For those who dream of Italy, its landscapes, and especially its cuisine, Italian food subscription boxes offer a unique way to experience the country's rich gastronomic heritage without leaving home. These boxes deliver authentic, full-size Italian food items directly to your door, often sourced from artisanal producers. This article delves into several Italian food subscription boxes, examining their offerings, value, and overall experience.
Nonna Box: A Taste of Regional Italy
Nonna Box operates on the principle of delivering regional Italian culinary experiences. Each month, subscribers receive a box filled with six full-sized Italian food items sourced directly from a specific region in Italy. This isn't your typical grocery store fare; Nonna Box focuses on unique products that are hard to find outside of Italy.
One reviewer's experience with a Nonna Box from the Puglia region highlights the excitement of trying new products. The inclusion of recipe cards further enhances the experience, providing guidance on how to use the ingredients in dishes like stuffed squid, ricotta pizza tart, and pasta with arugula and tomatoes. The reviewer even put their own spin on one of the recipes, substituting spinach for arugula, demonstrating the versatility of the ingredients.
Taste Italy Monthly: A Monthly Culinary Present
Taste Italy Monthly delivers six full-size items imported directly from Italy each month. These selections are designed to complement each other, and every box includes at least one sweet treat. Subscribers who opt for 6- or 12-month plans receive a complimentary gift. Customer testimonials rave about the phenomenal products and outstanding customer service.
Examples of monthly selections include:
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- Piazza Navona (Lazio, Central Italy): Bruschetta of red bell peppers, sundried tomatoes, and olives.
- Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy): Creamy horseradish flavored with sweet and savory wine vinegar.
- Liguria (Northern Italy): Colorful, pitted olives packed in extra virgin olive oil and seasoned in a brine with rosemary and thyme.
- Rome (Central Italy): Apricot or plum jam from fruit trees in the hills.
- Southern Italy: Grilled sweet peppers, seasoned and packed in olive oil.
- Italian-American recipe: Rich Pepperoni of spiced pork and beef, delicately seasoned with sea salt and garlic.
- Piemonte (Northern Italy): Large pistachio chocolate bar made with milk chocolate, white chocolate and pistachio.
- Padova (Northern Italy): Coriander honey with bright and floral flavors by a small-batch producer near Padova.
- Puglia (Southern Italy): Handmade tarallini, or small hoop crackers, seasoned with olive oil and fennel.
- Toscana (Central Italy): Soft Tuscan biscotti with chunks of fig and lemon zest.
- Central Italy: Salami made with Berkshire pork and seasoned with pink peppercorns, wine, garlic, and lemon zest.
- Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy): Dijon mustard with a distinct flavor and aroma from a 200 years old producer.
- Piemonte (Northern Italy): Extra dark chocolate bar made of 80% cacao by a 100 year old chocolatier in Milano.
Dalla Fonte: From the Source to Your Table
Dalla Fonte, meaning "from the source," aims to bring the experience of traveling to Italy directly to your home. Founded on the idea of curating special products from different regions of Italy, Dalla Fonte offers collections of intentionally lovely things in a beautifully designed box. These boxes can evoke memories of past trips to Italy or inspire future travel.
Subscribers can choose between a Tavola box or a Tavola and Vino box (available in select states). Each quarter features a new regional theme. One reviewer received a Sicilian Tavola plus vino box, which included about eight items and a bottle of wine. The box also included olive wood aperitivo forks, demonstrating the thoughtful inclusion of non-food items for the home.
The reviewer shared their experience of using the items from the box during a trip to Seabrook, creating pasta with Sicilian tomato sauce and enjoying it with onion and raisin taralli. They also paired sourdough bread with pistachio cream and shared almond amaretti with family. The reviewer appreciated that the products weren't all meant to be used at once, allowing for flexibility and enjoyment over time.
Bona Furtuna: Organic Italian Staples
The Bona Furtuna subscription focuses on delivering premium organic Italian fare to your pantry. Each delivery features a rotation of five to seven Bona Furtuna pantry staples, such as olive oils, ancient grain pastas, and seasonal specialties. These items are curated to inspire creativity in the kitchen and satisfy cravings for authentic Italian flavors.
The subscription is available monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly. Each delivery includes chef-curated recipes and exclusive offerings, exploring the heart of Italy through flavors and stories. Bona Furtuna products are certified organic and non-GMO (with the exception of their 100% Pure Sicilian Sea Salt). While most products are vegan, the honey is the exception. They do not currently offer a gluten-free option, although all products except the pasta are gluten-free.
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Eattiamo: A Complete Italian Meal Experience
Eattiamo boxes are delivered monthly and contain Italian traditional food made by artisanal producers. Each box includes seven full-size products, from appetizer to dessert, designed to create an entire dinner serving four people. Postcards inside the box provide information about the products and ingredients, along with advice on how to best enjoy them. Eattiamo boxes are curated by gourmet experts to ensure an authentic and exciting culinary experience.
Other Options and Considerations
In addition to the boxes mentioned above, there are other options available, such as Italian gift baskets filled with traditional items. These baskets can be a great way to give someone a taste of Italy for a special occasion.
When choosing an Italian food subscription box, consider the following:
- Regional focus: Does the box focus on a specific region of Italy, or does it offer a variety of products from different regions?
- Product selection: What types of products are included in the box? Are they pantry staples, specialty items, or a combination of both?
- Ingredients: Are the ingredients authentic, high-quality, and sourced from Italy?
- Recipes: Does the box include recipes or serving suggestions?
- Dietary restrictions: Does the box cater to any dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free or vegan?
- Price: How much does the box cost, and is it worth the value?
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