There’s something beautifully unpretentious about a proper deli sandwich. Not some overpriced, Instagram-worthy creation with seventeen ingredients you can’t pronounce, but a straightforward, generous sandwich made by people who actually know what they’re doing.

I came across a thread recently about a spot in Dandenong Market doing Italian-style sandwiches, and it got me thinking about these little pockets of authenticity that still exist around Melbourne. Someone posted a photo of what they’re calling a “Peppa Roll” – presumably loaded with Italian cold cuts – and the immediate response was exactly what you’d hope for: genuine appreciation, people sharing their experiences, and that satisfying sense of community that forms around good, honest food.