Mortazza Focaccia

Bit of an impromptu one today. I was heading to meet a friend for training around 2pm when I suddenly remembered this little Italian spot called Pasta Mad that’s right on the way to the gym. Given the name, I wasn’t even sure they did sandwiches — but turns out they do, and they call them Focapanino. Love that 😂

I went with the Mortazza, mostly because I’ve been craving mortadella ever since missing out at Tommy Panini. The focaccia was the standout for me — fluffy and light inside with a super crunchy crust. They bake it in this dome-like shape which gives a fun texture when you bite in. I think it’s brushed with olive oil too, ‘cause my hands definitely had that little greasy glow after eating.

Loads of filling in this one. Plenty of cheese (maybe a bit too much for me), not a ton of sauce apart from some mayo, so it’s all about the ingredients. The combo of mortadella, cheese, and marinated eggplant was rich and savoury — I just wish there was something tangy or sweet in there to break it up a little.

Portion-wise, it was huge, and I left super full. Definitely a hidden gem in Alexandria, and very well priced too. Something about Italian places—when they do sandwiches, they really go big. Feels like a feast every time 🇮🇹🥪