A look inside the Picante. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
Joshua and Melinda Kosteski know their way around Italian cuisine – and they’ve got the credentials to prove it! Specifically, they’ve been certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN) in Napoli.
Their Pronto restaurants, one in Queanbeyan and the other in Weston, are best known for their 300-year-old Napolitan pizza recipe and for delighting local taste buds with regional pasta dishes.
Their newest venture, Fresca Cafe, has been an inspiration percolating away for a decade. It’s an idea that took hold during a 2014 trip to Italy, where they first tasted schiacciata and wondered why such a delicious and straightforward sandwich wasn’t available back home. Melinda recalls, “The minute I had my first bite, I knew we had to bring it back to Canberra.”
Fresca Cafe has opened its doors in the QPRC building in Queanbeyan, bringing a fresh and exciting lunchtime experience with Italian flair. The cafe specialises in schiacciata, a traditional Tuscan sandwich made with a mix of local and imported Italian ingredients.
In June 2023, Joshua and Melinda returned to Italy to research and hone their schiacciata recipe.
The coffee here is spectacular! Photo: Kazuri Photography.
When they found out about an opening in the QPRC building, they seized the opportunity.
“It felt like a sign. Opening up Fresca so close to Pronto in Queanbeyan just made sense.”
What sets Fresca apart is its bread, made by the master pizza makers at Pronto using traditional techniques. The process takes about 24 hours, resulting in bread that is soft and moist inside, crispy and crunchy outside, with just the right chew.
On the day I pop in to grab lunch, the first thing I notice is their coffee. We Canberrans are very spoilt with incredible coffee, and it’s a good thing we aren’t in competition with our NSW sister town because the Fresca brew is perfection. Dark, smooth and creamy. It embodies all the delicious adjectives.
I order the Picante and the I Capo sandwiches.
The Picante is generous layers of hot sopressa, arugula, eggplant, sundried tomatoes, freshly grated parmigiano, chili flakes and honey. The heady salami with intense bursts of the sundried tomatoes, tender slices of eggplant with the hint of honey drizzle and gentle heat from the chili flakes is such a scrummy flavour mix, all within the beautiful schiacciata bread.
The I Capo is truly the boss of the schiacciata sandwiches, stuffing the luscious bread with three Italian deli legends: hot sopressa, prosciutto and prosciutto cotto, tempered with grated provolone, basil pesto and sundried tomato. It tastes just exactly like you would imagine- heaven in sandwich form.
Unfortunately, my rapturous sips of gorgeous coffee are short-lived because, in my haste to get to work on time, I forget that I have placed my takeaway cup on the front car seat while packing the sandwiches into the well of the front passenger seat. I only remember when I hear a loud pop beneath me, followed by warm seepage. Guess this warrants a return visit, ASAP!
Fresca’s menu will change with the seasons and the owners’ inspirations. Melinda explains, “The menu at Fresca is all about flexibility and creativity. We love working with what’s fresh and in season. That’s what keeps it exciting. Soon we’ll be experimenting with Nonna’s figs, and we’ll have specials like pasta and Roman-style pizza”
Some standout menu items include the Mortadella Schiacciata with crema di pistachio, mortadella, straciatella, and crushed pistachio, and the Mediterranean with basil pesto, arugula, fior di latte mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, mixed Mediterranean vegetables, and balsamic. Melinda’s current favorite is the Tartufo, which features melted tartufo di pecorino, capocollo, and truffle oil.
Along with schiacciata sandwiches, Fresca offers delicious coffee, fresh cold-pressed juices, and sweet treats, many of which come from Melinda’s Italian mother’s kitchen, along with favorites from Sonoma Bakery.
Salivate over Fresca’s menu. Photo: Kazuri Photography.
Fresca Cafe is located at Level 3/257 Crawford St in Queanbeyan. It is open from 7 am to 2:30 pm on weekdays. Follow Fresca on Facebook and Instagram … and get ready to drool.
Original Article published by Michelle Taylor on Region Canberra.
