On the hunt…FOR DANGER

For the second sandwich review, I’ve decided to take the first of many suggestions passed on to me.

The Italian Beef Panini at Masa in Echo Park.

Sounds….DANGEROUS.

The first thing to note of this sandwich is the bread, which is absolutely amazing. Golden brown on the outside, warm and fluffy on the inside. This place is worth visiting just for the bread alone.

But it’s not quite a sandwich with only the bread, now is it?

The sandwich consists of thinly sliced delicious roasted Italian beef, Scala’s Authentic Hot Giardiniera and melted Swiss cheese. Served with a dill pickle spear and fries. The beef is smooth with a mild flavor that blends well with the mild melted Swiss.

While the sandwich is delicious, most of this DANGEROUS mission can be a bit mild. Thankfully,the Giardiniera add a great kick to the sandwich that contrasts with the tender beef and creamy cheese blend.

Giardiniera, by the way, are a type of Italian or Italian-American relish of pickled vegetables in vinegar or oil. Giardiniera are available as either mild or hot. In this case, pickled serrano peppers are used, which end up having a very similar taste to standard banana peppers.

While I do recommend trying this panini if you enjoy roast beef, the number of other paninis available seem to worth a try. I hear you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Looking for fun after you finish at Masa? Catch a show at the Echo, a dance party at the Echoplex, or grab a drink one block down at Taix. Any of these options would be a satisfying way to end your night.

Keep the suggestions and comments coming!

Masa of Echo Park
1800 West Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(213) 989-1558

As a side note, my sister Christine has graduated from college this week, so I wanted to congratulate her publicly for all the excellent work she’s done to get this far! Good job Christine!