Making my way downtown, driving fast (not really), faces pass and I'm homebound… Well, sort of. Last week, I took a trip down memory lane, all the way to Piccolo Posticinio. I’m almost certain that if you have been living in Cape Town for the past 20 years, Posticino would have entered your heart and your belly at some stage. And probably multiple times too. It’s just one of those family staples you grow up with. My mom and I shared lots of laughs, made lots of memories, and of course, ate lots of good food at the Hout Bay restaurant before it closed in 2019. Thankfully for us, they opened a takeaway shop, so we were still able to get our carb fix.

“The unveiling of this panini reminded me of the food version of matryoshka dolls.”

A lot has changed between then and now. My mom has passed, I have moved, and naturally, many other things too. Even though change is good in essence, sometimes it is comforting to experience something familiar. That brings us to my latest little excursion. I recently discovered that there is a Piccolo branch in Rondebosch thanks to it popping up all over my Instagram. Some might say it was a sign, others might say I was just craving a pizza… I guess we’ll never know. 

After a good old singalong, Google maps informed me that we had arrived. Mama, I made it! The street was giving a proper neighbourhood energy. Charming and dappled light dancing on the pavement. At the end of this quaint road, you see the classic Posticino sign. The branding is unchanged, still iconic and very familiar. It felt like a local secret you’re meant to know about. We walked inside and were immediately greeted with a warm welcome. Honestly, I already knew what I was going to order. My all time favourite pizza and then my mom’s too. That was that. Until Chris told me that they recently added paninis to their Piccolo branches. Say less, I was sold. I decided to let him choose which one since he is the expert after all. 

Orders were in and I watched him shimmy to the kitchen. Hmm… what was he going to get up to. Oh, of course, he was going to make the pizzas. A true jack of all trades. The best part is that you can see into the kitchen, elite foodie entertainment. There is something so satisfying about seeing it all happen. It makes you feel involved in the process, and makes the wait feel intentional. As well as the food transparency I’ll always love and appreciate. Cooked, cut, boxed, and the exchange was done. Time for a pizza (and panini) party in the park. We said our goodbyes and vamonos! Off we went.

A vroom and a skrr later, we were at the park with our much anticipated takeaways. The smell alone was a driving force for my little power walk to find the perfect spot to sit and indulge. Workout over, seats secured. 

Let’s get into it.

Normally, I would be the first to open the pizza box, but this mystery parcel caught my attention. The unveiling of this panini reminded me of the food version of matryoshka dolls. First came the brown bag. Then paper. Then the foil. Then an absolutely stunning panini… Like a delicious Italian nesting doll. Before I dug in, I made sure to hold it next to my head for scale. For context:  I’m small. This sandwich was not. I took my first bite and it was still warm, still oozy, still perfect. There were layers of soft, rich, and almost jammy melanzane melting into the cheese. Comfort galore. Not only was the filling amazing, but the panini itself was golden, soft, and cloud like that somehow still held everything together. Honestly, this exceeded my already high expectations. And you know what they say: a good panini will leave you with oil slicked fingers. So, yes, quality approved and messy in the way all the best things are. My first Piccolo Posticino panini was most definitely one for the books.

Panini conquered, it was pizza time. I opened the boxes and I swear the already quiet park went from calm to tranquil. Not only did I give the pizzas in front of me a moment of silence, but so did the birds and the people around us. Or maybe I had just experienced inner peace? Anyway, two pizzas, two favourites, two stories. The Contadina for me, Regina for Mama. Since her spirit lives on in me, it means I eat for two. Lucky me.

I started with the Contadina, my forever favourite. The sweet, salty, umami sundried tomatoes doing the heavy lifting. Eggplant brings some softness, zucchini adding freshness, and just a touch more sweetness from the peppers. What I love about this pizza is that it’s indulgent but still somehow feels wholesome. It’s balanced, comforting, and every bite just works. And let me not forget, these pizzas have proper mozzarella coverage. Even melt, and no dry patches. For this pizza specifically, the cheese balanced the sweet and salty umami perfectly. 

Now to the Regina. Honestly, back in the day, I never thought much of it but turns out… Wow. It was quietly spectacular. They were not shy with the ham at all. It was meaty, savoury, smokey, and deeply satisfying. It tasted like memory and comfort combined. Simple, classic, and just perfect. I mean, ham and cheese? A match made in heaven. 

In my opinion, this is elite takeaway pizza. The thin base actually travels well and it stays crisp, not soggy. It holds its structure and doesn’t collapse under toppings. The cheese doesn’t disappear once it cools, it stays present. The type of pizza that is built for the journey and stays fresh. Not that it lasted long in my care.

And with that, the boxes folded shut, hands a little oily, and hearts (and bellies) very full. Eating these pizzas felt like revisiting old favourites with new eyes. Piccolo Posticino… always a comfort, always a constant. I think my mom would’ve loved it as much as I did. 

Un grande grazie alla famiglia Posticino. Till next time!