Wholey's Fish Market and Mancini's Bakery are two business that have
been woven into the tapestry of Pittsburgh for over 100 years. Ask anyone raised
here, and they are likely to have a story about going to the Strip District for
a Wholey’s fish sandwich or savoring a loaf of freshly baked Mancini’s Italian bread.
It makes perfect sense that these two would
team up to celebrate Wholey’s 111th Anniversary with a whale of
a sandwich, 111-pounds of fish on a 200 pound bun, and then share it with
Pittsburgh.
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| Had to make a special bar to raise the bun |
In 1912, The Robert Wholey Company sold poultry, meats, sausage,
and coffee in McKees Rocks which has also been the home of Mancini’s bakery since
1929. In 1959 the business was moved to its present location at 1711 Penn Ave in
the Strip District and in 1960 they focused on fish and seafood. As long as I can remember, our family’s Christmas
Eve tradition of The Feast of the Seven Fishes started with a yearly pilgrimage
to Wholey's.
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| 111 lbs of fish and 201 lbs of bun |
The Wholey company is a 3rd generation family business with a mission to create “happy customers by selling the freshest product at the best prices, in a friendly, fun atmosphere.’’ A trip to Wholey's is always an adventure with the rows of unusual fish but a giant sandwich has fun written all over it.
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| A trip to Wholey's market is always an adventure |
Making a bun this size was a first-time experience for Nick Mancini Hartner, co-owner of Mancini's. “We had to wrap it in plastic and turn it sideways to get it through the door and had to make a special bar to lift the bun in order to add the fish,” he explained. Nick seemed very proud of his bread creation.
The Wholey brothers were on hand to stuff this massive Italian bread work of art with their famous fried whiting. They pointed out the picture on the wall of their grandfather that made the 111 year celebration possible. This is one proud Pittsburgh family and I am proud to be from a city that wants to share this whale of a sandwich with us all. It's all so good.
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| whale of a fish sandwich-yum |
Other sources
https://www.mancinisbakery.com/