Best Bites: Taste of the 2026 Olympics in Italy
By Donna Erickson
Getting a Taste of the 2026 Olympics in Italy
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, will be in full swing on televisions and screens all across America starting on Feb. 6. I love how the cameras put viewers like us in the middle of the action, as if we're standing on the sidelines as a skier comes racing by. Amidst the thrills, there's one thing that we miss out on, which are the mouthwatering smells and tastes of the local food that gets enjoyed by spectators throughout the event.
PHOTO CREDIT: Donna Erickson
So, this year, I decided to make the Olympics a "total" cultural experience and create a taste of Italy by preparing a panini (Italian for "sandwich"). But hold the pickles, lettuce and mayo! Italians are known to love their panini with a drizzle of olive oil, balsamic vinegar or pesto on the bread. They add good meat and cheese, then toast it on an electric grill. The heat intensifies the flavors and creates diagonal grill marks on the outside of the bread.
To create the same taste and effect, we make our panini on the stove with a basic grill pan and press them with a brick covered in tinfoil. If you don't have a brick, set another heavy skillet on top of the sandwich with soup cans to weight it down as it heats throughout.
To get you started, here's my simple, basic traditional recipe for 4-5 paninis that kids will love:
1 loaf of good Italian bread, such as ciabatta or focaccia
Extra-virgin olive oil
20 fresh basil leaves
4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto (optional)
4 ripe tomatoes, sliced
8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Slice bread for 4-5 paninis, then split each one in half horizontally. Drizzle bottom cut halves with olive oil and stack with basil, prosciutto, tomatoes and cheese. Top with bread.
Set panini on a heated, nonstick grill pan. Set bricks covered with tinfoil on top to compress the panini. Grill until cheese softens. Flip over and toast on second sides, again with the bricks on top.
Set on a plate and let yourself be transported to Italy as you take your first bite.
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Donna Erickson creates relationships and community through food and fun. Find more to nourish and delight you at www.donnaerickson.com.
(c) 2026 Donna Erickson
Distributed by King Features Synd.