Phantom Gourmet: Oliva's Market In Milford

MILFORD (CBS) -- It just doesn't get any more old school than Oliva's Market in Milford--because in the fifty-plus years they've been open, not much has changed around here.

"Everything's in front of you," says Anthony "Babe" Oliva. "There's bread, there's cold cuts, there's grab to go items, there's a blackboard with a menu, and people are just in awe with the smell. You see them tasting an olive or a piece of cheese. They'll see something come out, they'll say 'Let me get one of those.' It's kind of an event."

Oliva opened this small neighborhood store back in 1960s.

"I'm here 7 days a week," he says.

And these days, his son Nicky works right along side.

"It's a small facility, but there's a lot of food that goes out of a small facility," says Nicky.

In fact, Oliva's serves a staggering number of sandwiches and snacks, pizzas and antipasti, and more than 1,500 prepared meals every week, like Chicken Broccoli Penne and Chicken Parmesan.

"We specialize in everything homemade," says Nicky. "Fresh bread every day, fresh meatballs, soups, sandwiches, calzones, meals to go, plus our catering menu."

Just about everything comes from old family recipes, from the sausages and porcetta to the plump, hand-rolled meatballs.

"Ground beef, ground pork, fresh-chopped parsley, grated Romano cheese, oil and eggs," says Nicky. "And we sell about 4000 meatballs here a week. People will come in, they'll grab two or three quarts of meatballs, a pound of macaroni, a loaf of bread, and go home and have a pasta dinner."

And feeding your family like they're a part of his own family is a tradition Nicky Oliva is proud carry on.

"I still love coming to work every day," says Nicky. "I love seeing my customers. I love working next to my father which is probably the biggest treasure I have in my life. And that's the way it's going to be I guess.'Til they drag me out of here, you know?"

Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.