G’day,

Those in the know, know where to go.

We’re excited to have just launched our latest episode of Mates on Crates, featuring Sandra Bruzzese, Co-Owner & Operator at La Grotta Del Formaggio in Vancouver, BC. Since 1977, La Grotta Del Formaggio has been one of Commercial Drive’s most iconic Italian destinations, beloved for its legendary sandwiches, carefully sourced cheeses and meats, pantry staples, and take and bake comforts that make it easy to bring a little bit of Italy home. Sandra has been part of the family business since childhood and now helps lead the next chapter alongside her brother, bringing a deep knowledge of product, a love of simple, high quality food, and a natural instinct for evolving the shop while protecting everything people already love about it. It was a pleasure to sit down with Sandra to chat about the family history behind La Grotta Del Formaggio, the evolution of the sandwich bar, the grocery and catering side of the business, and all of Sandra’s favourite spots.

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Each time we do a Mates on Crates interview, our guests share up to twenty of their favourites with us. For each episode, only a handful of those favourites make it into the final two minute cut. In order to highlight all of our guest’s favourites, we are happy to share the full list of favourites right here.

See the FULL LIST of Sandra Bruzzese’s Favourites:

Coffee: Folietta
Cocktail Bar: The Flam ingo Room
Date Night: Il Terrazzo
Dying to Try: Angela Pastificio
Food Neighborhood: Commercial Drive
Hidden Gem: The Red Accordion
Last Meal That Blew Them Away: Folietta
Pasta: Giusti
Pizza: Nook, Sopra Sotto
Pub: The King’s Head Public House
Take an Out of Town Guest: Nook (Olympic Village), bike the seawall, finish at The King’s Head Public House in Kits
Vegetarian: Viet Family Vegan
Outside of Vancouver: Angel Share Restaurant at Crown & Thieves Winery (Kelowna)

Thanks for joining us, Sandra!

Head to La Grotta Del Formaggio for legendary sandwiches, a beautifully stocked Italian grocery, excellent cheeses and meats, and a take and bake lineup that makes dinner feel like it came straight from a nonna’s kitchen. While there, be sure to try the classic meat lasagna, the ricotta and spinach cannelloni, a simple cheese-forward sandwich on their exclusive house bread, and one of the fresh filled cannoli, which are Sandra’s favourites.