Mariah Carey’s private chef has opened a hole-in-the-wall sandwich joint serving loaded sambos of your dreams

Sydney’s sandwich game just keeps getting better, with news that Mariah Carey’s private chef has opened a sandwich shop that’s here for a good time, not a long time, and yes, we belong together. Called Tommy Panini, the hole-in-the-wall pop-up is located in Brookvale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and is set to stay open until spring

Spearheaded by Tom Morrison – who has also been a private chef for A-list celebs like Orlando Bloom and Avril Lavigne (great name) – Tommy Panini sells sambos inspired by the viral panuzzo ones from Italy. Haven’t heard of it? Think: a charred and puffy pizza base that’s folded up like a sandwich before being stuffed with fresh and flavour-packed ingredients. Morrison also infuses his dough with rosemary and garlic and tops it with fior di latte cheese before it goes in the wood-fired oven, so you know the base will be on point.

Now to the fillings. There are a handful of offerings to choose from, including a classic mortadella panini and a vego number with herby falafel, harissa labneh, zippy pickles, sumac onions and a green tahini dressing. Us? We’d be going straight for the chicken cotoletta with Calabrian chilli mayo, sun-dried tomato tapenade, zucchini pickle, shaved parmigiano and rocket.

“Our goal was simple,” says Morrison. “We wanted to offer Sydneysiders something different – not just another sandwich, but a culinary experience that combines the best of pizza and sandwiches."

“Our slogan, ‘Not another sandwich shop,’ reflects our commitment to offering something truly exceptional,” adds Morrison. “We make all our sauces, spreads, and pickles in-house, and source our ingredients locally, ensuring every bite is filled with quality and flavour.”

Right now, Tommy Panini is only open for takeaway, so we say pick up a few and go enjoy them at nearby Freshie Beach.

And if you didn't have weekend plans before, you do now.

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