The Gran’Caffé Pollo panini
While autumn leaves twirl and pile up on the pavement, and damp air forms condensation on icy windshields, it’s nice to sit at the Gran’Caffé counter. It’s a place where you feel at home, where the owner greets you with handshakes and jokes, where a wide selection of vinyl ensures a warm ambience and where impressive paninis will satisfy your hunger. Open from 7.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., this snack-bar is a landmark in the lively university district.
All the customers know the famous manager, Patrick: on this particular day, a regular brings him a dessert from Renou’s and another talks to him about his family. Patrick has managed to take good care of his customers and integrate perfectly into the social fabric of the neighborhood. The Gran’Caffé is a meeting place where it’s not uncommon to see customers chatting amongst themselves. Nothing has changed: photos adorn the walls, a vinyl collection hangs proudly in the room and a self-service beer fridge invites you to feel a little at home. Patrick confides to me that day: “It’s more practical, I don’t have time to serve the beers, it’s like being at home.” Alone at his little pocket counter, he’s been at the helm for nearly 26 years, still serving up paninis with the same passion that delight the whole neighborhood.
On the menu, thirteen paninis, from classics like tomato-mozzarella to Valaisan and raclette. His favorite? The Sarde with mascarpone and spicy salami. But that day, I fall for the Pollo aioli panini: crispy toasted focaccia, chicken, atomic aioli, salad, tomatoes, mozzarella and extra Bomba calabrese. Isn’t happiness hidden in simplicity? Sitting at the counter sipping a grenadine syrup, it’s clear that Gran’Caffé has become a favourite address, a veritable Proust’s madeleine for many Genevans.
