It’s no secret that Brookvale is home to some of the coolest breweries, gin (and alcohol-free) distilleries, and eateries in Sydney.
But what you might not know is that at a hidden hole-in-wall on Pittwater Road, Mariah Carey’s former private chef is pumping out paninis.
Tom Morrison is the ex-celebrity chef (he’s also cooked for Avril Lavigne and Orlando Bloom) at the heart of Tommy Panini. Some of our readers might know Tom from his Newport cafe, Rukus and their catering offshoot, Rukus Catering. Taking advantage of a dip in Winter bookings, Tom began experimenting with the Italian sandwiches he saw trending on TikTok.
All I Want For Lunch Is Youuuuuu Baby.
“I had always wanted to try these Italian Panuozzo sandwiches I had seen home cooks making on social media,” said Tom. “I figured there wasn’t really anywhere to get your hands on one in Sydney, so I said to the team, ‘Let’s try make some and if they are good, let’s start selling them’.”
They were an instant hit. So popular that they sell out every single day.
On the menu is combos like the Mortadella version with delicious ingredients mortadella, pesto, ricotta, pistachio praline, basil and Fior di latte. There’s a hearty vegetarian option with Green Pea felafel, harissa labne, Lebanese pickles, cucumber, green tahini, parsley and sumac onions. But it’s their Chicken Cotoletta that is a fave among Brookie locals.
We sat down with Tom to find out more about his inspiration to set up (a sandwich) shop, and if he plans to make the pop-up permanent.
NBL: Tell us a little bit about you and how Tommy Panini started…
Tom: I’ve been cooking since I was 16, I started in a catering kitchen and stayed there for almost eight years. The owners were like family to me and taught me so much. I left to start Rukus Cafe in Newport and ran that for about six years. From there, we grew a successful cafe and catering business (now currently Rukus Catering). Now I just run the catering business, which specialises in weddings, private events and corporate events.
Tommy Panini came about as it was coming into winter and catering bookings were looking a little slim. We are lucky our kitchen has a shopfront on the street and it’s in a pretty decent location. I had always wanted to try these Italian Panuozzo sandwiches I had seen home cooks making on social media. I figured there wasn’t really anywhere to get your hands on one in Sydney, so I said to the team, ‘Let’s try make some and if they are good, let’s start selling them’.
NBL: What is different about Tommy Panini?
Tom: We use freshly fired pizza dough, cooked at 400c, as the ‘bread’ for the sandwich which is laced with rosemary and garlic oil and Vannela Mozzarella cheese. They come charred and straight out of the Gozney pizza oven and filled with traditional Italian ingredients and house-made condiments. It’s not your average sandwich.
NBL: Definitely not your average sandwich! What’s been the most popular sando so far?
Tom: The ‘Chicken Cotoletta’. We make these with Calabrian chilli mayo for a slight kick, sun-dried tomato tapenade for sweetness, and topped with rocket and zucchini pickles to cut through. We sell over 100 of these day. Most people who have tried it have said, it’s the best sandwich they have ever had.
NBL: You’re making us hungry just talking about it! Did Mariah have a fave sandwich? Spill!
Tom: Ha ha, sandwiches weren’t on the menu, I’m afraid!
NBL: Fair. Tell us a bit about where you source the ingredients from.
Tom: We use all local suppliers for our ingredients. We have a company that picks up our fresh produce straight from the markets and delivers to us each day. We use Vannela ricotta and mozzarella because they are the best in the biz, and just down the road in the Inner West.
NBL: Is there a plan to stay open past Spring? Or will you pop-up somewhere else?
Tom: Unfortunately due to the nature of our catering business we can’t facilitate operating both at the same time, we just don’t have the space. We will operate until mid-September. We’ve engaged a couple of potential opportunities for a spring/summer pop-up… and we would love to have a permanent store in the future! Watch this space!
Tommy Panini
Pop-up located at 4/515 Pittwater Rd, Brookvale
Open: Tues – Fri 11.00am – sold out
Takeaway only (it’s a hole in the wall!)
Pre Order: Call 0432 025 363
Available until the end of Spring.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommypanini/?hl=en
Images: supplied.
