ALIMENTARI

by Katie Moench

Alimentari, at 306 S. Brearly, is a deli that features a little of everything the gourmet shoppers and diners of Madison could possibly want. Established in 2018 by Dan Bonanno and Bonnie Arent of the renowned Pig in a Fur Coat, along with Dan’s brother Enrico, the store offers both prepared foods and the specialty ingredients that Pig in a Fur Coat uses to make its dishes sing. And there’s certainly a wealth of knowledge to go around, as Enrico and Dan Bonanno grew up helping their family run Tenuta’s Deli in Kenosha and bring that experience to Alimentari and Madison today. According to Arent, when a space opened up near the existing restaurant, “we jumped on it,” and the three owners have worked together to combine their knowledge of Italian cooking with local Wisconsin ingredients, as well as imported items, to offer a variety of options for hungry shoppers. Alimentari’s freshly made pasta and sauces make it a must visit for the home cook, while the store’s many grab and go

sandwiches, salads, and beverages are perfect for picnics or a casual backyard get together. Customers at Alimentari can browse a selection of imported and local items ranging from bottles of wine to a dizzying variety of cheeses that are sure to appeal to the many of us who want to spruce up our stay-at-home meals. Accompanying these tempting displays are knowledgeable staff who are happy to chat about the latest salami offerings or give advice on which of the store’s sauces (available for purchase by the jar) to pair with some of their freshly made pasta. Those who are a bit newer to the kitchen can benefit from classes on topics such as arranging the perfect charcuterie board, or simply grab one of the premade salads and some gelato to enjoy outdoors. The combination of fresh and high quality ingredients and unexpected twists like the nduja mayo is the kind of cooking that has made Pig in a Fur Coat so popular in town. With Alimentari, customers can not only enjoy this kind of eating more frequently, they can also have the chance to shop for and cook with some of the same ingredients used in the restaurant. Arent compares running the deli to “a marathon,” as opposed to the “sprint” of a restaurant, and cites the opportunity to talk with customers about the meats and cheeses (both of which can be ordered to slice) as one of the best parts of the business.

Above Left: (left to right) Owners Dan Bonanno, Enrico Bonnano, and Bonnie Arent. (Top) Bonnie and Rico handing off the Spicy Sopressata (Above).

Arent says, “what’s unique is that there is a kind of education with the customers, different types of prosciutto or salami, but we love talking about food. For education, it’s just a matter of talking, people asking questions and us getting excited to talk about prosciutto or pasta or pizza or really anything.” Her personal favorite? The jars of housemade tomato sauce. Customers can round out their lunch with some Calabrian chips, topped with vinegar, chili, and oregano and finish their meal with a cannoli featuring orange zest and chocolate chips. Also available are artisan salumi sticks for snacking and gift baskets of treats themed around upcoming holidays that will be perfect for when we can start gathering together again.

Alimentari literally means foodstuffs. And in Italy the alimentari is the specialty grocer offering the best of what each region offers. We’re following that tradition with a mix of Italian imports next to local and regional gems.

Dan Bonnano, Owner and Little Brother

Since we were boys, we’ve always wanted to work together—we don’t know why—but when we saw this opportunity, I moved my family up here and here we are.

Enrico Bonanno, Owner and Big Brother

Clockwise from above left: Alimentari’s robust dried pasta section, Canolis made to order and Enrico hard at work.

O’HALLORAN

Now because of Covid we’ve really upped our game with prepared foods and it’s supporting our community and Pig too.

Dan Bonanno

Clockwise from top: Alimentari hosts an impressive selection of Italian and dometic wines, sopressatta and prosciutto sandwiches and fresh house-made pasta.

As vaccines continue to roll out and small gatherings become possible, Alimentari is a great place to pick up the kinds of sandwiches, drinks, and salads that are perfect for outdoor dining. Whether you have a long conversation with Enrico about the dazzling variety of cheese options the store offers and what recipes the staff recommends trying at home, or simply grab a bottle of wine and one of the store’s amazing lasagnas to go, Alimentari is well worth the visit for deli food that is sure to delight.