| A panini isn't just a sandwich. A panini is a delicious, | | | | adopted as the young crowd's status symbol meeting |
| mouth-watering toasted or grilled sandwich with a | | | | places. Panini shops then entered the European |
| variety of fillings that has become a culinary delight. Of | | | | markets and broadened their scope into the United |
| course, the panini is a sandwich that originated in Italy, | | | | States in the 1990's. Now panini's and panini shops are |
| derived from the word 'panino' (which in Italian means | | | | widely popular the world over. |
| small bread roll), with the plural being panini. In the | | | | One of the great things about the panini is that it |
| English speaking world the term panini is used in the | | | | doesn't have to come from a panini shop to be |
| singular sense to describe this certain type of | | | | enjoyed by everyone. Homemade panini's are just as |
| sandwich. | | | | good as the ones you can get at your local panini |
| Traditionally the panini is made from a small bun or loaf | | | | shop. In fact, homemade ones might be even better |
| of bread, typically a ciabatta or rosetta bread. Ciabatta | | | | because you can pick and choose your own fresh |
| bread, made with wheat flour and yeast, is an | | | | ingredients and design your panini sandwich just the |
| elongated, broad flattish loaf of bread that is | | | | way you like. |
| somewhat collapsed in the middle-like a slipper. | | | | Add different sliced meats and your favorite cheese, |
| (Ciabatta when translated from Italian means literally | | | | along with some other food ingredients (like tomatoes, |
| carpet slipper). Rosetta bread is a small loaf that has | | | | onion, peppers, etc.) and you can have a fantastic |
| slashes cut into it to create 'petals' and has a centre | | | | panini geared to your own tastes. Try different food |
| coil of bread that represents the centre of the 'rose'. | | | | combinations to make the panini just what you want it |
| Sometimes rosetta bread is sprinkled with poppy | | | | to be. Then, all you need to do is grill it on a sandwich |
| seeds (giving an added taste dimension when made | | | | press or panini grill and you can have the best panini |
| into a panini sandwich). Both breads are | | | | you can ever hope to imagine. The toasting or grilling |
| yummy-delicious when grilled or toasted. | | | | of the panini really does give the sandwich that extra |
| When creating a panini sandwich masterpiece, the | | | | flavor boost that makes the panini a wonderful thing. |
| bread load is cut in half horizontally and filled with | | | | And, having a sandwich press or panini grill on hand at |
| different types of fillings, depending on what type of | | | | home makes it easy to make those flavorful |
| sandwich is to be created. It can be filled with a variety | | | | sandwiches any time you get the craving. |
| of different meats, cheeses or other foods to create | | | | Just a bit about buying a panini grill: There are a |
| different taste sensations. The panini is then toasted, | | | | number of different companies that offer them. They |
| grilled in the oven or grill-pressed in a panini press. The | | | | are sometimes advertised as a panini grill, a sandwich |
| panini is usually served hot. | | | | press or even a panini press. They typically have a |
| A typical Italian panini consists of the two cut halves of | | | | non-stick grilling surface that has ridges in it (to get |
| the bread loaf filled almost invariably with prosciutto (a | | | | those professional grill marks) and are usually double |
| type of very tasty Italian ham) and a few slices of | | | | hinged and adjustable so that you can make open |
| cheese, grilled in a sandwich press. Central Italy boasts | | | | faced grilled sandwiches or double-grilled sandwiches |
| a panini filled with porchetta (a popular Italian roast | | | | with the top lid folded down. Most of the good ones |
| pork) that is very popular. The traditional Italian panini | | | | have removable grills that are dishwasher safe to |
| does not have sauce or toppings on it, although in | | | | make clean-up easy. |
| other parts of the world this is added to appeal to local | | | | Panini's make a great tasting meal, whether it's for |
| tastes. | | | | lunch or dinner. You can go out and enjoy a panini at |
| The Paninaro, or the panini shop, started to become | | | | your favorite local deli or panini shop, or they are easy |
| popular in Italy in the 1980's. It was popular with the | | | | to make at home as well. Panini's can be suited to any |
| younger, teenage culture and appealed to their 'fast | | | | individual's tastes just by varying the ingredients. Panini's |
| food' tastes. The young people would meet in the | | | | are a fresh, tasty, easy way to provide your family |
| paninaro and eat panini's, just like in the coffee shops | | | | with a great meal. Why not try having a panini for your |
| of today. They became the 'place to go' and were | | | | meal today! |