Panini Love

Okay, maybe I’m not actually eating this delicious sandwich right now, but I was about a month ago on Via Faenza in Florence, Italy.  My mouth is watering beginning to think about the salty warmness of the bread, lightly drizzled with olive oil.  I wouldn’t have imagined that my favorite food on this trip would have been a 4 euro sandwich, one that competed with sit down dinners including entrees of burrata (a creamier type of mozzarella) and main courses of rigatoni alla norma (pasta with eggplant).

After my study abroad class, I would venture to find lunch that wouldn’t require me sitting down to eat and was relatively inexpensive.  At home in New York, I probably would have grabbed ‘fast food.’  This would have been something along the lines of McDonald’s or Burger King, but the narrow streets of Florence didn’t offer those chain restaurants.  Rather, ‘fast food’ was something like a panino which could be hand held and was readily made.  I was surprised that after walking miles through the city, I only found one McDonald’s and although I’m aware of its unhealthiness, I was eager to eat something that reminded me of home.  Chicken nuggets and fries totaled to 9 euros which was shockingly much more expensive than the large, fresh panino I got from Pan Bracio.  This experience not only taught me not to buy McDonald’s again while I’m in the land of fantastic food, but also that food on the go can be just as delicious as that of a sit down dinner.

After discovering two small panini shops in the city center, I remained a loyal customer. I loved the idea that the ingredients were fresh, locally produced, and that I could get my sandwich anyway I liked. My order usually consisted of focaccia bread with prosciutto cotto or salami, mozzarella, tomato, balsamic vinegar, pesto, and grilled zucchini.  The meat and cheeses were delivered from the Tuscan region, not far from Florence, and the bread was baked locally.  Instead of being disappointed at losing 9 euros at McDonald’s, I was proud to support the local industries. Although the quality of the food was definitely the main reason I returned to the shop, I was also flattered that the servers thought I was a local and I would use these moments as an opportunity to practice my Italian (unfortunately, after a few words, they were able to pin me as an American).  Frequenting my favorite panini shops allowed me to see how food was valued, no matter its form or complexity, and this granted me a greater love for the simplest sandwich.

 

It’s worth mentioning that I did not include gelato in this reflection, because it was my favorite dessert of the trip ;p.  I will include some pictures for your enjoyment.

-Stephanie Montalti