A weekend packed with cooking demonstrations, wine tastings, and educational seminars, it will surely be an event not to miss. For cheese lovers, this is truly an experience unlike any other, with over 200 varieties of cheeses for guests to sample from local and international producers.

If you haven’t tried Academia Barilla’s velvety smooth and complex Pecorino Gran Cru table cheese, rare mountain-milk Parmigiano Reggiano table cheese, tasty Pecorino with porcini mushrooms and truffles cheese spread or the savory Spicy Fig Compote, make sure to stop by and see why Connie Rizzo, Deli and Cheese Buyer of DeLaurenti Specialty Food & Wine Seattle, says that Academia Barilla has a cheese that’s hot now in a recent article in Specialty Food Magazine.
Take a peak below to see some delicious notes on what we’ll be featuring at the event!

PARMIGIANO REGGIANO

Aroma: Fresh milk, with hints of butter and honey.
Flavor: Sweet and mild, with hints of fresh milk, skimmed yogurt, straw and white flowers.
Texture: Soft and compact.

PECORINO GRAN CRU

Aroma: Sweet and fresh, with hints of milk, cream and grass. Scents of nuts, fruit and hay.
Flavor: Milky, sweet and nutty. Fills the palate, well balanced, round, complex flavor.
Texture: Compact, velvety, moist.

SPICY FIG COMPOTE

Made with fresh green figs and spicy mustard essence, this traditional recipe is presented
with a modern flair.
Aroma: Spicy, distinct flavor of mustard has an intense, refined aroma.
Flavor: Softened by fresh figs, this compote embodies the perfect balance between sweet and spicy.

SPREADABLE CHEESE WITH PECORINO SARDO, TRUFFLES, AND PORCINI MUSHROOMS

Aroma: Delicate notes of fresh milk and cream with the intense undertones of Truffles and Porcini Mushrooms.
Flavor: Milky and sweety with a very well balanced aroma with round flavor.

If you can’t wait until the event or won’t be able to make it, try this tasty recipe below to experience a cheese lovers delight!

CHEESE FANTASIA
Ingredients for 4 servings:
5.2 oz. Parmigiano Reggiano
5.2 oz. Pecorino Toscano
5.2 oz. Pecorino Dolce
5.2 oz. Mozzarella
7 oz. Spicy Fig Compote
7 oz. Fresh Pears with Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
7 oz. Gourmet Chianti Wine Jelly
7 oz. Monti Iblei D.O.P. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Sicilian Sea Salt with Black Olives, To Taste
2 Fresh Figs
1 Fresh Pear

Cut the figs into one-fourth pieces, the pears into eighth and the grapes into half. Cut the Parmigiano into flakes, the Pecorino into slices and the Mozzarella into cubes. Place all the ingredients on a platter with the Parmigiano near the Fresh Pears with Balsamic Vinegar and a piece of fresh Pear. Place the Pecorino Toscano near the Gourmet Chianti Wine Jelly and the fresh Grapes, then the Pecorino Dolce near the Spicy Fig Compote and the fresh Figs. Sprinkle the Mozzarella with the Monti Iblei D.O.P. Extra Virgin Olive Oil and a pinch of Sicilian Sea Salt with Black Olives.

Spring has sprung here in Italy, and it is no more evident than at the market. The stalls of radicchio and other bitter, winter greens are slowly disappearing, making way for next season’s fashions. What joy can be found in the arrival of tiny, tender fava beans, crisp radishes, spring onions and strong fragrance of fresh garlic.

The change of season has inspired all of us here at Academia Barilla to do a little spring-cleaning. As you may have noticed, we have shed the wintery design of our Italian Food Lover’s Blog and have selected bright, cheerful colors and images to carry us through the next couple of months.

We have also spent sometime dusting off the bookshelves of the Academia Barilla Gastronomic Library. We are all happy to have rediscovered a number of seasonal cookbooks and spring time recipes that are certain to bring new life to our tables.

One book that really caught our attention was the The Four Seasons Cookbook written by Charlotte Adams. The book contains a beautiful collection of recipes from New York City’s legendary The Four Seasons restaurant. The restaurant opened its doors with much acclaim exactly 50 years ago. Since then Julian Niccolini and Alex Von Bidder, the restaurant’s owners, have continuously served fashionable Manhattanites some of the city’s best seasonal cuisine – often inspired by Italian dishes.

As Charlotte points out in her book, “for the city dweller, the first glimpse of spring may well be the arrival of tightly pointed, perfectly matched bunches of green or white asparagus in the markets.” We couldn’t agree more.

