Velvety, nostalgic, and needy, risotto is a lot like love. Much like your first encounter with the heart-hurting, all encompassing emotion, your first bite of a perfect risotto will haunt you forever. Just like love, the creamy yet textured, luscious and balanced taste of risotto has been carefully worked, ardently watched, and patiently nurtured. We've put together a little guide to help bring this beloved friend into your home on a regular basis.

Bringing influences from Arabia, Greece, Spain, and France, Sicilian caponata is an expression of the islands history. Stewed into a deliciously tangy, sweet and sour agrodolce sauce, eggplant is traditionally the hero of the classic dish. This adaptation swaps eggplant for hearty squash, making it the perfect dish to serve for the holidays.

As one of the world's leading almond producers, the delicious nut flavors many Sicilian dishes. From pastas, to fish, salads, and of course desserts, almonds have been worked into various shapes, tastes and uses to flavor local cuisine for centuries. Crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, Pasticcini Siciliana alle Mandorle (or amaretti) are a holiday favorite.

Native to the Monti Sicani region of Sicily, the Biancolilla Centinara olive tree species was thought to be extinct until a team of researchers at the University of Palermo, including our Chief Scientist and Master Botanist, Dr. Pasquale "Mimmo" Marino, rediscovered it. Self-pollinating and quick to produce fruit, Mimmo recognized the importance of this varietal and carefully nurtured the species to once again thrive in the soils of its heritage.

Tucked into the hillside of Monte Samuel Pizzuto, Grottaglie, also known as "the city of ceramics," has been home to ceramicists for centuries. Surrounded by deep ravines and cool caves, the clayey earth of this charming Northern Puglian town has been worked by human hands since at least the Classical Age (8th-6th Century BC). Later settled by ancient Greeks and Romans, the charming town was put on the map for its ceramic production during the Middle Ages.

Whether it's the brand, the shape, or the ingredients that help you choose what pasta to keep in your pantry, we want to help answer some commonly raised questions about our pasta specifically, as well as the broader, oh-so-wonderful-world of pasta at large.

Set into the neatly adorned and carefully planted vineyards of Modena stands the balsamic house Pedroni Acetaia. Initially established as a tavern in 1862 by founder Giuseppe Pedroni, the name quickly became synonymous with balsamic vinegar throughout Modena. Utilizing large empty beer casks made from oak to begin the fermenting process, and smaller Marsala casks made from chestnut, to carefully age his balsamic, Pedroni started a tradition for the production of the luscious and acidic vinegar that has been passed down from generation to generation within the Pedroni family. Today, Pedroni is managed and operated by a member of the sixth generation of the family. 

A staple throughout Italy, spezzitano recipes vary depending on who's cooking. Where some use beef, others use veal. While some are purists, many add tomatoes and herbs to add complexity. In northern Italy, spezzitano di manzo is served with polenta, while in the south, it is more typically enjoyed with crusty bread. At the end of the day, a good soffritto, fresh aromatics, and lots of patience, served alongside a beautiful Etna Rosso, will make this dish a family favorite in no time.