Atlantic Ave March 2017 Edition

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special feature ║ conte’s italian deli & gourmet market
Fresh And Fabulous
CONTE’S ITALIAN DELI &
GOURMET MARKET
By Diane feen
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Conte’s
Italian Deli & Gourmet Market
has come a long way since it opened
almost two years ago.
photo by melissa korman
The Pineapple Grove emporium of home
cooked Italian food used to be a place where
you would rush in to buy fresh homemade
soups or hot dishes and bring them home or
to the office.
Things have changed since then. And the
change is purely for the good of the neighborhood
and its guests. Conte’s has tables
with seating for 20 and they now serve
breakfast.
Not only that, the food has hit its stride
with a flavor and homemade goodness that
only a mother (or grandmother) would
know how to create. That’s nothing new for
owner Robert Conte who presides over this
local culinary domain. Conte has been whipping
up fresh dishes his whole life.
He started in New York (at Tavern on the
62 March 2017 | www.AtlanticAveMagazine.com
Green) and moved to Florida to become a
successful restaurateur in Fort Lauderdale.
Though you might wonder why Bob is still at
the sink (and the stove) every day, it’s easy
to see why. “I enjoy working and introducing
people to homemade Italian food they will
enjoy,” said Conte, a gentle man who adores
this challenging foodie profession.
His partner and chef, Thomas has the
same passion for homemade Italian food
that Bob has. He whips up terrific dishes on
a daily basis when let loose in the world that
Conte built.
Customers love the taste, the freshness
and the passion that is put into each dish.
Their cheese, meat and vegetable lasagna
almost dances on the plate it looks so good.
The Penne Pasta with sundried tomatoes
PRIVATE PARTY
in a pesto sauce is so good you’d think you
were in Italy, and the chicken salad, egg salad
and tuna is also divinely ordained.
Just ask those who love this small hidden
hangout. “I come here three days a week
because everything is fresh and the people
are friendly. I love the chicken salad, broccoli
with garlic and lima beans. It’s not only
delicious but you get a good value. Everyone
talks about location, location, location
but how about value, value, value,” said
customer Bob.
Bob isn’t the only one smitten with this
tiny enclave of great Italian food. “I always
come here, but the hardest part is agonizing
over what to eat, it’s all so yummy,” said
Elizabeth Burrows. The CRA Economic Development
Manager who stops by Conte’s
after a long day with take out for her family.
And why not? It’s like mother would make.
Conte’s also has meatballs, baked chicken,
eggplant parm, lightly breaded chicken
cutlets, manicotti, stuffed grape leaves and
linguini with garlic. Their sandwiches are
also legendary.