Nonna Rosa Oudegracht

Nonna Rosa Oudegracht is a tiny Italian sandwich counter beside a canal in the Netherlands. A small outdoor bench faces the moving canal water. Inside, hand-pressed schiacciata fills the air with sourdough, olive oil, and sea salt. Most sandwiches leave the narrow counter wrapped for takeaway.

Hand pressure shapes each sourdough loaf before baking, leaving the crust crisp and centre soft. Mortadella from Bologna meets stracciatella di burrata and pistachios. Other fillings combine San Daniele ham with pecorino cream and rocket, or Tuscan salame with ’nduja and roasted paprika. Her recipes carry more than seventy-five years of family tradition. Imported cheeses, meats, and vegetables fill the sandwiches.

Seating remains limited, so the canal edge becomes part of the meal. On sunny days, the small bench fills quickly. Sweet choices include cannoli and schiacciata spread with Nutella. The clearest detail is the bread’s contrast: crisp outside, airy and soft inside.