The team behind All-Purpose Pizza in Shaw is taking over the space next door—previously occupied by Buttercream Bakeshop—for a more casual sandwich shop and market. Fossette Focacceria will specialize in focaccia sandwiches, but will also open early for coffee and pastries and sell Italian goods and pizza kits into the late afternoon. It opens Friday, June 28.
The concept is inspired by chef-owner Mike Friedman first job working in a New Jersey deli as a teenager as well as the Tuscan-style focaccia sandwiches that have become popular across Europe, but aren’t well represented in DC. At home during the pandemic, Friedman says he turned to baking focaccia with his young daughters. “Their favorite part: they’d oil up their fingers and do the little dimples in the bread. Fosette translates to dimples. So it’s a little homage to them,” he says.
Lunch sandwiches are meatier, such as the “Italiano” loaded with classic hoagie deli meats as well as the “Testaccio” with braised short ribs in a rich tomato sauce, horseradish, and parmesan cream. There are also vegetarian options including an eggplant Milanese with mozzarella, roasted tomatoes, and fresh basil. Eventually, the menu may expand to include salads or other snacks.
The shelves will be stocked with Italian pastas, olive oils, vinegars, and more. Photograph courtesy Fossette Focacceria. “The other goal is to find a way to make our little block in Shaw a little bit more vibrant,” Friedman says. “We’re in the post-pandemic age, and we’d love to be able to bring some foot traffic back to the area and have a great neighborhood anchor space.”in July 2016, she was Food Editor and Young & Hungry columnist at Washington City Paper.