Toronto Grammy-nominated musician opens sandwich shop

Toronto Star

a day ago

Charlotte Day Wilson: singer, songwriter, Juno- and Grammy-nominated musician — and now, co-owner of a new sandwich shop in Roncesvalles.
The critically acclaimed Toronto artist, who released her sophomore album 'Cyan Blue' a year ago and recently debuted a documentary on Crave about her Red Bull Symphonic concert, is set to open Tutto Panino — an Italian sandwich takeout spot — this Saturday at 100 Sorauren Ave., the former home of all-day brunch favourite Mitzi's Café.
The bollito sandwich will be the highlight at Tutto Panino.
Andrew Francis Wallace Toronto Star
Wilson co-owns the shop with childhood friend and fitness trainer Paul Liliani; real estate agent Andi Larocca, a former Sam James Coffee Bar co-worker of Liliani's; and chef Kaitlyn Lasagna, who was previously at Pasta Forever and Robinson Bread. When the Mitzi's space became available last year, the group began hosting sandwich pop-ups at Burdock Brewery to test out recipes and build a following.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Music
How Charlotte Day Wilson let go of perfection to record stirring new album 'Cyan Blue'
The Toronto artist worked with an outside producer for the first time on 'Cyan Blue,' which dropped Friday.
Music
How Charlotte Day Wilson let go of perfection to record stirring new album 'Cyan Blue'
The Toronto artist worked with an outside producer for the first time on 'Cyan Blue,' which dropped Friday.
'The timing of opening this shop has worked out really well for me because I managed to carve out a good chunk of time to be in Toronto and focus on getting the business up and running,' Wilson wrote in an email, as she was out of town when contacted by the Star. 'I've been touring and travelling a ton the past two years and part of the reason I wanted to start this business was to have more of a reason to spend time in Toronto and be surrounded by community.'
Lasagna says the inspiration for the shop came from a sandwich they 'fell in love with while in Florence.' The star of the menu is the bollito — a boiled brisket sandwich. 'We do a brisket stewed in a broth and we make a vibrant salsa verde and chili oil.' For now, the shop will be open Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sandwiches start at $13, and there's also a build-your-own option.
Tutto Panino is taking over the former Mitzi's Cafe on Sorauren Avenue.
Andrew Francis Wallace Toronto Star
Other offerings include a classic mortadella ($13); a take on the Sicilian caponata consisting of eggplant, capers, olives, whipped ricotta and arugula ($14); and a capocollo with shredded iceberg and cacio e pepe-inspired aioli ($14). Buns are supplied by Brockton Village Bakery, a longtime Portuguese bakery a few blocks north.
For dessert, Tutto Panino will serve cannoli ($3.5): the chocolate chip will be a menu mainstay, with rotating seasonal specials (rhubarb is first up). There will also be a drawer of tiramisu, scooped to order ($6).
Singer-songwriter Charlotte Day Wilson is one of the owners of Tutto Panino.
Aaron Wynia
Adding a personal touch, the shop will also have a record player. 'It was important for me to put a bit of my musical touch into the space because I believe music plays such an important role in creating a welcoming environment,' wrote Wilson. 'The music we'll play will be anything that sets a warm tone and makes people feel good, with a very wide variety of artists and genres.'
Tutto Panino joins a growing list of small, neighbourhood sandwich shops that have opened in quieter residential parts of the city — like Vilda's in Beaconsfield Village, Lambo's Deli and the neighbouring Hot Pork in Trinity Bellwoods, and Masa Deli in Dovercourt Village (now with a second location in Leslieville). While fried chicken sandwiches and burgers — designed to survive bike delivery — dominated during the early days of the pandemic, this new wave of sandwich spots is built more for in-person visits, ideal for a mid-errand lunch stop. Lasagna says the sandwiches at Tutto Panino aren't overstuffed and are not designed for virality, but a rather something a customer can eat more than once a week.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Co-owners chef Kaitlyn Lasagna, left, Andi Larocca, and Paul Liliani days before the grand opening of Tutto Panino.
Andrew Francis Wallace Toronto Star
'The neigbhourhood really connected with Mitzi's and before that the space used to be a butcher, so it was a community hub,' said Liliani. 'The idea was born from the location, these corner spots in residential pockets.'
'That corner spot is a beacon,' added Larocca. 'It's our hope to connect with as many people and have a place where people can come multiple times a week like a coffee shop. The space is only 300 square feet so we can just fit a snacking counter, but we'll have a patio. Sorauren is an amazing street. I Deal Coffee is just up the street where there's the farmers' market at the (Sorauren) Park.'
Gta
Food Crawl: 4 delicious breakfast sandwiches to try in Toronto
Many restaurants and food stalls in Toronto are creating their own versions of the humble breakfast sandwich.
Gta
Food Crawl: 4 delicious breakfast sandwiches to try in Toronto
Many restaurants and food stalls in Toronto are creating their own versions of the humble breakfast sandwich.
'I remember going to Mitzi's a long time ago and thinking it was such a charmed spot,' wrote Wilson. 'I grew up spending lots of time in Roncesvalles so it's a very familiar area to me. I've got lots of family friends here. We're super blessed to have this amazing location with a soul already built into it and we hope we can honour the space that Mitzi's once occupied so lovingly.'