deli meats

The other day DearSugar dragged me to the kitchen and asked me to inspect her sliced deli turkey. It had been sitting in the fridge for more than a couple of days and she wasn't sure if the turkey was still edible or not. I explained that there are several ways to tell when cold cuts have gone bad:

• Start by looking at the sell by date. All lunch meats (whether they are prepackaged or fresh cut from the deli) have a sell by date. It's best to consume the meat within seven to 10 days after the sell by date.
• Generally speaking, once it's been opened, eat within three to five days.
• If the meat is extremely slimy with a film on the outside, throw it away.
• Any odd or off smells of vinegar, ammonia, or yeast mean it's time to throw the turkey, pastrami, or ham out.
• This goes without saying, but if there's any mold or growths on the meat or package, dispose of it immediately.

There is a special place deep in every American's heart for their all time favorite deli sandwich. Whether it's pepper turkey with creamy avocado and crisp bacon or sharp cheddar, sweet mustard and Italian salami, everyone has a best-loved sandwich. More importantly, a particular deli that makes their beloved sandwich with just the right ratio of oil/vinegar to bread and perfectly thin slices of roast beef. My all time favorite deli in the world is called Lucchesi Deli and is located in the town where I was born and raised. Lucchesi's, as locals know it affectionately, is your typical mom-and-pop deli with sandwiches, salads, daily soup, deli meats, bread, and my personal weakness, deviled eggs. The baguettes are made fresh daily, have a soft inside and crisp, crunchy outside. The wide variety of cheeses and meats makes each sandwich an individual masterpiece. Lucchesi's sandwiches pair perfectly with a cherry coke and lightly salted kettle chips. The deli has been voted the best in town more than once in the past few years and the friendly rapid, no fail service combined with delicious sandwiches is what keeps customers like myself coming back. Making a stop for lunch at Lucchesi's brings me back to my roots. I remember when my dad would buy me sandwiches when I was a little girl; in high school we'd sneak out of class a few minutes early for lunch to beat the line at Lucchesi's; when I arrived at the airport from living abroad for two years, my sister had a cooler with a sandwich in her car. To me the sandwiches convey the essence of coming home: there is comfort, nostalgia, and a sense of belonging in each bite. Well Fed About Town asked me to tell them about my preferred deli, and now I'm asking you readers, what's your favorite deli?