For more than 100 years, Graziano Brothers has operated a deli and grocery store in Des Moines, Iowa, where it produces high-quality Italian sausages and Italian pantry staples. Founded by brothers Frank and Louis Graziano, the company offers a variety of handmade meat products, including Italian sausage, salami, prosciutto, and mortadella.The Italian word salumi refers to hundreds of different types of Italian cured meats, varying in traits such as fat content, casing, seasoning, and curing method. Here are a few of the most common: ‘1. Prosciutto. Possibly the most famous type of salumi, this dry-cured ham comes from the leg of the pig, and can be bought either cooked or uncooked.2. Pancetta. This Italian bacon made from pork belly is cured and spiced with black pepper, then usually added to other dishes rather than eaten plain.3. Mortadella. A cured bologna-style pork product, this type of salumi has a smooth texture and gets its authentic pork flavor from huge cubes of lard throughout. It often has additions such as garlic or pistachios for extra seasoning.4. Soppressata. Made with various parts of the animal, this coarsely ground sausage typically uses red pepper to give it a bit of spice.
Located at 1601 South Union Street in Des Moines, Iowa, Graziano Brothers, Inc. provides high-quality Italian food and sandwiches. Graziano Brothers is well known for its sausage, tomato products, bread, and pasta.The business was founded in 1912 by two immigrants, Frank and Louis Graziano, from the small town of San Morello in Italy’s Calabria region. The brothers shared a strong bond as they served their compatriots through the hard years of the Great Depression and beyond. Their descendants were honored for their business skills in 2018 by FuseDSM, the local chamber of commerce.Visitors and regulars enjoy a variety of fresh sandwiches. Popular items include the Bada Bing (Italian turkey and salami with a sun-dried tomato spread), the Grinder (Italian sausage and mozzarella cheese), and the Italian Stallion (roast beef, provolone, and a mild giardienera relish). The menu also features the Guido (pepperoncini, pepperoni, and a sun-dried tomato spread) and the Franco (a special sausage adorned with provolone cheese and onions).All sandwiches are priced at $8.00 ($8.50 for panini-style). Customers can also make their own sandwich from a range of meats such as prosciutto, salami, mortadella, and pastrami. Hours are Monday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closing at 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and closed Sunday.
Operating since 1912, Des Moines, Iowa-based, Graziano Brothers Inc. specializes in Italian imported and domestic foods, and is the manufacturer of five types of Italian sausage that is available in link, bulk, and patty forms. Graziano Brothers Inc.’s sausage is made from top-quality, fresh pork and Italian seasonings, and has no added preservatives.
Italian sausage is made from pork and spices, and typically comes in sweet, mild, and hot varieties. The mild version typically contains spices such as fennel and anise. In addition to the fennel and anise, the hot version also contains hot red pepper flakes, and the sweet version contains sweet basil. The best way to obtain authentic Italian sausage is to purchase it from a specialized vendor, although you can also make it yourself.Since it is a raw meat product, Italian sausage should be cooked to a temperature of 160°F. It is most often cooked on a stovetop, in the oven, or on a grill, though there are other methods to cook it. Cooking Italian sausages too fast, at too high of a temperature, and unevenly should be avoided, since this can cause the skins to split and the outside to darken while leaving the inside uncooked.
A Des Moines, Iowa, institution for more than a century, Graziano Brothers, Inc., provides customers throughout the Midwest with an authentic taste of Italy. On the centennial of founding of the business, a 2012 article in the Times-Delphic brought attention to the role that Graziano Brothers has played in the community over the years.Established by brothers Frank and Louis Graziano, who emigrated to the United States as young men in 1903, the business was the result of an arrangement whereby Louis would establish a grocery store while Frank worked on the railroad until his brother’s operation proved successful enough to support them both.In 1912, they purchased a former drugstore in the rail transport hub of Des Moines, and created a business that offered a full selection of pastas, as well as a deli counter that featured distinctive sausages. The exact recipes of these famous sausages has remained a closely guarded family secret over the years.As described by company president Frances Graziano, one major reason the business has thrived is that the founders helped out members of the local community during the Great Depression. As she explained, although doing so created debt, “my grandfather made certain there was no one left hungry.” The result was a business that expanded after the war into a wholesale distributor to local restaurants and supermarkets.
