Il Panino di Pepe di Phnom Penh
‘From the shores of Isola d’Elba into the hearts of Phnom Penh’
Marco di Lonardo was born on Isola d’Elba, a place that drifts between sapphire and sun, where the breeze whispers of salt, rosemary, and warm stone. Vineyards tumble to the sea, cicadas hum, and time itself seems to soften. The produce here is as clean, pure, and fresh as the morning air itself.
Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to Elba in 1814, finding its restorative powers so wholly convincing that he was able to retake France after only ten months!
On this island, Marco di Lonardo learned the intrinsic art of baking Italian bread, sourcing the finest produce, and creating exceptional Italian sandwiches—panini—for the many visitors who passed through. Soon, he was crafting regional classics from all across Italy, as well as inventing mouth-watering combinations entirely his own.
Eventually, it was time to leave the island, spread his wings, and share the love of a good Italian sandwich. Marco reached out to his old friend Pepe—Cambodia’s master of meats—and a partnership was quickly formed.
‘A postcard on a plate’
Today, Pepe Steakhouse in Phnom Penh offers a wide selection of Marco’s panini, made with daily, in-house baked focaccia and piadina. They are filled with the finest Italian formaggi and Pepe’s own salumi, layered with fresh garden greens, pesto, and given the punch of nduja, or the kick of house-made Balkan ajvar.
Using only the freshest and finest ingredients—sourced locally or imported from Italy—these sandwiches are transformative: a postcard on a plate, and a journey you will most certainly wish to take.
Darren Gall
