A few months ago, my in-laws introduced us to Farinolio, a Tuscan cafe in Westfield, New Jersey. They had ordered in sandwiches from there, and I couldn’t get over how amazing the bread looked. You could hear the crunch when they took a bite! My mother-in-law offered to pick up a sandwich for me one day during the week and drop it off for lunch. Of course I took her up on her offer! I scoured the menu and selected a sandwich. I was SO EXCITED!!! The day she dropped off that sandwich is the day that my life changed forever. I know that sounds dramatic but it is true.
The sandwich that changed my life is the Farinolio Martelli sandwich. The Martelli sandwich is made with their famous schiacciata all’olio (tuscan flat bread) and has tomatoes, mozzarella, and fresh basil. It is so simple and incredible, and it is one of the best sandwiches I have ever had. The bread is so crunchy, the mozzarella is creamy, and the tomatoes and basil are so fresh! I loved my sandwich so much that I ordered the same one for lunch the VERY NEXT DAY.
I HAD to share my love for the Martelli sandwich on Instagram. THE PEOPLE NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS SANDWICH! Farinolio saw my post and reached out asking if I might come down one day for lunch. I IMMEDIATELY accepted! To say that I was excited would be an understatement. I talked about this lunch for at least a week leading up to it (and for weeks after).
When I arrived, there were a couple of people inside picking up their lunches to go. There was only one other person eating indoors. I sat at their little bar area at the front of the restaurant. I had the whole area to myself! They brought out a few different savory options for me to try, including a focaccina stracchino e rucola, a pizzeta with olives and artichokes, and vegan schiacciata with their spicy vegetable spread.
The focaccina stracchino e rucola was PERFECTION. The bread was light and pillowy, the arugula had a nice bite to it, and the spreadable cheese was HEAVEN. The pizzeta was right up my alley. I LOVE artichokes and olives. The pizzeta was soft, yet crunchy. Such a delicate balance. And last, but certainly not least, the vegan schiacciata. I am not going to lie, when I first saw this sandwich I was a little worried. I can’t handle really spicy food. I was delighted to bite into this sandwich, though, because the level of spice is JUST RIGHT. I was STUFFED. I thought I was done. And then…they brought out FOUR DESSERTS.
I LOVE dessert. It is my favorite part of any meal. I always make sure to leave a few parking spaces for a little bit of sweetness. The four desserts they surprised me with included a mini chocolate tart, a mini ricotta cheesecake, a mini lemon tart, and schiacciata all’uva (a traditional Tuscan specialty made with grapes and rosemary). I had a little bit of each one (and saved the rest for E so he could have a taste that evening). All four were outstanding. They were the perfect end to an already amazing meal.
The mini chocolate tart, mini ricotta cheesecake, and mini lemon tart all had a buttery flaky crust. Sooo good. The lemon tart was not sour and had just enough lemon so that you could taste it. The cheesecake was light and airy, and the addition of the chocolate chips was a nice, unexpected surprise. The chocolate tart was DECADENT. It would make for the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert! The schiacciata all’uva was so unexpected. I loved the combination of rosemary and grapes. It was sweet, but not overwhelmingly so. I loved the addition of the walnuts – they added a nice crunch and texture to the dish. And I thought I was full pre-dessert… Post dessert, I could not eat another thing. But OH MY GOD was everything delicious! I have been back three times since that meal. OBSESSED.
In addition to their daily menu of deliciousness, Farinolio also offers dinner boxes every Friday. They come with bread (the best bread you will ever eat) and olive oil, an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert. We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to try one of their vegan dinner boxes a few weeks ago. They make everything so easy for you. It is idiot proof. All you have to do is heat the food up when you are ready to eat! They provide detailed instructions on heating temperatures, etc.
Farinolio is also hosting special Valentine’s Day dinners at the James Ward Mansion in Westfield. There is still time to sign up! Click HERE to check them out!
If you live in the area and are looking for a new take out option, I HIGHLY recommend Farinolio. There are amazing options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert! I am DYING to try one of their focaccia uovo! Definitely next time!!!
Fun Fact #1: All of Farinolio’s sandwiches are named for painters in Italy.
Fun Fact #2: Farinolio is actually a made up word combining two key ingredients in Italian cooking – farina (flour) and olio (oil).
Farinolio, 121 E Broad Street, Westfield, New Jersey 07090
*Thank you Farinolio for hosting me for lunch! I eat a Farinolio Martelli sandwich once a week. It is an addiction.
