New deli in town offers the best of old Italy

Columbia Falls, welcome cappicola and other wonderful hams of old Italy. The Three Forks Grille on Nucleus Avenue has added a new deli that draws from chef Chris DiMaio’s Italian roots.

Three Forks Deli and Provisions opened last week immediately adjacent to the restaurant, with a swinging door connecting the two.

Owner Tim Seward said the restaurant is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month, so this was an opportune time to expand. While the restaurant holds its own in the winter months, in the summer they found themselves turning away 50 to 75 people a day.

The new deli will allow them to capture more of the summer tourist market, while also expanding their kitchen and cooler space.

“We’re in a position to double and triple the food we can produce in the summertime,” Seward said.

And it’s food not often seen in Montana — select cured hams like different cappicolas and prosciuttos, as well as mortadella and a wide variety of gourmet cheeses. Customers can choose from a selection of sandwiches or buy portions from the case.

“I tried to create a menu that was a classic sandwich done right,” DiMaio said. “You can’t get them anywhere else done homemade.”

The Muffalletta, for example, is based on a sandwich Italian workers in New Orleans made by taking large round loaves of bread sliced in two with layers of cheese meats and marinated vegetables in between, DiMaio said. His version is made with focaccia bread with mortadella sausage, Toscano salami, coppa pork, provolone cheese, olive salad and artichoke relish.

The menu also offers vegetable versions of many meat sandwiches as well as a gluten-free bread option. There are also several different lasagnas, meatball and sausage parmigianas, a classic Rueben sandwich, a steak sandwich and a Bison Sloppy Joe. As the menu says, it’s “Rocky Mountain Fare with Italian Flair.”

DiMaio is also curing his own meats and making his own preserves and pickles sourced from local farms, which are also available for sale.

The deli is meant to compliment the restaurant, Seward noted. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, but likely will have extended hours in the summertime. The deli will have a full wait staff from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to expedite orders for the lunch crowd. Customers can also phone in orders at 892-2900. For more information, visit online at www.threeforksgrille.com.