Smoked Chicken Panini

With only a few days left before I fly home, I’m making the most of it by ticking off a visit to Da Orazio Pasticceria in Alexandria. They’re best known for their authentic Italian desserts and pastries, and let me tell you, it was hard to resist their signature maritozzi—they looked insanely tempting. (If I hadn’t already indulged in a custard bagel today, I might’ve gone all in. Gotta keep it under control, you know.)

Anyway, I opted for their smoked chicken panini instead, and wow—this thing was a unit. The biggest chunk of smoked chicken I’ve ever seen on a sandwich. Massive and full of smoky flavour. The setup was simple but effective: smoky, tender chicken, some semi-hard cheese (also thiccc—pretty sure it was scarmorza), mayo, and tomatoes, all sandwiched in a perfectly baked roll.

When I picked it up, I was genuinely surprised by the weight—this sandwich was loaded. Despite being so hearty, it tasted incredibly fresh. The chicken had that deep, smoky goodness, the cheese brought a savoury, slightly smoky edge, and the tomatoes and mayo kept things balanced with a light, refreshing finish.

Sometimes, the simplest things really hit the spot. If you’re after a hearty, no-fuss sandwich, this one’s a winner.