Gourmet food

Food trends, Gourmet food

THE FOUR ESSENTIAL AROMATIC HERBS OF ITALIAN CUISINE

08/03/2024

Aromatic herbs play a fundamental role in enhancing the flavors and aromas of dishes across various culinary traditions worldwide. From adding depth to soups and stews to lending a refreshing zest to salads and sauces, these herbs are indispensable in the culinary realm. In Italian cuisine the use of aromatic herbs is particularly revered, with certain herbs holding iconic status for their distinctive flavors and versatility. Among the numerous aromatic herbs that are most used in Italian recipes, four of them define the heart of Italian cooking: basil, parsley, rosemary and oregano. Perhaps the most iconic of all Italian herbs,…

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Gourmet food

TRADITIONAL BALSAMIC VINEGAR OF MODENA, AN EXPORT SUCCESS

17/11/2023

Known as “black gold”, Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is one of the most popular gourmet products made in Italy.  Its market, valued at USD 1.30 billion back in 2021, is expected to reach the value of USD 2.17 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 6.60% during the forecast period (2022-29). Exports cover a share of approximately 70% and the main export markets are France, Germany and Japan but - above all - the USA. It is for this reason that Traditional Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Dop recently flew to Boston for a masterclass dedicated to retailers, chefs and…

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Food trends, Gourmet food

IT IS CHESTNUT TIME

19/10/2023

Available from the end of September throughout the first winter months, chestnuts are the most popular autumnal fruit in Italy. In the past, people would buy roasted chestnuts from street vendors and stuff them in their pockets to keep their hands warm and, of course, have something nice to snack on. Nowadays street vendors are still there but roasted chestnuts are served wrapped in fancy paper cones and have become a rather fashionable street food. Legend has it that Italians’ love for chestnuts dates back to Ancient Roman times, when chestnuts were used as a form of currency or trade…

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Gourmet food

ITALIAN SOTTACETI AND SOTTOLI

05/10/2023

Italy is renowned for its rich culinary heritage, boasting an array of delicious dishes and ingredients that have captivated food enthusiasts around the world. Among the lesser-known treasures of Italian gastronomy are sottaceti and sottoli, preserved vegetables that have been cherished for generations. Sottaceti are pickled vegetables that capture the essence of seasonal produce. Italians have been pickling vegetables for centuries as a means of preserving their harvests for the colder months. The most common vegetables used in sottaceti include cucumbers, bell peppers, onions and cauliflower. These vegetables are submerged in a brine solution containing vinegar, water, salt and aromatic…

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Gourmet food

UNLEAVENED BREAD, A SHARED TRADITION

22/08/2023 UNLEAVENED BREAD: A SHARED TRADITION

Bread, in Italy, is as popular as pasta and pizza. It is the first thing that gets served in restaurants, without even asking for it. We eat bread together with almost any dish except pasta, rice and - of course - dessert, but when a delicious layer of sauce remains on the plate, we can’t help but making scarpetta, that is using a piece of bread to collect it and enjoy it. Even though more than 250 different types of bread are baked all over the country, including regional varieties, not many people know that unleavened bread is the most…

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Gourmet food

GASTRONOMIC GELATO: WILL THE TREND SURVIVE THE SUMMER?

21/07/2023 gastronomic gelato

Italian ice cream, commonly known as gelato, is one of the staple foods in summertime.  With fewer calories, less sugar and lower fat content per serving than standard, commercial ice cream, Italian gelato is tasty and filling enough to be the perfect substitute for a lunch on-the-go during a hot and hectic summer day. 7,5 million occurrences of the hashtag #gelato, on the main social media platforms, confirm that the popularity of this Italian excellence is on the raise all over the world. Predictable – one may say – when you combine Italian expertise, top-quality ingredients and a product that…

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Gourmet food

A GOURMET SEASON: PORCINI MUSHROOMS AND TRUFFLES ARE KINGS OF THE FALL

12/12/2022

Fall is foodies’ paradise. While the days growing shorter and the air turning colder call for longer, cozy indoor meals, this season is filled with so many sensational products that every food lover is truly spoilt for choice. The Autumn’s harvest in Italy is a real bounty: pumpkins, chestnuts, pomegranates, cabbages, beetroots…the list is almost endless and it strongly influences our eating habits during this time of the year. Cold pasta salads make room for earthy soups; new ruby wine and fresh extra virgin olive oil become the perfect pairing for casseroles and stews. If we were to crown a…

