I’m not what you’d call a hopeless romantic but if there’s one thing I believe in, it’s love at first bite.

This weekend, sitting on a bench at the pier, with the warm sun on my face and a cool breeze blowing through my hair, I absolutely fell head-over-heels in love the moment I bit into a sandwich from Il Cane Rosso, a small sandwich shop and rotisserie in San Francisco’s Ferry Building. It was one of those moments straight out of a movie. Time slowed down and I got all googley eyed as little cartoon hearts burst out of my head. Birds were chirping and there might’ve even been a full orchestra playing. But I couldn’t tell you what else was happening in the world around me because all I had eyes for was the beautiful and ridiculously delicious half of a sandwich I was holding in my hands, the other half still wrapped in brown paper next to me.

Beef brisket sandwich from Il Cane Rosso

Beef brisket sandwich, this is me professing my love to you. Where have you been all my life?

I had heard Il Cane Rosso was good and was told the sandwiches, particularly the beef brisket number, were something I had to eat before dying, but jeez, I had no idea!

Two warm, slightly crunchy-on-the-outside but still magically soft-and-slightly-chewy-on-the-inside pieces of flour dusted ciabatta sandwiched a thick layer of juicy, tender beef brisket, creamy, tangy lemon aioli, and a delicious cherry tomato preserve so colorful and flavorful I swore I could taste the color. Love is intoxicating like that. It’ll make you think some weird things if you let it.

With drops of tomato, aioli and brisket juice dripping through my fingers and down my arms, I thought who the hell cares what a mess I’m making or the fact that I’m sitting here alone but happy as a love-struck teenager? I have the sun, the breeze and this perfect sandwich, and that’s all I need right now.