Day 336: Italian Panini and Espresso Truffle
(At YVR.)Knowing I’d be at the airport over dinnertime, I stopped at my favourite Italian sandwich shop (funny that I actually have one) on Commercial Drive – although I’ve been in plenty of times, I still can’t recall the name of it, except that “Grotto” is in there somewhere, and “fromaggi”, probably in reference to the cheese display at the front of the shop.
Wait, I have the receipt. La Grotta del Formaggio. Sounds a little sleazy/cheezy. 1791 Commercial Drive, Vancouver.
The Italian ladies behind the counter are true sandwich artists – they split open an Italian loaf the size of a small boat and drizzled both sides with olive oil, then balsamic vinegar (as per my request) and spread one side with pesto mayo. A difficult choice of meats, cheeses and toppings, but I would up with salami, provolone, smoky roasted peppers, chunky sun-dried tomatoes, salty pickled eggplant and fine bits of purple onion. My breath on the flight home is going to be stellar. It was pressed for a good long time in the panini grill, but didn’t hold its heat through rainy rush hour traffic between the Grotto and the airport.
R and J and I ate it in the food court waiting for my boarding call, cut into salty, messy pieces with a plastic knife.
To wash it down, an espresso truffle from Starbucks (hot chocolate with espresso shots). yum.
Yum! La Grotta is one of my fave sandwich places. Next time check out JN&Z Deli for their in house smoked meats which is 3 stores away and if you go a little further the Little Nest makes the best apple almond ricotta muffins!
Drooling.
That panini is a work of art. Killer on the breath though. 😉
I made your Peppermint Patties from OSC for foodbank night. Another hit Thank you! I’m playing with a mint chocolate ganache to turn them in to sandwich cookies. Not exactly low fat but deeelicious.
So I google-mapped El Grotto, and it turns out it’s literally two blocks from my brother and sister-in-law’s place. Commercial Drive has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to take out, but I’ll have to try this place the next time I’m out, I’m a sucker for a good sandwich!
Thanks again for the sandwich!! I can still taste it…..
Delish!