Passion for Central Italian Cuisine
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Passion for Central Italian Cuisine
1 (Wed) –23 (Thur) Nov 2023
@ Harbour City, Times Square, ifc mall & New Town Plaza stores
@ E-Shop
The regions of Marche, Umbria and Tuscany are all situated in central Italy. With their predominantly inland geography and local dietary habits that involve limited meat consumption, the people there have mastered the art of elevating simple ingredients into extraordinary dishes. By immersing yourself in Italian cuisine and uncovering the stories behind the ingredients, you can embark on a culinary journey that allows you to taste the passion of central Italy.
Traditional Handmade Pasta from Marche
Located in central Italy, Marche is known for its stunning landscapes of rolling hills, picturesque coastlines and charming medieval towns, as well as its pasta.
In the past, when the people of Marche were not particularly wealthy, local housewives would use simple ingredients like flour and eggs to hand-make pasta for their families. Thus, for most Italians, pasta is not just food, but also a symbol of love from their families. Although we can now buy artisanal handmade pasta in stores, the warm memories associated with this simple, honest dish are still held close to the hearts of many Italians.
Tasty tips:
As you savour pasta from Marche, add saffron that’s also produced in the region to accentuate the flavour of eggs, for a dish that has greater depth and complexity.
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city’super Artisan Maccheroncini Egg Pasta
It is hand-kneaded following an authentic recipe that uses only two ingredients: durum wheat semolina and 32% eggs. From the dough to the finished product, the pasta-making process consists of six phases and takes up to 48 hours – a true demonstration of patience and craftsmanship.
Zafferano Pure Saffron Threads
Also known as “red gold”, saffron is a rare and much sought-after ingredient. The cultivation and harvesting of the red pistils are done exclusively by hand, only in autumn and in the early hours of the morning. To produce one gram of saffron, it is necessary to harvest more than 100 flowers.
Wine Pairing:
Umani Ronchi Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva “Plenio”
Mediterranean Flavours from Umbria
The culinary cultures of Italy and Hong Kong are rather different, one of the major differences being that soups are often considered a main dish in Italy. Historically, due to geographical and industrial factors, Italians relied on legumes such as lentils, chickpeas and peas as their primary sources of protein.
Umbria, known as the “Green Heart of Italy”, is an extremely important region for Italian agriculture and a leading producer of lentils. Italians often pair bread or pasta with soups to ensure sufficient carbohydrate intake. If you want to experience authentic Italian culinary culture, why not try making a delectable lentil soup at home? Don’t forget to add a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to enhance the flavour.
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Bioalberti Soup from Poggio Aquilone
A soup containing pearl spelt, pearl barley, split peas, lentils and red lentils. Cereals and legumes are an essential element for healthy and balanced nutrition, in line with the principles and traditions of the Mediterranean diet.
Gradassi Fiore d’Autunno Novello Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Unfiltered
Unfiltered, single-origin olive oil from an Umbrian estate. Gradassi Autumn Flower is a novello extra virgin olive oil, cold-extracted and unfiltered, obtained from olives harvested in mid-autumn. This process allows the residues of olive pulp to be preserved, which give the product a unique, characteristic flavour of freshly pressed olives. An exclusive, precious product, with a fresh, herbaceous taste, very high levels of polyphenols and very low acidity.
Wine Pairing:
Arnaldo Caprai Montefalco Vigna Flaminia Maremmana
Italian Cold Cuts with White Wine
Tuscany is renowned for producing world-class wines. As you savour its delicious wines, you can enjoy cold cuts from the same region that have obtained PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) certification. This is a great way to experience authentic Italian flavours. Pairing foods produced in the same region can enhance their flavours, thanks to their shared terroir. While you appreciate these delicacies crafted by skilled artisans, serve them on a marvellous marble platter to elevate this precious gastronomic experience to the next level.
Salumificio Mannori Finocchiona Salami PGI
Finocchiona originated during the Renaissance in Tuscany. The use of fennel was an alternative to pepper, which was very expensive at the time, while fennel grew wild and abundantly in the Tuscan countryside, making it very popular there. The products do not contain gluten. They are made from Tuscan pork from pigs born and raised in Italy without the use of antibiotics.
