In my youth, I went to Italy. While I was there, I went to a sandwich shop somewhere in the country. The sandwich maker was warming it up. He did not speak English, and I did not speak Italian. With pantomimes, we were able to communicate. He said, basta, with a hand gesture and frustrated tone, I could understand that despite the fact that we were both not speaking English. That experience was memorable because I was in Italy buying a sandwich and experienced local color (most likely red) but I do not remember the sandwich. In this experience, I had an Italian Sandwich, in a Beverly Hills shop, and here, the sandwich was memorable and a sincere pleasure to enjoy! I guess sometimes, one does not need to book a ticket to taste a bite of a country that feels like the country. Still buy plane and train tickets though. I have ridden in a gondola in Italy and that was both memorable and epic. I could not get that feeling riding a Gondola in Long Beach. I am just saying that some solid restaurants will transport you, at least while your chewing the food of their countries, which means I traveled to Italy for a few winks of my eyes and mouthfuls.
As I understood it, this Italian shop came from Italy and set up shop in the US. I thought that this shop was the only one but reading other reviews I discovered that this shop is part of 4 link chain. I paid 23 dollars to park in Beverly Hills, right next to it, makes sense it is Beverly Hills, but maybe when I go to another link in the chain, I won't have to pay the exuberant parking price.
When I entered I was the only person in the joint. A lovely woman, I think her name was Lira, was a pleasure to work with. I think she saw that I wanted a bit of pizzazz in my visit and she acted like an Italian serving me. Workers like her who go the extra Venetian mile, deserve Red Poppies, which apparently are all over Italy's country side. Like at one point, where I was eating, and viewing pictures (more on that later) I turned to her, and said Lira, and she responded Si, in an evident Italian accent, that was also marked by joy! and my inner person swooned! I think her name is Lira, I am not sure, and no, I am. not just picking that name cause it was Italy's former currency. Or maybe I am remember wrong and did something subconscious? This is a reminder to write names down of helpers who are worthy of praise, so I can give them said due praise. And she does deserve praise, she acted to help me feel more in Italy's country side.
When I entered, I marveled at the display of curated cheeses and meats. They gave me taste of their bread, they gave me tastes of their spreads and their cheeses and meats. I tried the bread with the black truffle spread and I tried bread with their pistachio spread. Both were excellent but I decided to try their Le Paraiso, becuase Lira said that was their most popular sandwich. And every bite was wonderful Eventually, the wonderful got boring. Imagine getting an In Out Burger but the burger would be to traditional burgers connected and that was the new burger. You might enjoy the first few bites but after, eating the second burger might be a challenge because there is no variation in flvaor. That is what happened here I ate the first half which was wonderful. I especially liked that the sandwich had actual pistachios, so at times you would be surprised by texture and crunch. But eventually, the joy became of trial of endurance. Could I finish the sandwich because I had to? I chose not. I paired my sandwich with no chips, and Italian lemon soda which was refreshing and had a subtle citrus flavor.
After I was food sleepy not food coma-ey. I sat in front a wall of pictures and I was able to appreciate them fully because I dazed as I enjoyed them. What I liked most about these pictures, was that they were not of the Leaning Tower of Pizza, or the Vatican, they were images of the country that are not known, which made me feel like I was walking pathways from the past. I also saw a picture of a man with a long gray haired beared and a hat that drooped hard from the front. Was this man just a commoner or was he someone famous from Italy?
His hat was sensational though, and I could see how it could inspire a Project Runway challenge--- take this hate and use it as inpsiration for a modern look for a woman that is going on a date to an Italian vineyard? I
I will also say that the place had little sandwich boards (not made out of wood) but those that hold flyers within adverstiing their different sandwiches, or more accurately, spotlighting some of their sandwiches. This I felt was a tad tacky because it was Subway adjacent! And I do not mean the red line, I mean the Subway artist shop that I consider budget forward. And. a place like this should be lux forward only. I am sure Lira would say Si! again to my comment. read more