August is Panini Month

As a proud Leo, I find a hint of shame belonging to a month that boasts such observances as the death of Babe Ruth; the death of Elvis Presley; and the unfortunate birth of JaMarcus Russell.  Alas, we are in August, a dreaded month that signals the end of summer vacation, the return to school, the return to work…
        In this time of utter dread and despair, many of us often turn to food.  The silver lining of the month of August however is that we CAN turn to food, free of any self-loathing or concerns of over-indulgence, because August is the official month of one of the most perfectly proportioned delicious foods known to the human pallet: the Panini.  In recognition of Panini Month, I see it a fitting tribute to recognize the history as well as provide some information for you, the casual eater, about the Panini.
        To begin, let’s get something out of the way, Panini is not a word in the singular form.  “How then can this be” you might ask, “since I consider it a daily responsibility to eat A (singular) Panini?”  Well… “Panini” as we call it, is actually the plural form of the Italian word “Panino,” meaning sandwich.  This Italian heritage is largely the reason that we eat Paninis on breads called “michetta,” “rosetta,” “muffuletta,” “focaccia” and “ciabatta.”
        Scholars have traced the earliest usages of a similar word “panunto” roughly meaning greased bread from a cookbook in 16th century Italy; but common sandwiches (as we know them anyway) weren’t popularized until about 200 years later.  The Panini, as we know it, has been a menu staple for even less time than conventional sandwiches, and historians credit bars in Milan called “paninoteche” as growing the popularity of the Panini in the 1970s and 1980s.
        As the story goes, the popularity from the “paninoteche” spread to restaurants in America and the Panini has been wowing taste buds nationwide for decades since.  In Italy, a Panini can be hot or cold and be as simple as a single topping.  In America however, to eat a Panini is to eat a hot, grilled sandwich with various toppings and almost always, some type of melted cheese.
        Though Paninis are available at many restaurants nationwide, a quick Google search yielded two restaurants who have used the Italian sandwich as a namesake: cross-country rivals (I can only assume) Panini Restaurant and Panini’s Bar & Grill.  Visiting either of these restaurants would be a trek for most local readers, so to save on travel expenses, just go to your favorite restaurant or deli and ask for a Panini; odds are they’ll have one.
        So if you find yourself struggling over what to order anytime this month (once again, it is Panini month), ask for a Panini; it will be festive and certainly tasty.