Why is the Maine version so different? The "Maine Italian" was invented by Giovanni Amato in Portland in 1902. He was a baker selling fresh rolls to dockworkers; they asked him to slice the bread and put something in it. Because it was invented by an Italian immigrant, it was called an "Italian sandwich," even though the ingredients (ham, American cheese, pickles) aren't traditionally Italian Key Differences 1. The Bread The classic Italian uses bread with heirloom crunch —t
