Talk:Panino

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Contents 1 How to make a panino 2 Pronounciation 3 We need a proper picture of a panini sandwich! 4 Is it a singular or a plural?

[edit] How to make a panino

I believe it would be a good idea to add a "How to make" section to the pae, for those who want to know. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Lunatic Pandora (talk • contribs).

Might be a good idea. WikiBooks has a cookbook module where it may fit better. We would then have a link to the cookbook here. --Midnightcomm 03:10, 26 June 2006 (UTC)

How to make a panini? That's the equivalent of asking how to make a sandwich. Panini are generally not overstuffed and usually contain just 2-3 fresh ingredients and a flavored mayo, aioli or salsa. But, that's a traditional Italian definition that becomes less relevant in North America where anything between two pieces of bread can be called a panini.

Typically in North America, panini refers to the process of pressing a sandwich under a weight on a hot griddle, or using a George Foreman-type grill or a panini press to cook the sandwich. But, you can also eat cold panini. There is no "recipe" for panini, just as there isn't one for a sandwich. While most in the US would associate a ciabattina (small individual ciabatta "slipper" bread) as "panini bread", in practice, any bread can be used (although it's unlikely you'll see rye or pumpernickel in Italy, in the display cases of panini shops you will see white, wheat, baguettes, small kaiser-type rolls, knotted rolls and foccacia among and other breads used for panini).

As to the point on the main page that the Panera Bread chain has popularized panini in the United States, what they have done is popularize among suburbanites the idea of calling grilled sandwiches "panini". This is not dissimilar to what Starbucks did with the word "macchiato".

Regarding the cookbook link, probably the best print guide in English for panini making is Simple Italian Sandwiches ["http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Italian-Sandwiches-Americas-Favorite/dp/006059974X"] by Jennifer and Jason Denton who own 'ino, a very traditional enoteca in New York City that serves various panini, tramezzini and bruschetta.--Paniniguy 02:35, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

Interesting. What do Starbucks give you when you ask for a macchiato? —Ian Spackman 15:15, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

Speaking with some non italian people, I discovered that they intended with the term "macchiato" a drink which is different from what italians expect; it is referred to as an espresso with one/two teaspoons of milk, whereas they intended it as milk with some drops of coffee. Maybe this is what Starbacks offers. --Cantalamessa 15:31, 20 November 2006 (UTC)

Perhaps this is getting a bit too off topic, but here's a brief explanation: A Macchiato is a very simple espresso drink consisting of simply espresso coffee with a dallop of steamed milk froth on top. When you order a macchiato at Starbucks, what you essentially get is a latte with froth on top, with a bunch of sugar and flavors added. It is not atypical for American restaurant chains to put their own spin on "ethnic" foods. When I was in Italy, I saw many cafes serving "American" foods that I, as an American, barely recognized. It is the nature of the beast. For all intents and purposes, a Panini in America is an Italian-style sandwich. Enough said. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 128.104.60.172 (talk) 21:11, 28 March 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Pronounciation

I think the IPA should be different for the first syllable: pa-ni-no sounds like pu(nk)-nee(dle)-no(vel). --Cantalamessa 10:23, 22 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] We need a proper picture of a panini sandwich!

We need a proper picture of a panini sandwich!

Well, I'm italian and I would definitely order the item in the picture as "Uno sfilatino, per piacere!". But it falls in the panini family, without any doubt. An italian sandwich is made with softer bread, whereas the ciabatta is different from the panino: it has a thinner crust, slightly overcooked brownish, and lot of big air bubbles in the breadcrumb. The real "panino" bread is the one offered with porchetta: yellow crust, white breadcrumb, small/normal air bubbles inside. --Cantalamessa 12:52, 26 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Is it a singular or a plural?

I am a bit unhappy about the low-level edit war which has been going on around this question. I am sure that we can all agree that in Italian the singular is Panino and the plural is Panini. But I am not at all happy about describing the English language usage of Panini as a singular noun as ‘incorrect‘. Panini is singular in the English language, just as Spaghetti is singular (or uncountable). If I tell someone that ‘the spaghetti are ready’ I am either teasing them—hey you should learn Italian!—or forgetful. It’s not something you say in English. Basically this kind of Puritan (or Catholic) prescriptivism died out out with the first edition of the OED, And if you want to go into an English sandwich bar and ask for a toasted sandwich, you had better ask for ‘a panini’. Thoughts? —Ian Spackman 15:38, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

I agree. No edit war, please. Let's discuss and find a common agreement. Dictionary.com reports "panino" as first form, but also "panini" is preferred. I think this word has inherited the same usage of "zucchini", which is used as singular, though it is undoubtedly plural in italian. --Cantalamessa 20:54, 18 March 2007 (UTC)