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Gourmet food

THE MOST POPULAR PASTA RECIPES: FUN FACTS

25/11/2022

If you add Italy and food the result is always pasta. Easy-to-prepare, delicious and so versatile that it can be combined with a plethora of other ingredients to create some of the world’s favorite dishes. Funnily enough though, the most famous pasta recipe in the world is not one of those that a visitor would find featured on a menu in any restaurant in Italy: probably because of its history, linked to somebody feeling unwell, or maybe for the abundance of butter which is not very popular in the Mediterranean diet.  Created in 1914 by Alfredo Di Lelio, the owner…

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Gourmet food

THE BEST ITALIAN DRIED FRUIT

24/10/2022

If Fall is the season for harvest, October is its richest month when it comes to fresh fruit. Chestnuts, apples, pomegranates, pears and grapes: in Italy we have such a variety and abundance to suit every taste. Not many people know, though, that this autumnal month is the one that sees also a couple of dried fruits, considered as national excellences, getting ready for consumption: the hazelnut from Piedmont e the pistachio from Sicily. Recognized as the best in the world for its balanced flavor and a good production yield, the Tonda Gentile Trilobata (also known as PGI Piedmont Hazelnut)…

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Food trends, Gourmet food

MOZZARELLA DI BUFALA, THE ULTIMATE FOOD EXPERIENCE

15/04/2022

For as much as it used to be a local delicacy, these days Buffalo mozzarella (PDO) - aka Mozzarella di Bufala DOP, in Italian - is one of the foods that people order automatically whenever they see it on a menu. Never mind if the restaurant is in Rome, Abu Dhabi, Shanghai or New York City. Creamy, flavorful and incredibly soft, it is the ultimate mouth-watering experience for dairy lovers all over the world. Mozzarella di Bufala DOP is a fresh cheese made with the milk of the domestic buffalo, typical of southern Italy. Buffalo’s milk is higher in calcium,…

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Food trends, Gourmet food

STRACCIATELLA, THE TRENDIEST ITALIAN FRESH CHEESE

09/03/2022

Stracciatella is becoming more and more popular everywhere as chefs all over the world, who appreciate its taste and versatility, are featuring it on their menus. Despite the confusion that may be generated by its name - which defines also an egg-enriched soup and a chocolate-flecked ice-cream - Stracciatella is the trendiest of all the Italian fresh cheeses: a luscious, creamy cow's milk cheese made of shreds of mozzarella (to shred is stracciare, in Italian) mixed with cream. Possibly the best by-product made with mozzarella leftovers, Stracciatella originated in Puglia at the beginning of the last century; just like Burrata,…

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Food trends, Gourmet food

PANETTONE VS PANDORO: THE ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS DEBATE

20/12/2021

In Christmas gatherings all over the world many are the topics that get relatives and friends converse for long hours. The same happens here in Italy; yet, be it due to our natural inclination for passionate discussions or to the engrained love for good food that make us all expert in something culinary, chances are that the old dilemma between Panettone and Pandoro may well heat up the conversation at the end of a meal. The two most loved Christmas desserts have been fighting to win the hearts of the Italians since marketing and logistics made them available throughout the…

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About Alifood

About Alifood

We strongly believe that everything we plan and do should create value, for both our clients and suppliers. We do not see ourselves as mere food traders.

The sale of the products we select is just the last step of a complex, structured process that is based on strong business relationships and, in many cases, real partnerships. Our job is made of several functions: sourcing the right product, selecting a reliable producer, managing the entire logistics chain, providing all the necessary documentation and certifications and following up all the after-sale requirements besides consulting and tutoring on how to best use each single product. We do all this because we strongly believe that everything we plan and do should create value, for both our clients and suppliers. Our familiarity with the Italian food an agricultural industry, developed over the last twenty years, gives us the ability to efficiently deal with all the diverse needs pertaining to different markets.

Thanks to our experienced, professional and multilingual global working team, matching international demand and local supply is what we do best.

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