A little taste of Italy has arrived in Oxford with the opening of Carla’s Fresh Market at 1200 S. Lapeer Rd.
Owned by native Italians Carla and Mimmo D’Anna, the gourmet market offers everything from basic grocery items and fresh produce to gourmet fare, Italian foods, even flowers.
‘We offer a lot of choices,? Carla said. ‘When you go grocery shopping, you want something fun.?
Fresh is the operative word at the new market. Everyday a wide variety of fruits and vegetables are brought in fresh from Eastern Market.
Everyday (except Wednesday) fresh bread is delivered direct from Italia Bakery in Windsor.
Even orange juice is made fresh daily.
‘It’s a lot of hard work I can tell you,? said Carla, who moved here from Italy 12 years ago.
Full-service seafood, meat and deli counters offer customers the finest in surf and turf offerings.
Hungry for lunch? Stop in an grab a fresh-made corned beef sandwich, Italian sub or other deli favorite. Want something lighter? Try a chicken Caesar wrap. Grab a few olives from Carla’s Olive Bar to top off lunch.
Want a nice, hot dinner, but don’t feel like cooking? On a daily basis, Carla’s offers three kinds of homemade soup along with baked chicken, smashed potatoes and gravy.
Those seeking Italian dishes won’t be disappointed with Carla’s lasagna, Arangini (breaded rice balls), meat balls, stuffed peppers, pasta salads and coponata.
Coponata is a Sicilian eggplant relish made from chopped fried eggplant and peppers seasoned with celery, olives and capers.
Want to make your own Italian dinner? A full selection of dry pastas and sauces is available in the grocery isles along with American, Mexican and Asian foods.
The market doesn’t have a liquor license yet, but Carla said they are working on obtaining one so they can sell wine and beer to go with all that great food.
Although this is a new business venture, the market business is not foreign to the D’Annas, who have familial ties to Vince & Joe’s Gourmet Market in Clinton and Shelby townships, along with Manzella’s Fruit Market in St. Clair Shores. The D’Anna family also owns a fruit market in Terrasini, Sicily.
‘Maybe it’s in the genes,? Carla joked.
Carla said she and her family are happy to be offering this ‘beautiful? area something new and different. They look forward to hosting a grand opening sometime in June.
‘We’re excited,? she said.
Carla’s Fresh Market is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
For more information call (248) 236-0411.