Bella Roma Panini Melts Italian Flavors Together

Opened just two years ago in downtown Rocky Point, Sweets of the Spoon is a comfortable cafe that's far beyond its signature ice cream and gilato selection. With homemade soups, wraps and paninis, along with specialty coffee and Italian sodas, the eatery is a great place to grab lunch, share coffee with a friend or take the kids for an ice cream treat.

The Dish:  Bella Roma Panini ($6.45)

What's Inside: Rotisserie chicken, provolone cheese and grilled red peppers all pressed and melted together on cispy-yet-soft ciabatta bread.

How's it Taste: The subtle flavors of this sandwich melt together seamlessly in the panini press - no one component outshining another. Each side of the ciabatta bread, which crisps up on the outside while staying soft inside, is lined with melted provolone cheese and stuffed with thinly sliced rotisserie chicken dotted with grilled red peppers, which add a sweet, fresh zing to the dish. Perfect for a winter day, the panini is warm, filling and comfortable to all the senses.

Sides: Paninis at Sweets of the Spoon come with a choice of mixed greens salad, chips or an apple. Add a 12 ounce homemade soup ($3.95) for a real soul-warming meal. The baked potato soup, which screams homemade with chunks of potatoes and their skins, is a great compliment to eat along side, or use it as a dip for the panini...yum.

Then, of course, there's desert - baked goods galore and ice cream and gilato made on-site. The Tiramisu gilato and red velvet cake ice cream are unique-yet-scrumptious choices.