To celebrate the new season, we present Charlotte’s directions for preparing the perfect asparagus – all taken from the chefs at The Four Seasons.

Asparagus
4 POUNDS ASPARAGUS
BOILING, SALTED WATER TO COVER
Serves 6.

Cut the woody ends off the asparagus and, with a vegetable peeler, peel off the skin from the bottom of the stalks up to the tender heads. Wash. Tie into bundles with white kitchen string. Cook bundles in a large pot full of boiling, salted water for 10-15 minutes, or until done to your taste. The spears should be tender, but still crisp. Run cold water over the asparagus. (This is called “refreshing” and is done to stop the cooking and set the color.) Drain well.

Serve with the sauce you prefer: clarified butter, lemon butter, Sauce Mornay, Parmesan or Polonaise

Asparagus Mornay
4 POUNDS ASPARAGUS,
COOKED AS ABOVE/
1 CUP SAUCE MORNAY (SEE SAUCES)
6 TABLESPOONS GRATED SWISS CHEESE
Arrange the asparagus on a buttered flame-proof dish. Pour the sauce Mornay over the tips. Sprinkle with the grated cheese and run under the broiler to brown lightly.

Asparagus Parmesan
4 POUNDS ASPARAGUS,
COOKED AS ABOVE/
14 CUP GRATED PARMESAN CHEESE
2 CUP CLARIFIED BUTTER (SEE SAUCES)
Arrange asparagus on a buttered, flame-proof dish. Sprinkle the cheese over the tips. Pour butter over. Run under the broiler to brown.

Asparagus Polonaise
4 POUNDS ASPARAGUS,
COOKED AS ABOVE/
1/2 CUP CLARIFIED BUTTER
(SEE SAUCES)/
3 TABLESPOONS FRESHLY GRATED
BREAD CRUMBS/
3 TABLESPOONS GRATED
HARD-COOKED EGG YOLK/
3 TABLESPOONS GRATED
HARD-COOKED EGG WHITE/ 3 TABLESPOONS MINCED PARSLEY
Arrange asparagus on a buttered flame-proof dish. Heat butter in a skillet. Mix remaining ingredients and add to butter. Saute for a few minutes. Sprinkle over the tips of the asparagus. Run under the broiler for a few minutes, being careful not to burn.

(Source: Adams, Charlotte. The Four Seasons Cookbook. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1971.)

Final post on the new series of Italian gourmet Season Gift Sets from Academia Barilla, the new line Italy-in-a-box.

A true taste of Italian gastronomic culture, an experience that will evoke all your Italian food lover senses, Italy-in-a-Box is also a journey across the findings of
 Academia Barilla’s continue research into the gastronomic and cultural identities of the different regions of Italy.

Get this limited edition of gastronomic gems as a treat to yourself or as a gift to others, and get a selection of the best Italian regional products, simple and original tips for bringing the Italian flavor to your kitchen and your table, all with limited edition confections that can be personalized according to your taste.

Today we close our presentation of the gift set collection introducing other four Italy-in-a-Box gift sets: The Connoisseur’s Collection, Simply Tuscan, Artisanal Compote Trio, and Salt and Salt.

CONNOISSEUR’S COLLECTION

The Connoisseur’s Collection Gift Set is the perfect opportunity to explore first-class products and it is also perfect for food lovers on a quest to find new, exclusive products and flavors, and for those who love recipes that invigorate the senses. Ideal gift for a complete tasting of the best of Italian gastronomy.

The Connoisseur’s Collection Gift Set contains: • 1 Professional black apron in cotton • 1 Parmigiano Reggiano cheese knife • 1 Bottle of Balsamic Must • 1 Bottle of Extra virgin olive oil Riviera Ligure D.O.P. • 1 Shape of 2,2 lb in vacuum bag of Parmigiano Reggiano aged 18 months minimum • 1 Jar of Fresh pears with balsamic vinegar of Modena • 1 Jar of Sicilian sea salt with fresh orange zest • 1 Jar of Sapori Italiani, mix of capers, olives and oregano • 1 Mini-Recipe

Academia Barilla Connoisseur’s Collection Gift Set will be available at the Academia Barilla online store soon.

TUSCANY-IN-A-BOX

The Simply Tuscan Gift Set is a tribute to those who are genuine and authentic like the oldest and well-renowned recipe for traditional Tuscan soup.

