Artisanal Provisions: New Year Explorations

Artisanal Provisions experts Tim Schlarbaum and Jim Arnold take our taste buds abroad this New Year, sprinkling in a little history lesson for good measure. After all, the legacy of attention to detail and unique attributes of our Artisanal Provisions products is what makes them so special.

Bucatini (also known as Perciatelli) pasta may look like Spaghetti, but with a small hole running through its center, it fills with sauce to create amazing flavor in every bite. The pasta is also commonly chopped in smaller pieces for use in Italian soups. Bucatini is particularly popular in Rome, a culinary epicenter of the world. Try creating your own “when in Rome” moment with a signature dish using some of the following ingredients: ricotta, fresh mozzarella, lemon, capers, pesto, eggplant, broccolini, and sausage.

Black Truffle (also known as Perigord or Burgundy truffle after the region of Southwestern France) is quite rare. This culinary delicacy is traditionally harvested by dogs or pigs from the soil buried beneath heavy leaves near the roots of Oak and Hazelnut trees. Lucky for us, Sabatino brings us their Black Summer Truffle Peelings ready to apply to pasta, risotto, salads, sauces, toasted bread, omelets, fillings, and pizza.

One of the world’s oldest soft cheeses, Taleggio was developed in the 10^th century in Val Taleggio - the northern Italian region of Lombardy. A washed-rind cheese, it is rubbed down weekly with a brine as it matures on wooden planks for 6 to 10 weeks. During this time, it forms a thick ruddy orange or rosy skin and develops a deep, earthy flavor with a nice pungent aroma. Arrigoni Taleggio Cheese is beautifully integrated into risotto cakes, quesadilla, mashed potatoes, Pangrattato pizza, Palmiers, sandwiches and gnocchi.

A cheese originating in Po River Valley in northern Italy, Grana Padano Parmesan Cheese is similar to Parmigiano-Reggiano, but with fewer production restrictions. It dates back to the 12^th century when Cistercian monks created the cheese as a way to preserve surplus raw milk from morning and evening collections. This hard, crumbly cheese is perfect for salads, Padano sauce, flat breads, pasta, crostini, and scones.

“Plugra” is a French term meaning Plus Gras or “more fat,” which this European style butter has with an 82% fat content. By using a methodical slow churn process, a creamier texture is created with less moisture compared to commodity brands. The added benefit of utilizing unsalted butter in recipes is better control over the sodium content in your favorite dishes from risottos to cakes and pastries. This butter is also excellent in sauces, sautés, sweet curds and to finish vegetables.

Incorporating any of these amazing added value products into your menu is sure to please your guests in the New Year. For more information about our Artisanal Provisions product selections, including those featured here and so many more, reach out to your Shamrock Foods Sales Representative today.