Page 36 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2025

DINING TAVI’S SALUMERIA
Anne Pitre’s full order of Porchetta, Sicily and Rome sandwiches, along with an array of drinks and chips.
Owners Tavi and Shannon Arzola.
ADDRESS
1618 25th Ave. Gulfport
WEBSITE
www.tavisllc.com
HOURS
Mon-Sat, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
story by Anne Pitre
photos by Anne Pitre and courtesy of Tavi’s Salumeria
36 | June 2025
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Tavi and Shannon Arzola, the beloved couple behind Pop Brothers, have intro- duced another gem to the Coast’s culinary scene with Tavi’s Salumeria. Located
just across the street from their popular popsicle shop in downtown Gulfport, this fast-casual café delivers a delightful menu of traditional European sandwiches. If we were to label it, we’d call it Pan-Mediter- ranean, as it features flavors from Spain, France, and Italy.
We visited Tavi’s on a Saturday, when the vibe was relaxed and cheerful. Tavi (short for Octavio) makes a point of greeting customers as they walk in and walks them through the menu. Originally from the Canary Islands of Spain, Tavi understands that guests may not be familiar with some
of the ingredients. By personally guiding them through the options, he helps ensure that everyone finds something they’ll enjoy.
We sampled three different sandwiches on our visit: the Porchetta, the Sicily, and the Rome. Each was fresh and bursting with flavor. If you’ve seen the viral morta- della and pistachio sandwich on TikTok or Instagram, you’re in luck – you don’t have to travel to Rome to try it. It’s right here at home, served on toasted focaccia with creamy stracciatella cheese, pistachio cream, and a drizzle of hot honey.
The Porchetta is something you can only find at Tavi’s. This panini, served on a fresh herb focaccia, is layered with the creamiest, most garlicky aioli you’ll find on either side of the Atlantic. If you like