{"id":192121,"date":"2026-02-24T23:49:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T23:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/192121\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T23:49:08","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T23:49:08","slug":"owner-of-annex-kitchen-opens-italian-sandwich-shop-in-fresno","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/192121\/","title":{"rendered":"Owner of Annex Kitchen opens Italian sandwich shop in Fresno."},"content":{"rendered":"

One of Fresno\u2019s top chefs is planning to open an Italian-inspired sandwich shop.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Pardini owns The Annex Kitchen<\/a>, Annesso Pizzeria<\/a> and recently opened Willow Osteria<\/a>. He\u2019s part of the Pardini family that has a long been influential in Fresno\u2019s restaurant scene.<\/p>\n

Now, he\u2019s working on Strada Italian Sandwiches<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s hoping for a mid-April opening.<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t expect meat slapped on a sub roll at this sandwich shop.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re going to be sandwiches that will be on freshly baked focaccia that will be baked in house,\u201d Pardini said. \u201cThe oven will be right there on the line.\u201d<\/p>\n

There will be some traditional meats, such as turkey. But also imported Italian prosciutto and mortadella (an Italian sausage), for example.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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,\u201d Pardini said.<\/p>\n

Instead of mayonnaise, spreads will include pistachio cream or a truffle spread, he said.<\/p>\n

The 2,600-square-foot restaurant will have seating inside and outdoors on a patio.<\/p>\n

It will be open for lunch and dinner and serve beer and wine.<\/p>\n

The restaurant is currently hiring. Interested applicants should email their resume to giovanna@annessopizzeria.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What does Strada mean?<\/p>\n

Strada means \u201cstreet\u201d in Italian.<\/p>\n

The sandwiches at Strada are not necessarily street food you\u2019d buy on the street, Pardini said. But in Italy, it\u2019s common to buy a sandwich at a sandwich shop and eat it on your way somewhere, or while hanging around, Pardini said.<\/p>\n

So having done upscale pasta, pizza and other restaurants, why sandwiches?<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve always wanted to do sandwiches,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m just now getting around to it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Fresno 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 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
\n Related Stories from Fresno Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Bethany Clough<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fresno Bee<\/p>\n

Bethany Clough covers restaurants and retail for The Fresno Bee. A reporter for more than 20 years, she now works to answer readers\u2019 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.\n <\/p>\n