rev:text
| - Five stars? Oh, so close!
I've stopped in to Pane Bianco a couple of times and have enoyed the non-commercial sandwiches here. And by "non-commercial", I mean the type my Italian Mom used to make when I was a kid.
On my first visit I had what amounted to the caprese sandwich (mozzarella, tomato & basil.) PB is known for its mozzarella, so I wasn't surprised by its goodness, but I swear the sprig of basil must have been just picked that day...so flavorful and fragant. It really made the sammy! The price was about $8.50. If I would have stopped there, PB would have have five stars.
On my second visit I had the Market Sandwich (mortadella, peach relish, pecorino and greens). The mortadella seemed a bit flavorless. It was sliced thin (which I love) but could have used an extra layer. It just seemed as though the pecorino (perhaps due to the saltiness) and sweetness of the peach relish (a slight departure from the website description) overpowered the mortadella. In fact, the sandwich was a bit on the dry side and could have used a bit more of the relish for moisture, especially in light of the fact this type of bread tends to be on the dry side. The relish really shouldn't be any sweeter as, it too, runs the risk of overpowering the flavor of the meat. If Chris Bianco can find a way to add greater volume to the relish without adding any additional sweetness, I'd give PB five stars! Now, if only something can be done about the $11 price tag, this could be an "A+" sandwich!
Feel like getting experiemntal at home? Be sure to grab a freshly baked loaf before you leave. A bargain at just $3.
My only real disappointment is that PB isn't open on Sunday. Hopefully, they'll expand once Lux moves from the space they occupy next door and Pane Bianco will have reason to expand both their space AND their hours of operation. Who knows...maybe even offer some vino???
I still crave Pane Bianco and can't wait to go back, I'm already salivating over the Soppressata with Aged Provolone & Roasted Peppers. Hmm, maybe it'll be just like Mom used to make.
|