A good Italian meal does not need a long shopping list. Pasta, tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, and a little cheese can do plenty of work together. Arte di Como’s Italian food selection makes room for those pantry staples, alongside regional snacks and sweets worth slowing down for.
What Italian foods can you find at Arte di Como?
For a straightforward dinner, start with Spaghetti di Gragnano IGP and crushed Italian tomatoes. Finish the sauce with a little extra virgin olive oil, or use the Gran Cru Extra Virgin Olive Oil as a finishing drizzle where its flavor can stand out. For a different shape, orecchiette is a natural match for greens and other simple sauces.
Then comes the cheese. Parmigiano Reggiano DOP Mitica Di Montagna is a 24-month-aged hard cheese from Emilia-Romagna. Grate a little over pasta or shave it onto a salad. If you prefer a longer-aged option, Arte di Como also carries Parmigiano Reggiano DOP Mitica aged 36 months. These are Parmigiano Reggiano, often called Parmesan in English; the DOP designation identifies a cheese made under protected origin rules.
Where does the Mediterranean diet fit in?
The Mediterranean diet is an eating pattern, not a rule that every meal must be Italian. It emphasizes vegetables and fruit, beans and lentils, whole grains, nuts, and olive oil, with fish and other foods in amounts that suit the person eating them. Research has associated this overall pattern with better cardiovascular health. Its strength lies in what you eat regularly, not in a single ingredient or a special-occasion dinner.
That makes the pantry a useful starting point. Olive oil can dress vegetables or finish a bean salad; pasta can be served with tomatoes and a generous helping of vegetables; Parmigiano Reggiano can add flavor in a modest amount. Choose portions and foods that fit your needs, and remember that a traditional ingredient is not automatically a health food. The pleasure of sharing a meal matters too, even if it is not a substitute for sound nutrition.
And for something sweet?
The Perle di Sole Lemon Drops bring a bright lemon flavor and fizzy filling, while the Sorrento Orange Drops offer a citrus alternative. If you cannot pick one flavor, the Perle di Sole four-flavor assortment includes lemon, orange, blackberry, and blueberry. They are candies to enjoy as treats, not part of the health case for a Mediterranean-style diet.
From pasta night to the sweet at the end, explore the full Foodstuff collection to find the Italian ingredients and treats that belong on your table.