Look at this adorable little sandwich 'shop' that opened this year in the center of Stresa, Cicinin - Panini al Metro. Just a window opening onto the street, like many gelato shops, but it's the first I've seen here done this way exclusively for sandwiches. Panini al METRO, translated to sandwiches in the subway style, is a reference to subway sandwiches, as in the American chain of Subway shops.

The shop is located there, on the left, at this junction of via Roma and via P. Tomaso. From this viewpoint the lake is directly in front of us, the Leone bookshop is on the right, and Piazza Cadorna is out of view, but to the right.

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The name of the shop, CICININ, seems to be an old dialect word, meaning like, a little. As in, "Do you want some of this?"  "Yes, give me a little, a cicinin." As the cute blackboard menu shows, a cicinin is a 10 cm sandwich, shown with an actual piece of bread attached to the board. Selections could change daily, but on this day for example we have a range from plain salami for 1.50 euro to prosciutto cotto with cheese, tomato, and basil for 4 euro.

Long sandwiches are lined up and you buy by the cicinin, 10 cms each. They also have sodas and bottled water, and the focaccia sandwiches on the left above.  As for the hours of operation, the shop has posted another small blackboard with that information. There it is below. Let's take a closer look.

It says, "Hours: From 9:00 am (approximately), until the bread is finished!"

All of a sudden, Stresa shops seem to be catching on to the idea of 'fast' or 'takeaway' food, something that had been a bit lacking before. When you need just a quick bite, or something to bring with you for your day or back to your room, there are now several easy choices. 

Read about other fast-food options here.