It often shocks people to know that one of the first things I have requested after birthing my children is a fresh prosciutto crudo and provolone panino. There is something about a panino stuffed with deli meats that takes me back to after school hangouts with my paternal nonni and a spread of fresh panini, mortadella and formaggio from their day out in Haberfield. 

When I last travelled to the motherland, I had some standout panini. But there is one that oddly fills me with great joy. This panino was so simple and so divine, I fondly and regularly transport myself back to a blistering hot summer day on a pilgrimage in Rome with 11 of my High School students. We stopped at a paninotecca and I ordered a provolone dolce, zucchini flower and anchovy panino. Oh and an expresso to wash it down, of course. Wow. It was delicious in every sense of the word and I had never had a panino quite like this. Since that day in 2016, I have spoken about the serious need for more specialised paninotecchi in Sydney. Thank the Lord for Dom Ruggeri! 

He established Dom Panino one month after I gave birth to my second son. Right on time, Dom and perfectly located around the corner from my then Concord home. Thank you Dom, thank you. Whipping up fresh panini packed with all the faves, I was in heaven. Sleep deprived with an 18 month old and a newborn, deli meat deprived for 9 months, my dreams had finally become a reality. And now I’m being tortured once again in my third pregnancy, by daily Dom Panino posts. 

But Dom Panino does so much more for me. It transports me to childhood memories – fondly devouring fresh panini with the family on the weekend and being picked on but un-ashamed of my cotaletta and left over porchetta panini in primary school before becoming celebrated for my lunches in High School. My soul rejoices in the opportunity to sit down and have a face-to-face conversation with a guy with whom I have so many nostalgic crossovers, let’s be honest he could be my cousin! Dom is an inspiring individual, someone who really understands traditional food and like me, obviously has an emotional connection to it. I could speak with him for hours on end – he has had one hell of an interesting journey! It is pure bliss to absorb the gorgeous energy and love for what Dom does. I couldn’t speak more highly of him. 

Dom Panino is located on Emily Street in Mortlake – they just celebrated their first birthday and Dom is pulling out specials that have me salivating! I am SO looking forward to my post-natal panino!