Much More than Pizza: A Celebration of the Best Italian Foods

What is it that makes Italian cuisine so greatly appreciated across the world? Could it be the sheer variety of centuries-old recipes to choose from? The copious use of crowd-pleasing cheese and carbs? Those aromatic Mediterranean seasonings, or the vibrancy of each dish as it appears on the plate?

All of those things are important, but what really makes Italian cuisine stand out is the quality of its ingredients. Many Italian foods are still made following time-honored techniques that have been perfected for centuries if not millennia. True Italian cuisine pays no heed to artificial chemicals or preservatives; instead it relies on real, natural ingredients prepared the traditional way, whether in the olive groves of Tuscany, the sleepy fishing villages of Sardinia or the highlands of northern Italy. Such ingredients are always locally grown and harvested during their seasonal peak of quality, and then integrated into homemade-style dishes that taste, for lack of a better word, delizioso.

It's because of this love for natural, high-quality produce that we sell so many Italian foods here at Gourmet Food Store. Whether it be Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Prosciutto di Parma or Fresh Summer Truffles, our Italian products are authentic and always in the spirit of Italian culinary tradition.

So, without further ado, scroll down to see our finest selection of Italian foods, ready for delivery to your doorstep at the click of a button.

Prosciutto / Ham

Made in Italy since the ancient Roman times, prosciutto is an Italian delicacy of dry-cured ham. Almost every region in Italy prepares its own version of prosciutto, each slightly different in taste. But perhaps the most celebrated is Prosciutto di Parma. Beloved for its exquisite sweet-and-salty flavor, Prosciutto Di Parma can be purchased as Trimmed Boneless Ham, or you can buy it whole, such as with Prosciutto Di Parma Boneless. Alternatively, try Prosciutto San Danielle, Boneless, a delicate meat from northwest Italy that’s darker and sweeter than Di Parma, or Speck Alto Adige, smoked and dry-cured in south Tyrol with a delicious pepper-and-juniper crust.

Prosciutto Recipes:
Prosciutto Ham, Baked Pears & Mozzarella Burrata Appetizer

Tartufi / Truffles

Truffles are a gourmet delicacy on the same lofty pedestal as caviar, foie gras and saffron. Since the middle ages, Italians have used specially-trained pigs and dogs to uncover these diamond spores secreted away beneath the earth. They may not be much to look at, but truffles are beloved for their heady aroma and unique, earthy notes. Often shaved over meals, they add culinary decoration as well as luxurious flavor, turning a simple pasta or salad into haute-cuisine.

We offer several kinds of truffles here at Gourmet Food Store. In season from May to August are our Fresh Black Summer Truffles, which offer a milder, subtler taste and aroma than their winter counterparts, available in from December to February. If you want to give your meals the truffle look without purchasing fresh truffles, try using truffle oil combined with shavings of Summer White Italian Truffles - Brushed First Choice. We also provide several truffle-infused products, such as Summer Black Italian Truffle Butter, which adds creamy truffle deliciousness to seared steaks, stir-fried vegetables and hors d’oeuvres.

Truffle Recipes:
Truffle Mac and Cheese  
Fresh Black Truffle Crostini
Truffle Risotto With Sauteed Scallops

Aceto Balsamico / Balsamic Vinegar

Another centuries-old ingredient, Balsamic Vinegar is named for its "curative" or "balsam-like" properties, and is highly valued by contemporary chefs and gourmands. We offer a wide range of balsamics, ranging from top-shelf specialties like Balsamic Vinegar Of Modena Extravecchio Gold Seal (matured over 75 years old for the ultimate in taste and refinement) and rich, syrupy Balsamic Vinegar from Modena I.G.P. - Invecchiato to fruit-based delights such as Apple Balsamic Vinegar. We also offer innovative balsamic-infused ingredients like Balsamic Pearls and Balsamic Mousse, both of which add decorative appeal and delicious flavor to countless dishes.

