About Us

Food should always bring out the "Happy" in each of us. Whether we're sharing a meal with friends and family, or simply grabbing a quick bite to eat, what we eat should result in a smile.We've always been in love with simple meals, made with just a few fresh select ingredients. When you put the right ingredients together the results are not only delicious, but memorable as well. 

Our inspiration for Happy Panini comes straight from the kitchens in Italy that defined the "panino" or "panini".  With just a small handful of fresh select ingredients, incredible sandwich creations are formed. Our family has set out to do the same. With recipes and ingredients from Italy, combined with creations that are American in spirit and worldy in flavor, our panini will be both memorable and craveable. 

Serving up classic grilled and pressed sandwiches (panini) , our panini are served on freshly baked, locally sourced sourdough bread from The New World Bakery in Kyle, TX. Our menu offers classic Italian panini flavor profiles, American influenced recipes, and vegetarian options. All of our panini are made to order. Our menu will include seasonal favorites and incorporate locally sourced ingredients. We have a heart for serving our commuty and commit to give back to the people all year long. 

Chris and Gina have been married since 2000 and have 3 beautiful children that have been raised in the kitchen and love to help with the cooking and baking. You will see their faces assisting mom and dad most days.

Chris is a veteran of the restaurant industry with over 25 years of experience. He started his journey in New York where he worked as a bartender, server, manager, and general manager of several full service and quick service concepts including Houlihans, Red Lobster and Ruby Tuesday. Chris later relocated to South Florida, then to Texas where he spent the last 13 years helping build the Which Wich Superior Sandwich brand. Chris played an integral role as a Regional VP of Operations, growing the brand from 8 locations to over 400. He developed operational systems and consulted franchisees on how to successfully grow their business, all while leading, supporting, and mentoring other consultants to do the same. Chris has been a member of the Hutto community for the last 16 years.

Gina is an active member of the health and fitness industry in the cities of Hutto and Round Rock. Gina’s foodservice experience includes a decade of full-service work as a bartender, server, trainer, and supervisor.  Gina’s love for food and baking motivated her to start her own in-home baking class called Hutto Junior Bakers. This class offered local children the opportunity to learn the basics of baking, food sanitation, cake, and cupcake decorating all while enjoying their delicious creations. As a homeschooling Mom, Gina has established a strong foothold within the social communities of Hutto and Round Rock. A self-taught and experienced graphic artist with an affinity for creating various types of marketing collateral, Gina will lead all aspects of social media management and marketing for Happy Panini.