From the category archives:

Panini 101

Panini Press Buying Advice: What to Look For

May 25, 2010

People ask me all the time for advice on buying a panini press. It’s understandable that a lot of folks are a little stumped when it comes to shopping for them. There are a slew of different models, with all different features, at price points ranging from $20 to more than $200. How do you [...]

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How to Make Panini With a Cast-Iron Panini Press

March 31, 2010

A frequent question I receive in my e-mail inbox is for advice on using cast-iron panini presses. Having mainly grilled with electric grills, I haven’t been able to offer too many insights…until now. Thanks to the folks at Le Creuset, I’ve had the opportunity to try out one of their gorgeous presses (and, yes, I’ve [...]

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How to Make Panini Without a Panini Press

February 19, 2009

If I were queen for a day, I’d grant every household a panini press (and space to keep it) because they’re so useful and versatile and, in my opinion, the easiest way to make great panini. However, until I seize … er … receive such power I thought I’d update the Panini 101 series with [...]

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5 Money-Saving Panini Tips

January 3, 2009

Now that we’re all tapped out from our holiday shopping and the economy is still in the doldrums, I thought it would be worthwhile to offer up some money-saving tips when it comes to grilling panini. Because, truth be told, the cost of making these things can start to add up! 1. Get to know [...]

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To Steam or Not to Steam?

December 15, 2008

Your eyes aren’t deceiving you. That’s a panini (“panino” for you sticklers) in my microwave. And I’m ready to suggest that you try this sometime too. I never would have thought there would be any benefit to introducing steam to a sandwich – especially one that I wanted to be crispy. But a reader named [...]

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“Town” & “Country” Pulled Pork Panini

August 23, 2008

It’s a twofer, folks – my indecision is your gain! Pulled pork panini, two ways. Can you really go wrong? The concept for “Town” and “Country” panini comes from a little restaurant up in Irvine called Jackson Barne. An unassuming place in a strip mall, my co-workers and I used to lunch there often back [...]

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Cheese, Please!…Old Quebec Vintage Cheddar

July 21, 2008

It was fantastic on burgers (see Burger Mini-Panini Slider Bonanza!) and added a great punch of flavor to fish patties (see Crispy Fish Panini) – it’s about time I give Old Québec Vintage Cheddar its proper due in a Cheese, Please! post.

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Burger Mini-Panini Slider Bonanza!

July 7, 2008

If you come to dinner at my house, there’s a really good chance you’ll encounter a “dress-your-own” component in at least one of the courses. The main reason is that I firmly believe that dinner guests are entitled to be served something they’d like to eat! How many times have you been invited to someone’s [...]

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Red Dragon, Roast Beef & Arugula Panini Recipe

June 30, 2008

Red Dragon, with its robust cheddar, mustard and ale flavors, would make a fantastic grilled cheese sandwich on its own (read my “review” of this great cheese!). In fact, I broiled a few open-faced ones for breakfast last week! But since the point of my Cheese, Please! series is not only to find great cheeses [...]

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Cheese, Please!…Red Dragon

June 27, 2008

For this next installment of my Cheese, Please! series, I decided to do a little “research” at my local cheese shop, Venissimo. I told the ladies behind the counter that I was looking to expand my repertoire of cheeses that might melt well in panini and the samples started rolling in one after another. It [...]

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