Jayleen Evans rings up an order for three Rocket take and bakes
Anna LaBay
McCOOK Neb. – When Bill and Jade Lesko opened the original Citta Deli, they envisioned creating a simple sandwich shop. However, the deli has transformed into a full-service establishment, continually expanding its menu to satisfy the evolving desires of the McCook community.
Bill Leskos passion for pizza has been a long time coming. Ive always wanted to do pizza, but it was never the right time, he shared. Growing up, his favorite was New York-style pizza, a style he found lacking in McCook. Inspired by a recipe from a family restaurant where he worked in 1986, Bill has worked tirelessly to perfect his crust. I worked in a deli in Columbus, Ohio, when I went to college. They had just opened up, and I acquired some recipes from them, he explained. The delis stromboli is a nod to those early days.
This summer, the Leskos and their dedicated staff began making strides to enhance their pizza offerings. They started offering pizza by the slice on Thursdays, which was a tremendous success. Now, they have introduced a pizza case at the front register featuring large slices of New York-style pizza. Bill says, Our New York-style pizzas are just shy of 18 inches. Theyre the size you expect from New York. Alongside the 18-inch pies, a 12-inch option is also available, made with top-quality Italian flour and the finest ingredients.
Citta Deli will continue to serve New York-style pizza by the slice during lunch, with whole pies available in the evenings after 5 p.m. As they kick off this new venture, these will be offered in limited quantities on a first-come, first-served basis.
Adding to this exciting news, Citta Deli is also reintroducing the Original Rocket take-and-bake pizzas. With approximately 500 pizzas ready for customers freezers or ovens, these nostalgic offerings hark back to the era when the Rocket Inn in Indianola served as a community favorite until its closure. Bill noted the importance of this tradition, saying, We had to look at each other and say, its going to change. But sometimes change has to happen.
To preserve the essence of Rocket pizza, Bill and Jade reached out to the family of the original owners from 1965, who graciously shared their treasured recipe after some convincing. They came in here and worked with me, showed me this recipe from 1965 that was faded down to where you cant even read it on paper, Bill recalled enthusiastically. The Rocket pizza will remain a take-and-bake item until the staff masters the New York-style process. The Original Rocket Pizza is approximately 24% larger than those previously sold.
Bill and Jade are nostalgic for their respective pizza backgroundsBill for New York-style and Jade for Rocket pizza. I grew up in New York, so thats my favorite, Bill said, while Jade expressed her fondness for the original Rocket pizza style. They agree that both are uniquely delicious.
As Citta Deli continues to innovate and honor its roots, customers can look forward to a delicious blend of nostalgia and quality, with both new and returning pizza offerings that promise to delight the McCook community.
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