Cudighi Sandwich

Although it originated in northern Italy, cudighi sausage is nowadays primarily made and served in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Ground pork shoulder is seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg, red wine, and cloves, while garlic, allspice, red pepper flakes, and black pepper enrich the flavors even more.

The sausage is most commonly served in a sandwich – topped with tomato-based marinara sauce and mozzarella, then placed on a bread roll. Cudighi sandwiches can be found in most pizza joints and restaurants in the area, where they are sometimes enhanced with the addition of fried onions, sautéed mushrooms, or roasted peppers.

Interestingly, Italian immigrants began making the sausage, which was originally called gudighi, in the 1930s, and it's believed that it was derived from cotechino, an Italian fresh sausage.