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Tasty Stuff
In our travels, we occasionally encounter a food or a taste that stands out. It could be a special local product, or something from the other side of the globe, or it could be something that's just new to us. Admittedly, some of these flavors just bring back memories of our adventures. We have decided to share some of these tastes and memories with you.
Enjoy!
There are three foods Italians take very, Very seriously; WINE, OLIVE OIL, and BALSAMIC!
While vacationing in Italy, my wife an I were sitting at a small outdoor cafe' in northern Italy near the Austrian border. It's late on a Sunday morning, the weather perfect, an old man playing the piano. People at the other tables talking, laughing, truly enjoying each other. We ordered fresh sliced tomatoes with "mozzerella di buffalo" (buffalo milk cheese) topped with fresh basil and fine olive oil. Just before you eat, you sprinkle on a few drops of balsamic. I have never tasted anything like this before. It was absolutely wonderful. I knew I had to have some extremely good balsamic to take home with me.
Balsamic vinegar is the unfermented juice or "must" of the white Trebbiano grape. The juice is boiled down to a sweet, intensely fruity syrup that is then aged in wooden barrels of various woods including chestnut, mulberry, juniper, oak and cherry. "True" balsamic is aged a minimum of six years and is traditionally made in Modena, Italy.
Manicardi produces some of the finest balsamic in Italy. I wanted to taste a truly exquisite balsamic, and found it with this Manicardi Gold. This balsamic is twenty five years old!! Think about that. The grapes were picked and the juice boiled twenty five years ago. Where were you and what were you doing twenty five years ago? The finished product is thick and syrupy and has an intense, robust, fruity flavor. A few drops is all you need so this 250 ml bottle will last a long time. One bottle lasted our family for almost a year.
Try dipping a crusty bread in a good olive oil with a few drops of this balsamic, you won't believe it! Dip the tip of a fresh strawberry in this wonderful balsamic and pop it your mouth, WOW. OK for a real different treat, put a few drops on top of a premium vanilla ice cream. I know it sounds crazy,,,,TRY IT!
I managed to bring back a little more than enough for my own use and will share some of the extra I have. I have a very limited supply.
Sorry, Out of stock again.
The rest is still ...
