In celebration of National Sandwich Day, Cardona’s Market — a three-generation Italian specialty market and caterer for more than 80 years — is poised to launch its first-ever Sandwich Creation Contest as a way to give customers an opportunity to flex their culinary muscles just in time for National Sandwich Day on Monday, Nov. 3.
The winning sandwich will be added to Cardona’s menu, and the creator of the culinary masterpiece will receive a year of free sandwiches (one free sandwich per week).
“Cardona’s is proud to continue our annual tradition of observing National Sandwich Day. This year will be especially memorable as we host our Sandwich Creation Contest for the first time,” said Cardona’s Co-Owner and Executive Chef Robert Cardona Jr. “Our loyal customers are the reason our specialty sandwiches and subs have been met with great success. Now is their chance to truly weigh in on what makes a great sandwich with their own recipe.”
Guests can submit their recipe ideas on Cardona’s social channels or via this link. Contestants are invited to include recipe submissions and ingredients directly in the comments section through Friday, Oct. 31. The top three sandwiches will be selected by Cardona’s staff to advance to the winner’s round. A panel of celebrity judges will preside over selection of the winning sandwich at 11 a.m. on Nov. 3 at the Latham Market.
Celebrity judges include:
- Prominent Capital Region Food Influencer Saucy Suraci
- Fly 92.3 Morning Rush Co-Hosts Jake and Libby
- Albany Times Union Senior Writer Steve Barnes
- Professional Wrestler “Conan Lycan” (Nicky Mariano)
- Cardona’s Executive Chef/Partner Robert Cardona, Jr. and Chef de Cuisine Sebastian Marro
Cardona’s Market features three convenient locations at 340 Delaware Avenue in Albany; 9 Cobbee Road in Latham; and 222 Washington Street in Saratoga Springs. The Albany and Latham markets are open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the Saratoga market is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. All three locations are open Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cardona’s Market was named 2024 Family Business of the Year by the Albany Business Review and voted Best Caterer of the Capital Region in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 by Times Union readers.