Le Sorelle: Sister Act

Two charming sisters import the flavors of their Italian roots

Le Sorelle means “the sisters” in Italian. Founded in 2012 by Italian-American sisters, Donatella Lorenzoni-Lopez and Anna Lopez-Carr, the two have a long family history in the Puglia region of Italy, where their mother was born and raised. The girls spent summers there visiting family, and the tradition continues with the next generation. With so many unique and excellent culinary products the darling duo thought, why not import and share a bit of their heritage with friends in California? Hence a business was born.

Puglia, the “heel” of Italy’s boot, more reminiscent of Greece than places in Northern Italy, is very Mediterranean and rocky, with limestone soil, turquoise blue waters and infinite olive trees. Masserie - old feudal estates - are nestled among acres of olive groves that date back to Roman times. Pugliese cuisine is the quintessential Mediterranean diet - olive oil, fish, vegetables, fresh fruits and nuts—and the region is known as a foodie “hotspot” among Italians who often head to Puglia on “food vacations”.

Le Sorelle olive oils have won national and international recognition for their excellence. All of their products (olive oils, spreads, pastas, and wine crackers) are sourced and made in Puglia and Donatella and Anna, both fleet in Italian, work directly with suppliers. The artichokes, tomatoes, and broccoli rabe are preserved in high quality EVOO – which, when finished, can be used to add flavor to salads, soups, or pastas.

You don’t have to leave home to experience the flavors of Puglia, but perhaps the sisters will think about culinary tours in the future for those of us wanting our own “food vacations”?

Andrea Blandino

Order directly from website www.lesorelle.com or sold at Grassini Winery Tasting Room, 813 Anacapa Street, #6, Santa Barbara and Forager’s Pantry at The Santa Barbara Public Market, 38 West Victoria Street, Santa Barbara.

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