Pantry 411: Bella Italia In My Kitchen

So many of you, during the show and on Instagram, have asked for a list of my favorite products, and what a great way for me to not only share my Italian favorites, but to also announce a partnership I am very proud of, the one with Bella Italia Food Store!

If you have been following me for a while, if you have been part of the Instagram to Table Community, or if you know me personally, you know that I would never promote, support, or embrace brands, companies, and people I don’t believe in. So, before talking about food, let me tell you why I love Bella Italia Food Store.

Like any immigrant, I love the country where I live, but I also miss the one where I was born: Italy, in my case.

One of the things I miss the most about Italy is the food, but not simply Italian cuisine, because I create that in our kitchen every day. I am talking about the food I grew up with, the brands that remind me of my childhood, specific products that are not available abroad or that, if they are, only come through Amazon (and you know I am not a big fan of Amazon).

It was by chance that I discovered Bella Italia Food Store.

I was looking for one of my breakfast favorites, fette biscottate, and a random Google search took me to their website.

My first thought was:

Wow, now I can share all this with Catherine!!!

I was so happy!

I began to order taralli, Italian hot chocolate, baking powder, a brand of chewing gum that my mom used to have in her purse all the time, Vigorsol, and tomato sauce, coffee, pasta…

Time passed, Catherine began to eat fette biscottate with honey every morning for breakfast, Bella Italia Food Store and I connected on Instagram, and I began to get to know Laura, the founder and owner of the company. We got along, we started corresponding, and sharing each other’s posts on Instagram. The partnership was the cherry on top!

You know what I love as much as Italian food? Small companies created and run by strong women who dream big and work hard.

Now you know why I am proud to support them, to partner with them, and to buy from them.

On her website, Laura writes:

What was our first wish has now become reality: make your food shopping as you were in Italy!

And that’s exactly how I feel every time I buy my groceries on Bella Italia Food Store: I feel as if I were in Italy, filling up the cart with my mom. And if I close my eyes, and dream big like I tend to do, I can actually also see myself filling up the cart with Catherine, in Avigliana, where I am from and where half of my heart will always be.

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Now, here’s a list of my very favorite Italian staples that are always in my pantry, for cooking, snacking, and indulging:

Lievito Pane Angeli, my favorite vanilla-flavored baking powder. I use it in every cake, every cookie, every sweet preparation I create.

Pasta: When I want to treat myself I buy pasta La Molisana, and there is no comparison. It is a little more expensive than the grocery store one, but it’s nice to mix and match from time to time. And if I have to choose where I want to indulge, the answer is often pasta!

Taralli: I used to make my own taralli (here’s my recipe), it’s a very easy process. But it takes long, and when life got very busy I had to give something up. I haven’t made them in a while, but I found these at Bella Italia. We are never without, here at the Tench’s. Catherine loves the ones with fennel seed, and I love the ones with chili flakes. They also make a great co-appetizer with olives and some mozzarella cheese.

Caffe Kimbo: my favorite espresso. I use an old mocha I brought with me from home, and every time I serve it, in a small glass, I am transported to Italy at the first sip.

Fette biscottate: this is my favorite breakfast. It’s light, healthy, Italian. Spread on it a veil of butter and jam, and you are set to go. It’s also a fast one when you have to rush out the door.

Bucaneve and Abbracci:  I adore these biscotti with my espresso. The store has a huge variety though, Ritornelli is also a favorite of mine.

Creme Caramel : I love this ready-to-make dessert. It’s perfect when you have unexpected guests, or if you don’t really have the time to bake. Only add your favorite milk and voilà, four portions of goodness and creaminess in a cup.

Balsamic Vinegar: first time buying this and loving it! I am very simple when it comes to dressing my salads: a good extra-virgin olive oil, a good balsamic vinegar, and some salt.

Tomato Sauce: these two are simply the best. That’s all I use to make my own tomato sauce. I make a big batch and freeze it. When I use these tomatoes I only add some fresh basil and extra-virgin olive oil, cook for a long time at a very low heat, and enjoy the best tomato sauce in the world!

Crackers: (see photo above): this is a healthy snack that (even though singularly wrapped in plastic, I regret to say) is convenient when traveling or out and about all day. Catherine loves the salt flakes on top, and I do too.

Black olive tapenade: this is truly a gem to keep in your fridge and pantry. It makes the best crostini, bruschetta, and spread. I dip taralli in it, or spread it on a slice of bread. But you can layer it over butter, cream cheese, fresh ricotta, and create a beautiful appetizer that screams ITALY!

I spilled all my secrets, but there is so much more to discover on Bella Italia’s online store…go and get some, then meet me back in the kitchen for some good cooking.

Follow me on Instagram, I will have a new giveaway every month so you can try some of Bella Italia’s food. 

xo

Alice