Lotsa Pasta Panini Continued

That's right, I was talking about proper sandwich assembly. Today, when I went to Lotsa Pasta, I ask the clerk if she would please evenly distribute the sandwich items on the bread, just explaining that I didn't want any bread on bread contact. She looked at me as if I were crazy and said that the sandwiches were now being pre-prepared ( I think that's correct) and she would see what she could do.

Seeing what she could do basicly meant that everything has been measured out and the sandwich was already made and I can't do anything about what you want lady. I'm thinking that for $6.50 plus tax, I don't want a mouth full of bread with nothing else, at any one time on my palate and of course that's just what I got. Not to mention that I could tell that my sandwich was twice grilled or had been grilled and then warmed in an oven, there was definitely an extra layer of crunch.

On a more pleasant note, I did meet a really nice lady in the store who just came back from Italy and ask if the orzo pasta salad I was purchasing, was good. I replied that it was my first time tasting it and she could read about how I liked it on my blog...so here goes.

It was a bit lifeless to me; which simply means that it was heavy for this time of year and not very tasty. I love flavor and I love orzo pasta but I didn't care for the very large mushrooms in Lotsa Pasta's and there was an herb that I thought was basil, it looked like basil, but it had zero flavor. I'm not sure what the herb was and I know my herbs because I grow some of them.

Lotsa Pasta's orzo pasta salad had red onion, goat cheese, mushrooms, cherry tomato and basil (?) Sounds like a great combination but it didn't work for me. The nice lady did ask what type of dressing I use on my orzo pasta salad and I replied that I love to hit the pasta with white truffle oil just after its drained and rinsed. I realize that truffle oil is not inexpensive but its so delicious! From that point on, I add fresh vegetables to  mine. With all of the farmer's markets operating, there is an aray of veggies to choose from and I believe that when it comes to cooking, we should always use whats in season. If food doesn't have flavor, what's the point.