Balsamic Recipes:
Balsamic and Red Wine Iberico Pork Loin with Potato

Formaggio / Cheese

If you think the French have a monopoly on gourmet cheese, think again: Italy’s cheeses have so entrenched themselves into the daily fabric of American life, we almost forget their presence. Think of those Mozzarella cravings that led to midnight sandwiches instead of sleep. Think of the grated Parmesan your mom sprinkled over your homemade spaghetti Bolognese. Think of Mascarpone in your favorite cheesecake, Gorgonzola on your best-loved pizza, Ricotta in your most sinful cannoli dip.

Our aim is to keep delicious Italian cheese a big part of your life, so that's why we offer Pecorino Toscano Stagionato DOP, a hugely popular semi-hard cheeses appreciated for its fragrant, savory taste. Then, for those warm, summery days, refresh yourself with slices of Mozzarella Di Bufala on your bruschetta and prosciutto wraps, and for those cold, winter evenings, make homemade fondue with our meltingly delicious Fontina. Oh, and if mom's looking to upgrade her aforementioned Parmesan, gift her our authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, the mother of Italian cheeses.

Cheese Recipes
Mascarpone Portobello Mushrooms
Cheese and Foie Gras Mini Tarts

Pasta, Polenta e Risotto / Pasta, Polenta and Risotto

We already mentioned Italian cuisine’s generous use of carbs, and that often means top-quality pasta, polenta, rice or risotto ingredients. Tajarin Egg Pasta is a Piedmontese yellow pasta that soaks up buttery and creamy sauces with delicious results. It also comes in truffle, porcini and saffron-infused varieties. We also mentioned Italian cuisine's vibrancy, and pasta doesn't get more colorful than our 5 Flavored Tagliatelle Pasta, enriched with truffle, squid ink, mushrooms, arugula and saffron.

For risotto, try our Risotto Porcini, flavored with fragrant porcini and champignon mushrooms along with herbs and spices, especially delicious when combined with the above Parmigiano cheese! As for polenta, Tealdi offers jars of creamy polenta prepared in Piedmontese tradition, with both porcini-infused and truffle-infused varieties.

Pasta, Polenta and Risotto Recipes:
Easy Foie Gras and Truffle Pasta
Creamy Truffle Polenta
Mushroom Truffle Risotto And Parmigiano Crackers
Sauteed Sea Bass Over Polenta
Polenta Fingers With Gorgonzola Cream Cheese Dip

Olio di Oliva / Olive Oil

Olive Oil is such an essential part of Italian cooking, there are countless varieties to choose from, running the gamut from delicate and fruity to thick and syrupy. If you’re not sure where to begin, start with Paesano Unfiltered Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This cloudy liquid gold is made from organic olives from Sicily, with a taste that even the most discerning connoisseur will appreciate. For a Tuscan elixir with fruity aroma and herbaceous notes of cut grass and wild flowers, try Tuscan Extra Virgin Olive Oil P.G.I. Meanwhile, if you like a citrusy twist in your salads, seafood and meat, add a dash of Italian Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil Pressed with Lemon. Finally, the marriage of two Italian delicacies - truffle and olive oil - results in Urbani's intensely fragrant and classical White Truffle Olive Oil.

Miele / Honey

Honey is a popular treat in Italy, where it is often added to cheese plates or poured into teas and desserts. Linden Honey comes from honeybees that feed on the dripping nectar of the linden tree, especially delicious in teas or drizzled over toast and pastries. Thousand Flower Honey from Piedmont is imbued with the wonderful scents of Alpine wildflowers, while Chestnut Honey is made for the bolder palate, robust and nutty with a hint of woodsmoke. Finally, one of our most recently-added honeys is Saffron and Acacia Honey, with a mild sweet flavor enhanced with highly coveted saffron spice. Mix it into the above pastas or risottos for added scrumptiousness, or drizzle it over your favorite Italian ice cream or sorbet.