Salumificio Mannori Sopressata
A traditional Italian cooked product invented because people wanted nothing to go to waste. It is prepared with pig’s head and tongue, and seasoned with pepper and other spices.
Salumificio Mannori Mortadella Di Prato Sausage PGI
After seasoning, pork and chunks of fat are flattened and stuffed into natural casings, then steamed and baked for 10 to 12 hours. The production process requires professional skills and attention to detail, and is protected by PGI certification.
La Casearia Carpenedo Srl Pecorino Toscano Stagionato DOP Sheep Milk Cheese
Pecorino Toscano is made using pure, unpasteurised ewe’s milk between September and June. It is then ripened in a damp environment—at about 10°C—from 40 days to more than six months, resulting in milder flavour than Pecorinos made in other regions.
Euromarmi Carrara Marble Serving Board
A type of white or blue-grey marble from Lunigiana in northern Tuscany, popular for use in sculpture and building decor, and even used in the Pantheon in Rome. A true artistic masterpiece for your dining table.
Wine Pairing:
Frescobaldi Pomino Benefizio Bianco 2021
Elevate Italian Deli in Four Irresistible Dishes with Easy Recipes
Calling all cold cut enthusiasts! Join us at our four physical stores before 23 Nov 2023 to uncover the tantalising world of Italy’s renowned cold cuts. You can also create unique dishes that showcase authentic traditional Italian flavours with the recipes below. Don’t miss this opportunity to indulge in a multi-dimensional tasting experience!
Palimeri Pre-cooked Cotechino Modena PGI Deli Meat
Similar to Zampone, this is made from a mixture of lean meat and rind stuffed into a pre-salted and matured artificial casing, mixed with spices and herbs such as cloves and pepper, before being stuffed into casings for a mild, balanced flavour, in a reddish shade of pink, and with a firm consistency.
Palmieri Pre-cooked Zampone Modena PGI Trotter Deli Meat
This was created as a result of the ingenuity of the people of Mirandola to hide pork from the invading enemy by stashing minced meat inside trotters. Zampone’s distinctive characteristic is its shape like a pig’s trotter. Pork meat and rind are stuffed into in the skin of the pig’s front trotter, complete with the toes. The result is a soft, crumbly, gelatinous dish with an unmistakable rich, round flavour.
Primavera Organic Salamini Italiani alla Cacciatora PGI
The term Salame Cacciatore refers to cured salami that was small enough to be carried in a hunter’s bag for a small meal. Only high-quality cuts of pork, salt, pepper and a traditional pinch of garlic are used as ingredients. When cut, the meat is firm and homogeneous, with a uniform ruby red colour, well-distributed fat and a subtle, delicate flavour.
Primavera Organic Mortadella Bologna PGI
The cuts of meat used are carefully selected and minced. Striated-muscle meat mostly obtained from the shoulder is used for the lean part. The more compact and valuable parts of the pig are used for the lardons. The small cubes of fat give this cured meat its characteristic sweetness. It has a pink colour and an unmistakable, intense, lightly spiced aroma.
3 Popular Recipes from Italy
One of the defining features of Italian cuisine is its simple cooking processes. Many Italian dishes only require three to four main ingredients, perfectly highlighting their natural flavours. city’super is delighted to recommend three scrumptious dishes crafted with simple ingredients, so you can savour authentic Italian flavours with ease.
#1 Tagliata
Star Product: Italian Chilled Chianina Beef Striploin
Chianina is an ancient breed that can be traced back to pre-Roman times and is famously raised in Tuscany. The meat has a rosy red colour with low marbling and a distinctive mellow flavour, and is often used to make the Italian local beef dish tagliata.
city’super offers a selection of PGI-certified Chianina beef from cattle raised, processed and traded by the cooperative of GPI Chianina breeders in compliance with the European Union approved procedures. This is the very first quality certification recognised by the EU for fresh beef raised in the Apennine Mountains, with an age ranging between 12 and 24 months, guaranteeing that the meat remains lean.
