E TC E TE R A . . .
Favuzzi Truffle Tomato Sauce
Mmm… we all deserve a little decadence and we found so many uses for Favuzzi’s artisanal Truffle Tomato Sauce to add a little luxury to our dishes. Produced by the De Laurentiis family in Abruzzo, who grow organic tomatoes, saffron, and other seasonings, it’s made in small batches over an open flame to reduce gradually. It contains pieces of truffle, and makes an amazing topping for pizza, in your lasagne, on meatloaf, eggs, and a lot more! 480 mL $9 at Italian and specialty stores.
Pasta Fresca
Trevor Jerram spent years working in fine dining restaurants abroad, and on his return to Calgary worked at River Café and Model Milk - and now he’s launched Pasta Fresca YYC offering pre-ordered deliveries of made-from-scratch on the day Pasta Kits for 2, fresh pasta, and pasta sauces. We’ve tried them and have no hesitation in telling you they are really good! Check out pastafrescayyc.com for details and to order, and watch for Pasta Fresca’s monthly pasta subscription coming soon.
Uptown Jerky
We couldn’t help but investigate further when we read, “An uncompromising snack made with 100% Alberta beef and none of the nonsense.” Tara Seitz started making jerky for her family early in the pandemic and it’s now grown into a full-time artisan business, Uptown Jerky, in Vulcan, AB. Her ‘Ginger Ambitions’ is a tasty, gingery and salty, gluten- and sugar-free, small batch boutique jerky, cut in easy-to-nibble little squares. 30 g packs, about $5, check out uptownjerky.ca for stockists.
Casoni Vermouth all’Aceto Balsamico di Modena
Zwilling ‘Fresh & Save’ Starter Kit
We’re all trying to reduce the amount of food we waste, and our trials of this vacuum storage starter kit, from Zwilling, have proven it to be a very useful way of keeping food fresh. Two plastic or glass containers and four freezer-proof, zipperclose bags, can also be used for sous-vide cooking as well as in the microwave. We loved the bonus application of the handheld, cordless vacuum pump – it works perfectly to preserve open bottles of wine too! $140-$205 at houseware stores and zwilling.ca.
Cuisipro Pizza Shears
We love vermouth in all its guises, and we’re delighted to discover this most unusual variation – with balsamic vinegar! If your distillery has been in Modena since 1814 (the home of balsamic vinegar) then I suppose it’s natural that you’d work with your neighbours. The result is an unctuous liqueur that is 100 percent umami, dark, rich and dense, and eminently sippable for sheer pleasure after a meal, or with flavourful charcuterie and cheeses. CSPC +829198 $32-35
When it comes to cutting pizza, the folks at Cuisipro didn't just reinvent the [pizza] wheel, they did away with it altogether, and replaced it with Pizza Shears. They’re exactly what the name says: scissors for cutting your pizza (and they work great on quesadilla and naan bread, too!) Ergonomically designed, lightweight, easy to clean, they also double as a lifter. Bonus marks because they keep your toppings in place. Oh, and they're also lefty-friendly! $30-40, at zestspot.com and home goods stores. 40 Culinaire | March 2022
