These Italian sandwiches will have your loved ones saying 'Mamma Mia!'

Conversations about “last meals” constantly circulate through my chats, even among the youngish crowd. I’ve heard it all: escargot with a glass of Prosecco from a Parisian café to a McDonald’s double cheeseburger with extra pickles and a crisp Diet Coke.

My own last-bite assortment is constantly changing. However, one friend, without fail, will always include her true love, the Italian sandwich, somewhere in her farewell feast. And since August is National Sandwich Month, I figured what better time than now to celebrate her favorite foodie obsession?

Depending on where you grew up, you might call it an Italian, a grinder, a sub or something entirely different. Regardless of its name, there’s something wonderfully democratic about the Italian sandwich: no frills, a tiny bit of spice and always reliable, which is exactly how I’d describe my friend, too. Just good bread, fresh ingredients and enough filling to make you question whether you grabbed enough napkins.

I couldn’t think of a better way to get Eating with Emma back in action than celebrating my friend’s birthday by letting her provide the inspiration for this column. For my return to the table after a summer break, I’m featuring three Italian sandwiches that have my friend saying, “Mamma mia!” because thankfully, we have many more Tuesday lunches ahead of us.

Detwiler's Farm Market

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6100 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota; 941-724-8300; 2881 Clark Road, Sarasota; 941-263-4305; 6000 Palmer Ave., Sarasota; 941-724-8304; 3500 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton; 941-242-1580; 1800 US-301, Palmetto; 941-803-7518; 1250 US-41 BYP, Venice; 941-234-4577; DetwilerMarket.com

Sub-Merged: Publix gets a lot of well-deserved love for the ever-popular Pub Sub, but have you wandered over to the Detwiler’s deli counter lately? This Amish-style deli is basically a choose-your-own-adventure for lunch (not just on Tuesdays), with an enormous selection of meats, cheeses, salads, sides and grab-and-go goodies. The Italian cold sub with salami, ham and pepperoni ($5.49 half/$8.99 whole) is an absolute steal, while hot options like the meatball sub ($5.99/$8.99) and the unforgettable New England lobster roll ($15.99) take your taste buds on a first-class trip to Flavor Town.

Say Cheese: My Italian sub-loving bestie just embarked on a Detwiler's run for the first time recently and this rendition might have reigned sub-preme. Plus if you catch them during a week with a deal, you're in even more luck than before!

Eatalia Market

1561 Lakefront Drive Unit 100, Sarasota; 941-413-5945; Eatalia.Market

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Sub-Merged: If you’re a New England transplant who's searching for a sandwich that tastes like the ones you grew up with, Eatalia Market is your answer. Owner Jordan Arcari, originally from Connecticut, has a long list of grinders that leave this fellow Nutmegger drooling. My friend snags the spicy Italian with ham, pepperoni, Genoa salami, hot soppressata, hot capicola, picante provolone, lettuce, tomato, oil, vinegar and long hots. Not ready for the heat? The classic Italian comes with everything above minus the hot soppressata and long hots, add roasted red peppers.

Say Cheese: My final meal will always involve a chicken cutlet based and Eatalia's chicken cutlet sandwich with Parmigiano crusted chicken cutlet, aged prosciutto di parma, picante provolone, arugula, and mayo is in rotation.

Southside Deli

1825 Hillview St., Sarasota; 941-330-9302; SouthsideDeliSarasota.com

Taylor Poe

Sub-Merged: Southside Deli has been serving the neighborhood since 1999, so when it comes to an Italian, I’m willing to trust the people who have been feeding this community for nearly three decades (as well as the Italian sandwich connoisseur herself). Southside's Italian ($11.25) is the classic combination you're envisioning: salami, capicola, provolone, lettuce, tomato, onion, cherry peppers and sub dressing tucked in between perfectly satisfying bread that brings just enough bite from those peppers. Add in dine-in, takeout and a drive-thru for those “I need an Italian immediately” emergencies and Southside has officially earned its place on our Tuesday lunch rotation.

Say Cheese: A Tuesday lunch staple will forever be Southside. The old reliable for those days when the Florida heat says, “You are absolutely not eating lunch outside today," and when I beg my co-workers for just a little ice cream chaser.