Whether you’ve traveled through Italy dining on authentic Italian meals that your memory can still taste or if you’ve had the pleasure of feasting at an Italian restaurant that made you feel like you were in the beloved country, making mouthwatering Italian meals at home can keep you connected to your best Italian food experiences. The key is finding gourmet Italian products made with the finest ingredients.
Here are a few must-try Italian foods and wines that will help you relive your delicious Italian food memories as well as inspire you to create your own Italian meals.
Le Veneziane Spaghetti
Nothing says Italian like a steaming bowl of al dente pasta tossed with a flavorful sauce. A special treat for those with gluten-intolerance, Le Veneziane Spaghetti is made with cornmeal from the corn-producing region of Veneto, Italy. Not only is this delicious Italian staple gluten-free, it has an inviting vibrant golden color and cooks up like classic spaghetti made from wheat.
Available at DiPaloSelects.com (along with a full-range of other Italian specialty foods)
Price: $8.99 per pound
GL Mezzetta Pasta Sauce
Best known for their domestic and imported peppers and olives, GL Mezzetta recently expanded their Italian product line to include pasta sauces made with appellation Napa Valley wines and imported San Marzano plum tomatoes.
The Napa Valley Bistro Homemade Marinara and Creamy Marinara both feature a mouthwatering blend of the finest ingredients and offer a robust balance of authentic Italian flavors.
Available at retail grocery stores, gourmet markets, and for order online at Mezzetta.com
Italian Cheese Board
A generous wedge of good Parmigiano Reggiano cheese should be a staple in every kitchen, but there are many other wonderful Italian cheeses that are just as delicious, if not better.
The Italian Cheese Board from igourmet.com features distinct cheeses that are perfect to serve with wine, fruit and nuts as a main course or as an after-dinner nibble. The Pecorino Toscano is a semi-soft sheep’s milk cheese with hints of wildflowers and herbs found in the Tuscan countryside. The Mountain Gorgonzola, laced with tangy blue streaks, comes from Italy’s Lombardy region. The Piave, reminiscent of Parmigiano Reggiano, is a robust full-bodied cheese from the northernmost part of Veneto, and named after the river Piave. An aged world-class hard cheese, the Grana Padano Stravecchio Oro del Tempo is considered second to none.
Available as a set at igourmet.com (or singularly at Italian specialty markets)
Price: $79.99 for eight ounces of each cheese, ciappini flatbread, cheese knife and bamboo cheese board
Villa Mandoori Dark Cherry Balsamico
A gourmet Italian product that may seem a bit pricey, Villa Mandoori Dark Cherry Balsamico is a combination of traditional aceto balsamico and sour cherries from Vignola.
Created by one of Italy’s top chefs, Chef Massimo Max Bottura, owner of the well-known restaurant Osteria La Francescana of Modena, this balsamic vinegar is aged for 10 to 15 years in dark cherry wood. A secret ingredient with unparalleled flavor, Villa Mandoori Dark Cherry Balsamico is excellent drizzled over tomatoes and vegetables, added to sauces, and even sprinkled over vanilla ice cream or crème brulee.
Available at Amazon.com
Price: $45.99 per 250ml bottle
Marchesi de Frescobaldi Italian Red Wines
Wines from this 700 year-old Tuscan wine making family, also known for some of the world’s best Brunello, are ideal for the Italian wine lover looking for delectable affordable wines. Here are two of our favorite Italian reds.
Nipozzano Riserva 2005
A full-bodied – but not heavy – red wine, the Nipozzano leads with a lovely florality of violets and sweetbriar on the nose, which soon yield to fruitier impressions of morello and sour cherry. Last to emerge are spicy notes of clove and tobacco leaf.
Upon sipping, this wine enters warmly alcoholic and pleasantly dry in the mouth with a finish that is appealingly crisp and long lingering. Nipozzano is comprised of Sangiovese (90 percent) and complementary varietals. It was awarded 90 points by Wine Spectator. This lovely red wine is best served with barbecued meats, stews and aged cheeses.
Available at many wine retailers (check with online wine retailers)
Price: $20 per 750ml bottle
Remole 2006
Remole is marriage of sangiovese (85 percent) and cabernet sauvignon (15 percent) sourced from areas of Tuscany long-renowned for yielding wines of great aromatic complexity.
This Italian red wine leads with clean bright flavors of cherry and strawberry that follow with a spicy touch of black pepper and aromatic herbs. Remole has excellent body and a sturdy structure that provides juicy balanced crispness on the palate. Pair with a charcuterie that is not too spicy or with full-flavored pasta dishes.
Available at many wine retailers (check with online wine retailers)
Price: $10 per 750ml bottle
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