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Carnegie Deli Introduces $21.95 Carmelo Anthony Sandwich

By DNAinfo Staff on February 22, 2011 7:57pm  | Updated on February 23, 2011 9:13am

Carnegie Deli owner Sandy Levine created the massive Carmelo Anthony sandwich in honor of the newest Knick.
Carnegie Deli owner Sandy Levine created the massive Carmelo Anthony sandwich in honor of the newest Knick.
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DNAinfo/Jennifer Glickel

By Jennifer Glickel

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MIDTOWN WEST — The famed Carnegie Deli didn't waste a minute creating a new sandwich in honor of the newest addition to the New York Knicks, Carmelo Anthony.

The eponymous sandwich, which Carnegie Deli owner Sandy Levine started selling on Tuesday afternoon, is composed of corned beef, pastrami, salami, bacon, lettuce, tomato and Russian dressing packed between two slices of Rye bread.

"The inspiration for the sandwich was that we may have a championship team in New York," said Levine.

Each of the ingredients has a specific meaning relating to the long-awaited deal the Knicks struck with the Denver Nuggets to acquire Anthony.

"I put bacon in the sandwich because we want Carmelo to bring home the bacon to New York," Levine said.

Carmelo Anthony (r.) will join Amar'e Stoudemire (l.) on the court at Madison Square Garden in his Knicks debut on Wednesday night.
Carmelo Anthony (r.) will join Amar'e Stoudemire (l.) on the court at Madison Square Garden in his Knicks debut on Wednesday night.
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Johnny Nunez/WireImage

"And we put salami on it because it's a spicy meat and we just want him to bring some spice to the Knicks, bring some spice to New York, and bring some spice to the fans."

Levine noted that the Russian dressing was a key ingredient, as it's the condiment that delivers the best representational jab at Mikhail Prokhorov, the New Jersey Nets owner who was trying to make a play for Anthony as well.

Even the cost of the sandwich is significant, Levine said of its $21.95 price tag.

"If you multiply $21.95 by three, which is the number of years in Carmelo's contract, you get about $65, which is the price, in millions, that the Knicks are paying to bring him to New York," Levine told DNAinfo.

Levine said that since the monstrous sandwich was added to the menu at approximately 3 p.m., the deli had sold five or six of them by the evening, but all to tourists.

"When New Yorkers find out about it and the news spreads, they'll be here ordering the sandwich because they will be curious to see it," Levine said.

Locals dining at Carnegie on Tuesday night were in agreement with Levine.

"We should have ordered that!" Upper West Side resident Marlowe Rinsler, 28, said of the nearly foot-tall sandwich. "I would definitely come back and try it. How could you not?"

"I know they have pickle-eating contests here, but I think they should have a Carmelo Anthony sandwich eating contest for it, too, because it's not just eating, it's entertainment," Rinsler added.