One of Fresno’s top chefs is planning to open an Italian-inspired sandwich shop.
Jimmy Pardini owns The Annex Kitchen, Annesso Pizzeria and recently opened Willow Osteria. He’s part of the Pardini family that has a long been influential in Fresno’s restaurant scene.
Now, he’s working on Strada Italian Sandwiches. The sandwich shop is under construction in the new portion of the Park Crossing shopping center, just east of Annesso, along Friant Road near Audubon Drive.
He’s hoping for a mid-April opening.
But don’t expect meat slapped on a sub roll at this sandwich shop.
“They’re going to be sandwiches that will be on freshly baked focaccia that will be baked in house,” Pardini said. “The oven will be right there on the line.”
There will be some traditional meats, such as turkey. But also imported Italian prosciutto and mortadella (an Italian sausage), for example.
“The bread will be fresh and warm to order. The meats will be sliced to order and all of the spreads will be made in house,” Pardini said.
Instead of mayonnaise, spreads will include pistachio cream or a truffle spread, he said.
The 2,600-square-foot restaurant will have seating inside and outdoors on a patio.
It will be open for lunch and dinner and serve beer and wine.
The restaurant is currently hiring. Interested applicants should email their resume to giovanna@annessopizzeria.com.
What does Strada mean?
Strada means “street” in Italian.
The sandwiches at Strada are not necessarily street food you’d buy on the street, Pardini said. But in Italy, it’s common to buy a sandwich at a sandwich shop and eat it on your way somewhere, or while hanging around, Pardini said.
So having done upscale pasta, pizza and other restaurants, why sandwiches?
“I’ve always wanted to do sandwiches,” he said. “I’m just now getting around to it.”
Fresno restaurateur Jimmy Pardini plans to open Strada, an Italian-inspired sandwich shop, to occupy a spot in a new building under construction next to Annesso Pizzeria, which he also owns, in north Fresno. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
Fresno restaurateur Jimmy Pardini plans to open Strada, an Italian-inspired sandwich shop, to occupy a spot in a new building under construction next to Annesso Pizzeria, which he also owns, in north Fresno. CRAIG KOHLRUSS ckohlruss@fresnobee.com
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Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers’ questions about business openings, closings and other business news. She has a degree in journalism from Syracuse University and her last name is pronounced Cluff.