Simply Tuscan Gift Set contains: • 1 Bottle of Unfiltered extra virgin olive oil
 • 1 Tuscan soup, mix of precooked lentils, wheat and spelt with Italian Soffritto and Tuscan herbs 
• 1 Jar of Sicilian sea salt with fresh olives 
• 1 Mini-Recipe

Academia Barilla Simply Tuscan Box Set is now available at the Academia Barilla online store.

ARTISANAL COMPOTE TRIO

Three traditional compotes are perfect compliments to a variety of different cheeses, meats, and desserts. The Artisanal Compote Trio Set is a perfect combination of tradition, innovation, and elegance.

The Artisanal Compote Trio Gift Set 
contains: 
• 1 Jar of Fresh pears with balsamic vinegar of Modena 
• 1 Jar of Spicy fig compote 
• 1 Jar of Chianti jelly 
• 1 Mini-Recipe

Academia Barilla Artisanal Compote Trio Gift Set will be available at the Academia Barilla online store soon.

SALT AND SALT

Salt and Salt Gift Set is a small but wonderful combination of the best natural sea salt blended with either fresh Sicilian blood orange zest or pieces of Sicilian black olives. These unique combination of flavors add exciting new twists to any dish, to celebrate the wonderful aromas from Sicily’s citrus orchards and olive groves.

Salt and Salt Gift Set contains: • 1 Jar of Sicilian sea salt with fresh orange zest
 • 1 Jar of Sicilian sea salt with fresh black olives 
• 1 Steel teaspoon
 • 1 Glass cup
 • 1 Mini-Recipe

Academia Barilla Salt and Salt Gift Set will be available at the Academia Barilla online store soon.

The Italy-in-a-Box collection is available at the Academia Barilla online store, just a click and two shipping days away from you!

Today we introduce four new Italy-in-a-Box Italian gourmet gift boxes: Food Lovers’ Classic, Cheese Lover’s Knife Set, The Ultimate Bruschetta Party and Giada De Laurentiis Selected by Academia Barilla.

All these luxury gift sets are included in the latest Academia Barilla collection of luxury Italian gastronomy gift boxes, a limited edition gift set series, and contain authentic Italian food specialties from the Academia Barilla gourmet food collection.

FOOD LOVERS’ CLASSIC

Food Lovers’ Classic is a refined gift set includes an exclusive assortment of classic products from different regions of Italy and serves as a wonderful, compact alternative to any conventional gift basket. An exclusive gift set to savor authentic Italian delicacies in countless ways.

Food Lover’s Classic Gift Box contains: • 1 Bottle of Extra virgin olive oil 100% Italiano
 • 1 Jar of Sicilian cherry tomato topping
 • 1 Jar of Spicy Sicilian cherry tomato topping 
• 1 Jar of Sapori Italiani, mix of capers, olives and oregano 
• 1 Jar of Sicilian sea salt with fresh orange zest 
• 1 Jar of Sicilian sea salt with fresh olives 
• 1 Jar of Pesto alla Genovese 
• 1 Bottle of “Aged” Balsamic vinegar of Modena 
• 1 Mini-Recipe

Academia Barilla Food Lover’s Classic gift set will be available at the Academia Barilla online store soon.

CHEESE LOVER’S KNIFE SET

The Cheese Lover’s Knife Set is a refined set composed of 3 knives designed specifically for cheeses, with different consistencies. Japanese steel, hand
forged blade with mirrored finishing, hand-sharpened. A perfect gift idea for cheese lovers!

The Cheese Lover’s Set contains: • Knife for grana cheeses • Knife for hard cheeses • Knife for soft cheeses

Academia Barilla Cheese Lover’s Knife gift set is now available at the Academia Barilla online store.

ITALIAN PARTY IN A BOX

The Ultimate Bruschetta Party Gift Box is a fresh and trendy gift idea! This fantastic set helps create delicious bruschetta, pasta, pizza party, and Italian aperitivo. This extraordinary assortment of products helps create appetizing plates that will surely add to the success of any party.

The Ultimate Bruschetta Party Gift Box contains: • 1 Bottle of extra virgin olive oil 100% Italiano 
• 1 Jar of Sicilian cherry tomato topping 
• 1 Jar of Spicy Sicilian cherry tomato topping 
• 1 Jar of Sapori Italiani, mix of capers, olives and oregano 
• 1 Jar of Sicilian sea salt with fresh olives
 • 1 Mini-Recipe

Academia Barilla Ultimate Bruschetta Party gift set is now available at the Academia Barilla online store.

