Rebel Bread is Denver born and raised, but we are undeniably influenced by Italian culture. Many of our baked goods draw on classic Italian recipes (like our Cacio e Pepe Croissant), and cameos from an Italian lifestyle make regular appearances here (think single shot cappuccinos and gossip-filled pasta classes). With the opening of our new cafe and teaching school, we’re unveiling even more of the traditions that have inspired us.

*The original Rebel Bread at 2400 Curtis St, circa 2018*
*Photo by Danielle Webster in Redefining the Bakery at Rebel Bread in* *303 Magazine*

As a student at UCLA, Rebel Bread founder Zach Martinucci studied food traditions and identity in the northern region of Italy. Fast forward to October 2024, six years after opening Rebel Bread on Curtis Street in downtown Denver, and we see the launch of Rebel Bread’s sandwich line, Gino Panino. The line is affectionately named after Zach’s Italian grandparents, Nonno Gino and Nonna Gloria (you may recognize Nonna Gloria, as her Sunday pot roast is the inspiration for the Nonna G Sourdough that is now a staple at Denver farmer’s markets). Gino Panino is also partially inspired by the popular panini outlet based out of Florence, Italy called All’Antico Vinaio, a regular haunt for young Zach. Today, you can spot these bustling outposts in train stations and busy plazas, filled with locals and tourists alike - something we’re hoping to bring to Denver.

Gino Panino production director, Megan, adds her Sicilian roots to the menu, naming the nostalgic, tangy ham & dijon panino after her great aunt Josie, who along with her grandmother, taught her traditional Italian cooking in their home kitchen. All of the sandwiches on the Gino Panino menu are named after women who shared a love of food with us. (The crispy pancetta & egg souffle panino, Giada, is named after the Italian exchange student who stayed with Zach’s family when he was in high school.)

When visiting Italy, it’s hard not to notice the love affair between the old and the new. Tourists flock the streets alongside locals on their way to work, passing by the Pantheon and neon lights advertising a discount lunch special. The roads and city structures are impossibly ancient, and its passersby are infeasibly young in the scope of civilizations that have passed through the Roman empire.

At Rebel Bread, it’s sometimes hard to tell what’s old and what’s new. The new cafe and teaching school calls on our roots as a community bakery with a little espresso machine on Curtis Street, but the dedicated teaching kitchen and expansive cafe with seating (yes, we have seating now!) will breathe fresh life into these concepts. We’re still the same old Rebel Bread, the one where loaves are named after Italian grandmothers and we refer to our community as bread friends. We just have a full menu now and a roster of passionate instructors.

All of these traditions and stories are rolled up into a business called Rebel Bread, and with this new grand opening, we’re unraveling a bit more of the tapestry and inviting you to be part of the history!

Tomatoes, Butter, Salt: Italy at the heart of our new cafe and teaching kitchen

Let’s be Bread Friends.