One of Palm Coast’s most frequented sandwich shops just got even better with the addition of a new Italian-American market.
JP’s Italian American Bistro, a Flagler County favorite that has made a name for itself in less than a year by serving sandwiches and more, first teased the new project on social media, then announced last month Opened the door to the market next door. In August.
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Adding a market to their beloved eatery was a no-brainer for owners Anthony Parenti and his wife Sandra. They say there was a driving force behind the establishment of this store.
“That was our guest,” Parenti began.
“Oh,[they]were begging for it, you know? ‘Can you bring this, can you bring this?’ So at the end, we surveyed everyone who came. Should I take over the house next door? Let me tell you, I cried tears of joy. ”
And so the project began.
what you can find on the market
The local market, like the neighborhood bistro, prides itself on its authenticity. First-time visitors are filled with curiosity, but the quality and rarity of the products create repeat customers.
Although the restaurateur and his wife have cultivated a very honest and transparent relationship with the local community, he says that all the products on the market shelves have been personally requested by the customers themselves. told me.
Whether you’re stopping by for twisted seeded breads imported from Brooklyn, sweet sausages, or homemade soups, one thing’s for sure: you won’t find what you’ll find at the market anywhere else. Local shops sell a variety of Italian imports, including Parmigiano-Reggiano, with something new and one-of-a-kind on every shelf. Mutti finely chopped tomatoes. Peperoncini. Planzo peppers, olives, pasta, sauces, and more, along with authentic breads that literally brought the Brooklyn-born Floridian to tears.
“Even bruschetta and caponata are going to go off (the shelves) because they’re great products,” Parenti said. And I’m not saying there isn’t a certain kind, I’m saying not this kind – it’s not imported from Italy. ”
The newly opened store was an instant success with new and returning customers, selling out nearly all of its inventory in its first week. Committed to continually incorporating local wishes and opinions, making adjustments as needed, and customizing our store inventory to suit our customers, our local market takes pride in our ever-changing offerings. . Each product seems to sell out as soon as it ships. week.
Whether it’s homemade chicken parmesan, Italian gnocchi, ravioli, marinara or imported olive oil, soppressata salami, auricchio cheese and sweet fennel sausage, there doesn’t seem to be a lack of variety at JP’s Italian American Market .
“Every day you come here, you’ll find something different. How about some soup? Today’s soup is Italian wedding and minestrone. Tomorrow it might be escarole, beans, potatoes and tomato bisque. , it all depends,” Parenti said.
“I try to bring in things that you won’t find at Publix or Walmart… They both know exactly what they’re doing, but they’re catering to the needs of the public. I don’t know. I’ll cater to anyone who wants this kind of food.”
How to start as a restaurant manager
Parenti said he has worked in food and beverage services all his life, but for as long as he can remember, opening a restaurant was never planned, but more like a dream born of boredom. explained.
A self-starter with an obvious passion for both people and pastrami, the Brooklyn native moved to the Sunshine State with his wife in December 2022, where the couple had planned to retire, but those plans quickly changed. Canceled.
“It was like, ‘What’s next, honey?'” What’s next? You know? I was torturing her,” he laughed.
Eager to do more, he was retired at the time and began exploring his options.
When I heard that the local restaurant was popular, it was a no-brainer that JP’s Italian American Bistro was born.
“As soon as I walked in, I knew what I wanted to do with this place,” Parenti said. “I wanted a sandwich shop like the one I grew up with in Brooklyn. That’s all I wanted. You could come in, buy a sandwich, be open from 11 to 3, I want to go home and be with my wife.”
And that’s exactly what he did in the first place.
What the restaurateurs didn’t expect was that the restaurant would become an instant success, building a loyal community of people who loved authentic Italian comfort food within the first month. Known for offering homemade sandwiches at “affordable prices,” their menu of authentic meats and cheeses has quickly become a Palm Coast staple.
“Sometimes it’s busy and it takes 45 minutes, but we’re different, right? When people come in, we’re not like, ‘Oh, it’s going to take 15 to 20 minutes,’ instead of ’45 minutes to 1. It’s going to take a while, so go somewhere else or come back in an hour. Make sure you have a seat, okay? And so will our guests.”
“That’s all you need,” I said.
“No,” he corrected me.
“That’s the great thing about our customers.”
What started as a grab-and-go sandwich shop quickly expanded its hours and offered indoor seating for those who love the conversation and true sense of community that comes with restaurant dining (a large portion of the restaurant’s customer base). (Parenti says) It’s mutual.
“For $8.95 you can have a sandwich. It’s unheard of and my sandwich is sold out. We love doing it and all our guests become family. I say that Not just — we’ve been invited to weddings twice… When you come here, you over-indulge in food, under-charge, and, you know, just come back. please.”
What is on the menu at JP’s Italian American Bistro?
Food like he used to know in Brooklyn.
The restaurateur said that was the very inspiration behind his extensive menu of salads, sandwiches and pasta plates.
For sandwich lovers, there’s the Godfather – ham, prosciutto, hot capollo, hot soppressata, pepperoni, mortadella, provolone, American Big Boy – ham, turkey, roast beef, American cheese – and Brooklyn Jewish Deli Heaven – corn flavor. A variety of sandwiches are available. Beef, Pastrami, Turkey, Hogfather includes pork loin, bacon, mortadella, soppressata, and cheese; Italiano includes pork loin, ham, cheese, pickles, and mustard.
Other options include Chicago Dog topped with onions, relish and dill pickles, Chicken Capri with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and balsamic, cheese, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing and your choice of pastrami, corned beef or sauce There are rebini served with. Turkey – Chef’s Salad – Ham, turkey, American cheese, boiled eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers – and Cheesesteak Poppy – Mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, cheese.
“Almost everything is homemade. My corned beef is homemade, my pork loin is homemade, my meatballs, roast beef, all my soups, all my salads, my chicken is hand-carved,” Parenti explained.
“And I have no problem saying that everyone who has eaten our food says it’s the best food in all of Florida. But listen, I’m no culinary genius. I’m a comfort food cook. I make it the way my mom and grandparents used to make it. It’s so easy.”
What you need to know about JP’s Italian American Bistro
JP’s Italian American Bistro is undergoing a small expansion in preparation for the new year. One Parenti says they plan to add more salami, prosciutto and other popular menu items.
In addition to the restaurant’s daily menu, the local eatery also offers a catering menu that includes baked pasta, soups, salads, and party platters.
Whether you’re stopping by a bistro for an afternoon snack or stopping by a nearby market to pick up fresh bread, meats and cheeses to take home, new and returning customers will find the place where they shop. The restaurateur said he knows that at its core, it’s authentic.
“The community here is full of kind people who are looking elsewhere. They really want to take care of the little moms in this area…that’s great,” he said. Ta.
“It’s all about the food. It’s not about us.”
JP’s Italian American Bistro and Market is located at 5 Utility Drive, Suite 19 in Palm Coast. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Sunday and Monday. Meanwhile, the market is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and closed on Sunday. For more information, call 386-585-4339 or visit jpsitalianamericanbistro.com.
Helena Perey is a restaurant and dining writer for the Daytona Beach News Journal. A New Jersey native and passionate storyteller, she can be reached at hperray@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.Support local journalism by subscribing