A visit to the Deli Shop Ortis Brothers will take you back in time. And not just because they have pulled up the shop blinds every morning at six, uninterruptedly no matter what (during war time as well), since 1914.
In this old neighbourhood shop, Bepi and Ernesto Ortis persist in continuing a yesteryear business, where the bottega is not only the place where you buy products, but also a social gathering place, where you are happy to go and have a chat (ciacola). The founder Pietro Ortis used to say: “my clients are my relatives”. Do you remember your grandparents’ stories? The shopping on credit, noted down on a pad? The delivery boy? The pencil behind the ear? The jute sacks full of legumes? The wooden bowl where to put the cod in water? The grocer that mumbles behind the counter? You do not really need a specific reason to pay a visit.
Go in and something will happen for sure. However, if you really do not want to go back home empty-handed, you can find anything you want here. You will find many specialities that demonstrate the historic connection between Venice and the near Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, where the Ortis family were born. The Brovada (kind of sauerkrauts), the soppressa from Friuli, the “musetto de casada” (house made pork sausage), the “formadi frant” (a kind of mix of cheese to be melted on polenta), and the “salato”, a kind of cheese present in Venice since the 17th century, or the Montasio cheese accompanied with “Piculit neri”, a typical Friuli Venezia Giulia red wine from local vines. You can also find Parma ham and salami hanging down the ceiling, mortadella, salted sardines tins, the above mentioned wet codfish (even upon request), mostarda (typical local chutney), top quality olives, dry legumes, high quality products from small trustworthy suppliers.
If you cannot take anything home, and you still want to taste something, then have them make a sandwich for you. You will become part of the family Ortis, too!
C.S.
