At Basils Gourmet Sandwiches, they believe that at least one thing in your day should make you happy. And that one thing will be their sandwiches.
We want to bring a fine dining experience into the sandwich, says Gino Jamali, who owns the three Basils locations with twomore on the way with his wife Danielle Dahdouh and her brother Danny Dahdouh.
They marinate their pulled pork for 72 hours before slow roasting it for 24 hours. The beef brisket is roasted in a red wine sauce for 24 hours while the steak sandwich is marinated top sirloin roasted with red onions and their special sauces. When you order their signature spicy chicken sandwich, they slice the chicken breast that theyve just pulled out of the oven. All of them are served on freshly baked ciabatta bread baked daily.
Every day you get a fresh product. There are never any leftovers, Gino says.
As much care and attention goes into their sauces. They have 34 handcrafted varieties, including many that are non-mayo based for those with food sensitivities. Favourites include cilantro with jalapeño (green devil), spicy basil, roasted pepper and roasted garlic, creamy pesto and a special gypsy mix with cumin.
Its something that makes people smile, says Gino, whose own love of food helps inspire the recipes. As he likes to say, We import our spices from heaven.
The three of them started Basils Gourmet Sandwiches two years ago but Gino and Danielle have worked on the recipes since 1994.
When they first opened, for two days they offered free sandwiches, prompting a continual line-up outside the store. Those people not only came back, but they told their friends, who told their friends Word of mouth helped them build a loyal customer base.
Soon, the partners will be opening two more locations. But first, this week they are introducing a new menu, with new sauces which are also available for sale so you can make your own gourmet sandwiches and the introduction of flatbread. To give peoplea taste of how good the flatbread is, when customers order a sandwich this week, theyll be given free ciabatta bread to take home. There will also be more salad options.
Gino says that at Basils Gourmet Sandwiches, they believe in investing in quality. The pay back? All those happy customers.
