How Via Gianlu came to be

A year in the making and a lot of lost sleep. The idea for Via Gianlu came around five years ago. Being blessed to introduce my tastebuds to all’antico vinaio in Firenze, I knew something like that was missing here in Melbourne.

Coincidentally over the last four or so years the “panini” scene has blown up, and people are learning another reason of why this cuisine is the best, simplicity is bliss.

So after finishing uni and coming back from overseas I put my head down and started working on my own schiacciata recipe. Yes, it’s a saturated market so I knew I needed a point of difference, at the time there wasn’t many or anyone at all doing schiacciate, something different. On top of that, the truth is anyone can make a sandwich, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist, in fact a lot of Italo’s wouldn’t even pay around $20 for one cause it’s that easy to make at home and we usually have everything already in the fridge. So I had to be different. Enter my chef experience and expertise on the cuisine.

Via Gianlu, housemade schiacciata bread and a menu designed to be a cultural experience, with produce made in house wherever possible. It should’ve been ready to go by the end of 2023 but good old delays pushed in back to March ‘24. Ask anyone that knows me September - January was hell. I’m as impatient as it is at the best of times let alone when I have so many ideas and excitement locked and loaded waiting for aspects out of my control to pull the trigger, a five month wait to be exact. Agonising.

Anyhow we’re here, to offer you something different and hopefully a new refreshing experience, as traditional and authentic as I can make it. Nearly four months in and we haven’t even scratched the surface. Schiacciate are just an introduction to the menu which will make up probably around 20% of the final menu when it’s all said and done. Everyone’s familiar with Italian food, but Italian street food, not so much.

By the way! For those planning to open an “Italian panini bar” learn basic Italian, panino = singular, panini = plural ;)

GL 🔪