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Where Do You Go For Panini?

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Love 'em or hate 'em, panini—which, roughly translates to roll or biscuit—are traditional Italian sandwiches made with simple ingredients of thin bread, meat, a vegetable and a spread, and grilled in a panini press. The result: You could call it a grown-up grilled cheese sandwich.

While researching panini, I checked out a number of restaurants, cafes and bistros that serve them and discovered that this former peasant sandwich—in old Italy, it was made with leftovers—has been glammed up.

Michael Sampino, owner of Sampino’s Towne Foods in downtown Sacramento, explains that Americanized panini are all about quantity: Several different meats, spreads and vegetables crammed into one big sandwich. But, according to Sampino, the proper Italian-style panini can be eaten with one hand.

 “Panini shouldn’t be terribly big,” he explains. “It was really just a simple way for people to use leftovers, like risotto and meatloaf here in America.”

At the Sacramento Natural Foods Coop, on S Street, panini have become an excuse to indulge in an organic feast. Made with artisanal breads from local bakery Old Soul Co., two of the coop's bestsellers are the eggplant, goat cheese and spinach, and the free-range turkey and cheese.

The national chain Panera Bread has a selection of hot panini to choose from on its café menu. Made with French or sourdough bread or house-made focaccia, Panera's panini pair perfectly with soup or salad.

In East Sacramento, a panini hotspot is 33rd Street Bistro, on Folsom Boulevard. Served on focaccia, ciabatta or crusted sourdough bread, these huge panini are served with a side salad or a funnel of fries.

At Sampino’s, natch, panini are made smaller and with fewer fillings, and people can choose to have them grilled in the panini press or double toasted and heated up in the oven.

Check this out: This spring, a new eatery/clothing store called Hot Italian, will open at 16th and Q streets, presenting a plethora of panini. You can also check out Arpeggio, Bella Bru, SF Boudin and Pronto.


Share your favorite panini spot! Write a comment and let us know.