Aifam tackles serious hunger with hulking Italian sandwiches crafted from a wealth of fresh ingredients.

Taking its name from the Italian phrase for "Are you hungry," the casual spot, which opened in October 2023, answers its own question with a menu designed to showcase traditional Italian flavours.

"I’ve been interested in bringing more authentic Italian culture to Toronto," says Jesse Hart, who co-owns Aifam with husband John Fanelli. "I just think that a city like Toronto really needs more authentic expressions of Italian food. The way that Italians right now eat."

At Aifam, that translates to a menu of seriously large, generously stuffed sandwiches in the style of Florence's All'Antico Vinaio. Each, affirms Hart, is prepared with a mix of local and imported ingredients. "The simpler, the better. If you have too many ingredients, you're masking the real taste of things."

As for the size? "That comes from my husband," she laughs. "He thinks bigger is better. It definitely wasn't my idea to make them enormous." Still, she adds, "growing up in an Italian household, abundance is better. You'd always rather have too much than too little."

Hart's idea was to invite Italy into the simple space by way of vibrant, hand-painted murals. As proficient in the kitchen as she is with a paintbrush, Hart's ode to Italian pop culture jumps from the Tuscan countryside to Sophia Loren, from Michelangelo's David to the three-legged symbol of Sicily known as the Trinacria.

Together, it all makes an apt backdrop to the café's menu of sandwiches, salads and imported Italian goods, from frozen and dried pastas to cookies, desserts, spreads and more.

Built on bread that Hart describes as a light and airy cross between pizza bianca and focaccia, sandwiches at Aifam range from meat-layered two-handers to vegan giants brimming with zingy vegetable medleys. "I wanted a simple menu that had something for every taste," she says. "I tried to hit every note."

Grab a Brio ($2.75) to quell the heat from Il Padrino ($16.50), a potent option packed with chili-flecked salami, capocollo, prosciutto, provolone and fiery bomba spread.

Craving a less intense lunch? La Regina ($16.00) offers a familiar blend of silken fior di latte and pistachio-flecked Italian mortadella sharpened by generous smears of pesto aioli.

For vegans, vegetarians or meat-eaters on hiatus, the Primavera Perfetta ($16.50) is "what I think of when everything is growing and harvested," says Hart.

Punchy and bright, it's made with tender folds of grilled eggplant, scarlet strips of roasted pepper, semi-dried cherry tomatoes and arugula. A splash of balsamic glaze and house vegan aioli neatly bring every crowded mouthful together.

One of two meal-sized salads, Bresaola & Arugula ($16.50) turns delicately sweet and savoury ribbons of air-dried beef into a meal, thanks to the addition of peppery greens, balsamic dressing and plenty of shaved parm.

At Aifam, customers are greeted warmly, lunch doubles as an unexpected dinner and there are plenty of interesting tidbits to squirrel away home for another time.

Aifam is located at 100 Harbord Street.