The Saturday before the Super Bowl, I decided to get my hair cut at Great Clips. My stylist had on a Green Bay Packers sweatshirt, and I told her it was a bummer they didn't make it to the big game, and I told her that I was from New England and a big Patriots fan. She joked that she wouldn't butcher my hair for being a Patriots fan.

After not getting scalped at the hairdressers, I was a little bit hungry and had heard about this new delicatessen in town called Gandolfo's New York Delicatessen. Located on Overland Road in Meridian, Idaho, this restaurant has been in business since the middle of last year and has gotten rave reviews from critics and locals for its New York-style sandwiches, salads, and soups.

I arrived at Gandolfo's about noon, and it wasn't that busy being a Saturday when people are doing their shopping and other things around town, so I didn't have to wait to be served.

As I mentioned at the beginning of the story, this delicatessen is New York Style, and the interior is decorated with a miniature Statue of Liberty holding a Gandolfo Sub in its hand instead of the torch and a poster from the Godfather on another wall. When I first arrived inside Gandolfo's, I was greeted by the huge and extensive New York themed menu complete with sandwiches named for favorite New York locations and personalities. Being the die-hard Red Sox/New England Patriot fan, I really wasn't keen on trying a sandwich called The New York Jet (Roast Beef, provolone, Lettuce, tomato, onion, and mayo) or the Damned Yankee (a hot Ham, Swiss, Lettuce, tomato, and mayo sandwich). Also I wasn't about to be made to sleep in my car or at my friend Karla's house tonight if I had brought a sandwich home to Mom called the New York Yankee (Ham, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, tomato, and Mayo).

But rest assured, card carrying members of Red Sox Nation, there are many sandwiches at Gandolfo's that don't carry Yankee or Jet names, and it didn't take long for me to decide on what to get for our lunch. I ordered two-foot-long subs called the Gandolfo (a hot Turkey, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, marinated mushroom, and mayo sandwich) and The Big Tuna (A cold tuna fish, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo sandwich). I am assuming the Big Tuna is named for former Giants and Jets Head Coach Bill Parcells, who is nicknamed "The Big Tuna", and I could have not ordered this sandwich considering old Bill left his coaching job with the Patriots to go to the hated Jets years ago, but I will forgive him!

The prices at Gandolfo's are very reasonable, and you have the choice of six-inch subs or foot-longs, and you will pay under $10 for one meal or about $17 like I did for two sandwiches and a large Diet Pepsi that I drank while waiting for my food.

I split one half of each sandwich for Mom and me, and there was enough of the other halves for Mom and I to have for lunch on Monday. The hot Gandolfo Sandwich had cooled to room temperature, but it was still very good. The mushrooms were not vinegary and were infused with oregon that went throughout the entire sandwich. The Big Tuna was very tasty, too, and even though the tuna was just mixed with mayo, the cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes gave it a good flavor. Those six inches of goodness filled me up and gave me energy to conquer my end of the Super Bowl feast, Seven Layer Bean Dip.

Gandolfo's is open 7 days a week and is located in one of the many mini malls going up on Overland Road in Meridian. This mini mall is located right in front of the Majestic Movie Theater and is only 5 minutes from home for us. They are open very early (7 a.m.) for breakfast and close at 10 daily. If you call ahead of time, Gandolfo's will also cater your special occasions, and orders can be placed by phone or fax ((208) 884-3474), and they have a website, too: www.gandolfosdeli.com. So if you are ever in Idaho and crave New York deli food, Gandolfo's is the place to be! Next time, I will wear my Red Sox hat inside to see what the reaction will be!