Waaayyy back in March 2012 I cooed excitedly on these pages about a sign on a tiny storefront in downtown Rehoboth that read: “Touch of Italy - Opening Soon!” Visions of the salty freshness of handmade mozzarella and authentic New York hero sandwiches danced in my head. (Truth be told, that’s more or less a daily occurrence for me.)

Old news, of course. But the fact remains that food for many Italians is more than just sustenance. It’s a culture – a cohesive energy that brings families together and celebrates life. And as Touch of Italy approaches its 10th year in the Cape Region, the long lines at their three sit-down restaurants suggest that Italians – and non-Italians – appreciate an authentic salumeria and pasticceria right smack in the middle of it all.