DINNER WITH GIADA

An accurate selection of the best Italian products signed by Celebrity Chef Giada de Laurentiis and included in the Giada De Laurentiis Selected by Academia Barilla gourmet product line. The Essentials of everyday Italian cuisine.

Dinner with Giada Gift Box contains: • 1 Bottle of Extra virgin olive oil 100% Italiano
 • 1 Bottle of Balsamic vinegar of Modena
 • 1 Jar of Sicilian sea salt with fresh lemon zest 
• 1 Jar of Giada’s Tuscan herbs 
• 2 Glass cup 
• 1 Mini-Recipe

Giada De Laurentiis Selected by Academia Barilla gift set will be available at the Academia Barilla online store soon.

More Italy-in-a-Box soon! If you are too curious and can’t wait for the next post, we suggest you go have a look at the Academia Barilla online shop!

Italy-in-a-box is not the ordinary, typical gift box. First of all, it actually comes in a box, a very elegant and refined luxury one, holding the true taste of Italian gastronomic culture, an experience that will truly evoke all your senses.

Italy-in-a-box is a journey across the findings of Academia Barilla continue research into the gastronomic and cultural identities of the different regions of Italy. A limited edition of gastronomic gems that will surely bring happiness to both the sender and receiver of this set.

All Italy-in-a-box gastronomy sets contains a selection of the best Italian regional products, simple and original tips for bringing the Italian flavor to your kitchen and your table, and come in refined and limited edition packaging that can be customized according to your taste.

Let’s explore the first gift boxes with this post, we’ll explore more later. Today we have in front of us three nice gift idea choices within the Italy-in-a-box collection: Discovering Parmigiano, Simply Italian and Beauty In and Out!

DISCOVERING PARMIGIANO

For all those who have a strong appetite for the King of cheeses, this gift set proposes fun, innovative yet traditional ways with balsamic must to coordinate Parmigiano Reggiano with other delectable products and truly savor the cheese’s exceptional taste. Try it with the sweet, spicy and sweet and savour flavor of the Academia Barilla compotes!

Discovering Parmigiano Gift Box contains: • 1 Shape of 2,2 lb in vacuum bag of Parmigiano Reggiano aged 18 months minimum 
• 1 Jar of Fresh pears and balsamic vinegar of Modena 
• 1 Bottle of Balsamic must
 • 1 Parmigiano Reggiano cheese knife 
• 1 Jar of Spicy fig compote 
• 1 Jar of Chianti jelly
 • 1 Mini-Recipe

Academia Barilla Discovering Parmigiano gift set will be available soon at the Academia Barilla online store.

SIMPLY ITALIAN

Tradition, simplicity, romance. The Simply Italian collection of authentic recipes is perfect for those who love tastes and aromas of simple dishes that showcase the unique flavours of all the different ingredients used by a simply and traditional pinzimonio recipe of fresh vegetables.

Simply Italian Gift Box contains: • 1 Bottle of Extra virgin olive oil 100% italiano
 • 1 Bottle of “Aged” Balsamic vinegar of Modena 
• 1 Jar of Sicilian sea salt with fresh olives 
• 2 Steel teaspoon 
• 2 Glass cup
 • 1 Mini-Recipe

Buy Academia Barilla Simply Italian gift set at this link.

BEAUTY AND HEALTH IN A BOX

This food and beauty gift set will amaze all Italian Food Lovers on the quest for new beauty and health secrets. Using Academia Barilla products, ingredients typical of the Mediterranean diet, these beauty products are a truly creative way to achieve an all-round well-being.

Beauty In and Out Gift Box contains: • 1 Shower Gel with pears, D.O.P. Monti Iblei extra virgin olive oil, vitamin E and thermal water
 • 1 Hands Cream with I.G.P. Toscano extra virgin olive oil and thermal water
 • 1 Night Cream with D.O.P. Monti Iblei extra virgin olive oil and thermal water 
• 1 Day Cream with D.O.P. Riviera Ligure extra virgin olive oil and thermal water 
• 1 Red orange Scrub with sea salt, orange, D.O.P. Monti Iblei extra virgin olive oil and thermal water

Academia Barilla Beauty In and Out gift set will be available soon at the Academia Barilla online store.  

Stay with us for the next blog posts, where we’ll introduce the other Italian gourmet gift ideas for Italian Food Lovers’ Season, which is year-round! Yes, because Italy-in-a-box collection is available year-round at the Academia Barilla online shop, just a click away from here!