Dish No. 32: Mozzarella, Tomato, and Basil Focaccia at Eataly

By Rebecca Marx Mon., Sep. 27 2010 at 12:56 PM

Categories: 100 Dishes to Eat Now, Marx

Welcome to 100 Dishes to Eat Now, Fork in the Road's handy list of some of our favorite dishes -- old standbys and new finds alike -- compiled daily.

Today's pick: the mozzarella, tomato, and basil focaccia at Eataly (200 Fifth Avenue).

Among Eataly's vertigo-inducing array of Italian foods and the crowds who come to eat them, there is a warmly-lit and unassuming bakery counter. From behind the bakery counter comes some very good focaccia.

It's soft and fluffy, pleasantly salty, and redolent of good olive oil, which will coat your fingers. The tomatoes that stud its exterior are impossibly sweet, and almost make up for the dearth of basil. The mozzarella's presence is similarly a bit lacking, though it does form a few delightfully gooey little pools within the bread's airy interior. Thanks to its generous substantial surface area, the focaccia could double as a pillow for a lap dog; between its size and all of the olive oil it exudes, it makes for an exceptionally satisfying snack or light lunch.

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