Inside Calgary's hidden gem Italian sandwich shop – and what to order

Sandwiches are really having a moment. If you’ve spent time in the foodie depths of social media, chances are you’ve seen many a sandwich spot blowing up online.

And we get it. Sandwiches are usually quick, easy and relatively affordable, but not all sandos are made equal. The bread used and the quality of ingredients can make or break a sandwich, as Roman Koval, owner of Fenoma, knows.

Initially launching around six months ago, Koval told Dished that Fenoma started its life in a commercial kitchen before finally moving into its newest space at 3515 32nd St. NE.

The phrase “hidden gem” gets thrown around a lot, but Fenoma really is a hidden gem in every sense of the word. The unassuming spot, which is a shared space tucked away in the heart of an industrial estate, lends itself to online orders and takeout, but it’s well worth the extra effort.

Calgary is home to a lot of excellent sandwich spots, but what sets Fenoma apart is its bread. Its sandwiches are exclusively served on housemade schiacciata, a style of Tuscan flatbread that’s similar to focaccia.

According to Koval, the whole baking process takes around 24 hours of fermentation, proofing, and baking, as well as taking outside factors into consideration, including the weather and humidity, to ensure it comes out perfectly every time.

Koval is usually able to make up to seven large sheet trays of schiacciata each day (which amounts to just over 100 sandwiches), and most days, Fenoma will be sold out after the lunch rush.

In combination with its impressive array of meats and cheeses, which are almost all sourced from Italy, Fenoma knows its way around a good sandwich.

What to order

Within minutes of officially opening, Fenoma orders were coming in fast, so take this as your warning to visit or order early. Luckily, we arrived with plenty of time to get our sandwich fix.

We tried the Mortadella 2.0, with mortadella, fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, nuts-free green pesto, rucola, thin sliced onions, EVOO, and Italian herbs. If you’re spice-averse or just really love mortadella, it was a very classic Italian sandwich, and one we would definitely recommend.

But if you’re looking for something a little more fiery, the Chef’s Choice is a guaranteed hit. The bread is loaded up with thin slices of soppressata and onions, whipped ricotta, fresh mozzarella, rucola, chilli oil and chipotle aioli.

The star of the show was undoubtedly the bread, which was bubbly, crispy and salty on the outside but still airy and light inside. You can practically taste the additional care that goes into the extended baking process.

So for all you Calgary sandwich aficionados, Fenoma is one you need to try.

Fenoma

Address: 3515 32nd St. NE, Calgary

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