#2 Frittata
Star Product: Cappellini Italian Low Temperature Cooked Artichoke
Artichokes are an essential vegetable in Mediterranean cuisine and have been recognised in Italy since ancient times for being great for liver health. You can simply reheat this ready-to-eat artichoke by placing the product with packaging into hot water. Use artichokes to make a tastier and more nutritious Italian-style vegetable frittata.
#3 Baby Beans with Tuscany Sausage
Star Product: Viani Italian Chilled Pork Sausage (Original/Fennel/Chilli Pepper/Truffle)
These sausages from Tuscany owe their quality and distinctive flavour to the characteristics of the raw ingredients and a production method which has been passed down unchanged for many years. They have the perfect balance of lean and fatty parts, with just the right amount of salt, pepper and natural flavourings. Simply pair with baby beans for a delicious Italian-style homecooked dish.
The Viani family produces traditional Tuscan sausages with unique aromas and flavours. Pork with just the right lean meat to fat ratio is coarsely minced, then special herbs and spices are added, and then the meat is stuffed into natural pork casings, which are tied to obtain the desired shape. The sausages are soft with a rosy colour, while the taste is rich and varies depending on the type of seasoning.
Wine Pairing: Arnaldo Caprai Sagrantino di Montefalco "Collepiano"
Budget-friendly Truffles
Because of the hot, humid summers and cold, rainy winters, numerous precious truffles bloom in the forests of Tuscany, Umbria and Marche.
How to Enjoy Truffles on a Budget
We suggest enjoying truffles with simple ingredients, so you can maximise their natural flavour. If you’re on a budget and want to enjoy truffle dishes, opt for truffle in brine or truffle slices.
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illy for Every Coffee Enthusiast
For Italians, their lifestyles and coffee culture are deeply intertwined. In Italy, you can find plenty of coffee bars, but different from bars in Hong Kong, these establishments serve coffee, snacks, baked goods and alcoholic beverages. For many Italians, going to a bar for a cup of coffee is part of their daily life. Coffee is more than just a beverage—it is a carefully crafted work of art worth appreciating.
illy, the renowned Italian coffee brand, is famous for its delicious coffee and artistic coffee cups. The brand has collaborated with contemporary artists from around the world to launch its Art Collection, where each set of cups is numbered and signed by the artist. Coffee cup collectors, don’t miss out!
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Special Offer:
Until 23 November 2023, spend HK$300 or more on selected illy products in a single transaction to receive a cup of illy coffee*; HK$500 or more on selected illy products in a single transaction to receive an illy Espresso Cup* at physical stores.
*Terms and Conditions apply. Gifts are in limited quantities only, while stocks last. The offer cannot enjoy in conjunction.Gradassi Fiore d’Autunno Novello Extra Virgin Olive Oil – Unfiltered
After five years, thanks to the deep relationship between our professional buyers and the farmers, we bring you again unfiltered extra virgin olive oil delivered directly from Umbria, Italy. The olives were picked, pressed, bottled and delivered to the stores in less than a month, presenting the olive oil in its freshest state. The extra virgin olive oil can only be cold-pressed from olives harvested in mid-autumn, and it is made only once a year, making it very precious, especially as this year’s weather in the region was unfavourable for the growth of olives, and the yield was relatively low. The olive oil has a fresh green colour, spicy taste and herbal aroma, and is suitable for raw consumption or seasoning bruschetta. If you have high expectations of olive oil, don’t miss it.
Olive varieties used: Moraiolo, Frantoio, Leccino and more.
Panettone and Pandoro
In Italy, enjoying panettone or pandoro with friends and family is a Christmas tradition. Apart from classic styles, many brands have also launched an array of new styles and flavours of panettone and pandoro. Which is your favourite?
What’s the Difference Between Panettone and Pandoro?
Both are enjoyed during Christmas, but the panettone is cylindrical with a domed top, enriched with candied fruits and sultanas, and richer in flavour; the pandoro is in the shape of an eight-pointed star, covered with a dusting of icing sugar, and less rich in flavour.
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Wine Pairing: Volpaia Vinsanto 2018
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