative salami-based recipe or serving idea – such as charcuterie, snacking platter, sandwich, pasta, pizza or more – for a chance to win an all-expenses paid trip for two to San Diego, Calif. The package includes airfare, hotel, transportation, dinner at an iconic Italian restaurant and a special guided tour of Olli Salumeria’s facilities to learn the unique process of artisanal salami making. To enter, the public can submit their salami recipe via a story or in-feed post on Facebook or Instagram, tagging Olli with #NSDOlliWeekGiveaway and/or #NSDOlliWeekGiveawayEntry or by sending a screenshot via direct message to Olli. Entries are accepted from August 30 – Sept. 13, with the winner announced on Sunday, Sept. 17.
In addition to the recipe contest with grand prize “Ultimate Salami Experience,” Olli will offer several giveaways throughout salami celebration week from Sept 6-13. These giveaways will include Olli salami along with products from partner brands, ranging from La Panzanella crackers and Scharffen Berger chocolate to a knife set from Platterful.
For more information on Olli Salumeria, including the company’s products and National Salami Day promotions, visit www.olli.com or follow Olli Salumeria on Facebook and Instagram.
