Our Philosophy

At Olive & Crust, everything starts from a simple idea:

The way we work is guided by three core principles:

• Respect the dough
  Dough needs time, not shortcuts. We use long fermentation to develop flavour, texture and digestibility. The schedule follows the dough, not the clock.

• Respect the ingredients
  A good sandwich doesn't need twenty things in it. It needs a few good ingredients treated simply. We choose products we trust and prepare them in a way that lets their flavour speak.

• Respect the customer

  People remember how the food and the service made them feel. For us, that means generous fillings, consistent quality, clear communication and orders that arrive as promised – whether it's a single click & collect sandwich, a delivery order, or a full platter spread for a boardroom meeting.

  Every schiacciata, every platter and every order is a reflection of these three principles.
  

The Craft Behind Our Schiacciata

Schiacciata is the foundation of everything we do.

Our dough is:

• Mixed and rested to allow proper gluten development

• Slowly fermented to build flavour and lightness

• Carefully shaped and stretched by hand

• Brushed with good olive oil before baking

The result is a thin, crisp, golden crust with a light, airy interior – strong enough to hold generous fillings, but never heavy or dense.

We bake in small batches so the bread you receive is as fresh as possible, with the texture we look for every day:
crisp on the outside, soft and open on the inside.

Ingredients That Matter

We keep the menu focused so we can keep the standards high.

Our sandwiches are built around:

• Italian cured meats
  Prosciutto di Parma, mortadella, porchetta and Tuscan-style salami.

• Classic Italian cheeses
  Pecorino, burrata, gorgonzola and other regional cheeses that bring character and depth.

• Fresh vegetables
  Courgettes, aubergines, tomatoes, rocket and more – roasted, grilled or marinated where it makes a difference.

• House-made creams, pestos & spreads
  Gorgonzola cream, 'nduja cream, pesto, potato cream and other preparations, made in small batches to keep flavours bright, clean and consistent.

We design each combination so every bite has balance – salt, fat, acidity, texture – not just a list of ingredients.

Quality Over Gimmicks

We are not trying to reinvent Italian food.

Our goal is to offer real, recognisable flavours, done with care:

• No unnecessary decoration

• No overloaded sandwiches that are impossible to eat

• No cutting corners on key ingredients

Instead, we focus on:

• Bread with proper fermentation

• Fillings that make sense together

• Portions that are generous and satisfying

It's straightforward food, but executed with the discipline of a professional kitchen.

Built for Real Life: Offices, Teams & Events

Our philosophy doesn't stop at the food – it also shapes how we serve people.

For office lunches, meetings and events, that means:

• Sandwiches and platters that are easy to share and easy to handle

• Clear, honest communication about quantities and timings

• Labelling and options for different preferences where possible

We want organisers to feel confident: if they order from Olive & Crust, the food will be on time, consistent and well received.

In Simple Terms

If we had to summarise our philosophy in one line, it would be:

Give the dough time. Choose good ingredients. Be generous with both.

That's how we approach every schiacciata we bake and every order we send out.