Last week, while at home, on one of the rather dreary nights that my mother (as deserved) needed a break from her motherly duties, I walked into the kitchen to find that there was no dinner. I was out of options—but determined. Two slices of wheat bread remained, and looking for any bit of hope, I checked the fridge for spare turkey and Swiss fromage slices. To my disappointment, I took to making a plain old sandwich. Cold, bland, and simply unpalatable, I thought I was out of luck. But that was when I saw a light—rather a glisten—peeking from my base cabinet door: A grilling surface? “It can’t be,” I thought to myself. I laid a light coating of butter on its surface and firmly placed my sandwich upon it. It cracked and sizzled; when the bread’s smoky char filled my nostrils, I knew I had more than a sandwich. I had a panini.
The Belmont Hill Panini was banned sometime between the 2022-2023 school year, primarily due to various irresponsible uses and the hammer of former school chef Ms. Wu. I decided to ask the current Director of Culinary Excellence, Tony Maws, what compelled Ms. Wu—as well as himself, to remove the culinary treasure. Chef Maws replied, “It does not quite fit well with what we are trying to do here at Belmont Hill anymore,” but perhaps more importantly, “Someone almost set the building on fire last time.” Chef Maws was direct and seemingly un-budgable during our short exchange. Chances of bringing back the panini machine looked negligible. Hope was distant.
Yet, Belmont Hill students are excited by the prospect of the Panini Machines’ return. Out of 81 previous Panini users I surveyed earlier this week, we can assume these are all the remaining Panini fans, since they cared enough to click on my survey—69% say they would use it 3 or more times a week. However, due to the impressive improvements to the school’s menu, 31% of these students say they would use the panini machine less now than in 2023.
What about the other 69% of students who said they wouldn’t eat Paninis less? It shows just how much Belmont Hill students love paninis— that nothing could ever replace their perfect sandwich. When I asked Jack Ramanathan ’26 how he would like the return of the panini, he responded, “Bro, please Babi—I AM BEGGING YOU.” The love of Paninis expressed by Belmont Hill students makes the argument for the return of the Panini machine more essential.
However, as Chef Maws explained, safety hazards have posed various issues in the past. But students in 2026 seem to feel an increased sense of responsibility. Out of 132 panini lovers’ responses, 98.5% pinky promised to use the Panini Machine responsibly should the powers that be approve it. With this promise not to endanger the livelihood of Belmont Hill Students and Staff, we issue this heartfelt plea. Give us another chance!
Overall, bringing back the Belmont Hill panini will not be easy. It will require rigorous negotiations and pleas. Mrs. Gilinski gave some food for thought via email, proposing that the kitchen staff provide pre-made grilled cheese sandwiches on certain days—a possible “panini base” where students could add their own sandwich bar toppings. The likelihood of Belmont Hill students settling for such measures is slim. Belmont Hill students fight—that is their nature. They don’t settle—they persevere. Though this year may not be their year, as Michael Jordan says, “ I have never lost a game, I just ran out of time.”
