Club Sandwich Mania Forte dei Marmi – Fiore 1827

Challenge to best Club Sandwich moves Augustus Hotel & Resort in Forte dei Marmi

It was in the halls of the Augustus Hotel & Resort in Forte dei Marmi owned by the Maschietto family that the first summer edition of Club Sandwich mania - Fiore 1827, the challenge between chefs in the creation of the very famous multi-tiered sandwich born in New York in the late 1800s, was held. The Augustus is a historic diffuse hotel consisting of 12 villas, one of which was owned by the Agnelli family "when we wore navy."

The anticipation of the start was equal to that of athletes at the Olympics: at stake was not a medal but a Cup, actually two. One for the chef who "ran" with the "traditional" club sandwich, and the other important award went to the "famolo strano" club sandwich, that is, varying, according to the cook's imagination, the ingredients. A challenge that ended on the seashore with a special Dinner & Drinks Music Party at the Augustus Beach Club's Bambaissa accompanied by the performance of DJ Enzo Sarcinelli, at the console with his vinyls. Under the direction of the Bambaissa restaurant in tasting Perrier Jouet champagne, Antinori wines, N25 Caviar with vodka and bergamot ice cream, and a tasting of gourmet panettone and Fiore 1827 peach and apricot summer panettone.

It was a great anticipation not only for the contestants in the culinary tussle, but also for the members of the jury, made up of journalists, opinion leaders and globe trotters who had to decide who to put on the Olympus of the "evergreen" dish: it was a battle to the last club sandwich, especially in the creative category. Some chefs used unusual products: ostrich meat and eggs, n'duja, duck bacon, salmon, beer-battered rye bread, special chicken and egg processing. "The quality level of the proposals," said Davide Paolini president of the Jury, "was very high; it was difficult to decide the winner for the best 'traditional' club sandwich as equally debated was the prize for the 'make it weird' (creative) club sandwich."

Square, rectangular or triangular, stuffed with imaginative mayonnaises and unusual meats, this hymn to gluttony regained its limelight with this initiative promoted by Gianni Mercatali, Davide Paolini and publisher Matteo Parigi Bini of the Editorial Group. Six competitors competed in front of the Jury. Star Marco Bernardo of La Magnolia at Byron Hotel in Forte dei Marmi who competed in the "innovative" category as well as Giovanni Sica Susini for Bambaissa, Alessio Bachini at the helm of the kitchen of Paridis in Pietrasanta, Gianluca Grosso of Decò for Palace Hotel in Viareggio and for the "classic" Giuseppe Frabetti of Versilia Roof by UNA Cucina in Lido and Andrea Papa of Filippo restaurant of Bagno Roma Fiumetto. All headed hotel kitchens except the latter.

The two cups were awarded, respectively, for the "traditional" Club Sandwich to Chef Andrea Papa with his Club Sandwich Roma paired with Perrier Jouet Blanc de Blancs champagne and to Chef Alessio Bachini in the "innovative" category with his Agri Sandwich paired with a Blason Rosè also from Perrier Jouet.