Souvenir hunting #1

At home, we rarely consider a trip to the supermarket one of the highlights of the day. But abroad, at least one supermarket visit is always planned in the hunt for edible souvenirs to take home. What should you not miss from each country? FavorFlav scours the shelves.

Today we return from Italy with:

Risotto rice

If you drive through the northern Italian Po Valley, you won’t know what you’re seeing: rice fields as far as the eye can see. It’s no wonder that risotto originated there. Opinions differ on which is the best. You can’t go wrong with carnaroli or arborio, but be sure to look for less common varieties such as baldo and maratelli as well.
(photo: Stijn Nieuwendijk)

Olive oil

Almost every Italian region has its own distinctive olive oil. Whether it’s the fresh, light green oil made from taggiasca olives in Liguria, the robustly flavoured oil from Sicily, or the velvety, peppery oil from the Sabine Hills, they are all delicious.

Pocket Coffee pralines

Think: Italian espresso encased in chocolate. Bring home boxes full. They’ll get you through the winter.

Text:

Marjan Ippel

Images: Stijn Nieuwendijk, Girandola Sicilia et al.