The sandwich craze in our fair city isn't over yet – in fact, it's only been ramping up in the past twelve months. We've had Warkop bring its enticing Indo-Australian sambos to the CBD, hot new panini bars like Stefanino and Piccolo going viral on social media, and a continued obsession with Melbourne's OG sandwich vanguard – those purveyors of the best things since, and between, sliced bread.
True to this trend, the lunch geniuses behind CBD favourite Sloppy Joe's Deli have just opened another sandwich shop: FOC. No, it's not an expletive (though you might just say "FOC me, this is good!" while you're there); it's your new haven on Little Collins Street for freshly handmade focaccias filled with an array of heavenly ingredients.
Focaccia, a flat-leavened, oven-baked Italian bread, makes the perfect cocoon for shaved meats, veggies, salads and sauces – and the colourful, generously sized ones here are already earning a loyal fanbase. Chef Adrian Li (La Madonna), who you might remember from MasterChef), has developed the menu along with co-founder Brian Taing.
Pop in on your lunch break for the Rare Beef (sliced roast beef, salsa verde, pickled onion and horseradish mayo), the Mortadella (stracciatella, pickled green aioli and mortadella), or if you're a veggie lover, the Green Beans. The latter comes with the garlicky green beans of your dreams, plus a glorious combo of aioli, whipped ricotta, roasted peppers, rocket and harissa.
Yes, each focaccia is a fresh flavour explosion, and no, we won't stop until we've gone through every single one on the menu. But there's more at FOC, including a fresh selection of doughnuts from Peck's Road (delivered daily), coffee that could easily stand up to the CBD's best and fun rotating drinks specials like citrus cream brews and frappes.
As these cheeky sandwich geniuses would ask: "What the FOC are you waiting for?"
