Italian Food Lovers

We had a slow start this year with the Italian Food Lovers blogs, mostly because we have been focusing on completing the launch of the new Academia Barilla website. Our blogging team has been heavily involved with the development of the content side for the new website, and this kept us from blogging with our usual frequency. 

While the Academia Barilla website is now completed, as well as all the new website features we invite you to explore, we are now working on the restyle/redesign of the Academia Barilla online store, that will be released in its new version soon.

We love our blog and we couldn’t stay away from it, so here we are again, back to blogging.

Since you can now discover gourmet recipes from the Italian regional gastronomic tradition at the new Academia Barilla website, we asked Barilla Executive Chef Lorenzo Boni to provide us with a recipe from our beloved region, Emilia-Romagna, and he provided us with a recipe for a classic dish: Veal Cotoletta alla Bolognese, that Chef Boni pairs with a side of Asparagus Tips and Cherry Tomatoes sautéed in Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Ready? Let’s go to the kitchen! Read more…

A friend of Academia Barilla, who happened to travel business class on an American Airlines flight this week, spotted an article on CL - Celebrated Living, the luxury in-flight magazine for American Airlines Premium Class Passengers, quoting the Academia Barilla Culinary Center as a recommended choice among luxury gourmet destinations around the world. 

Too small to read? We’ll read it for you! In an issue mostly dedicated to gourmet topics, The Food and Wine Issue (with articles about South America culinary, wine auctions, and worldwide culinary trends), the CL editorial team recommends (right side of the image) three top gourmet choices.

After introducing the Hotel Marques de Riscal as a luxury destination in Rioja, Spain, the Spanish Wine Valley, and the two 4-star colonial hotels in Puebla, Mexico, Mesón Sacristía de las Compañías and Mesón Sacristía de Capuchinas, CL Magazine introduces Parma, Italy and Academia Barilla.

The article goes like this (we read it for you):

PARMA - Neighbor to Tuscany, the Emilia-Romagna province is locally considered the culinary capo in Italy. Why? Because it’s home to three of the nation’s best products: Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and aged Balsamic Vinegar.

The new Academia Barilla (866-722-2233, www.academiabarilla.com) from the Parma-based Barilla pasta company, allows visitors to explore the local wonders, combining tours of cheese factories and vinegar aging houses with cooking classes.

Thank you CL Magazine for quoting our cooking school and the gastronomy and culinary tours we organize in Parma and around Emilia-Romagna.

This press mention comes after the recent one from Gourmet Magazine, who listed the Academia Barilla Culinary Center among the top 5 luxury cooking schools in the world, as you might remember from a previous post here on Italian Food Lovers.

The Academia Barilla Culinary Center and the cultural, gastronomy and culinary tours offered by Academia Barilla, as well as the cooking classes at the Academia, are a luxury experience indeed. But this doesn’t really means our courses are expensive or way too exclusive.

With a range of cooking courses, gastronomy and cultural tours, and culinary initiatives that go from individual to group classes, from week-long to short, half-day immersive classes, to internship programs for Chef students, the Academia Barilla Culinary Center can be affordable at many levels, yet retaining that luxury treat profile that you will start experiencing as soon as you will walk through the Academia’s doors.

Enquire with Academia Barilla about the culinary learning experiences offered in Parma, Italy; we’ll be happy to design for you and your party the perfect formula that fits your culinary skills and needs, your permanence in Italy and your budget!

You can reach us in Parma calling +39 0521 264060 (toll-free number from Italy 800 376-116), or through the US toll free number also kindly provided by the CL Magazine (866-722-2233).

Academia Barilla just broadcasted an online press release announcing to the media the launch of its latest artisan Italian food products. We want to provide a description of these new products to our Italian Food Lovers readers, along with some of our serving suggestions and delicious gourmet recipes.

Today we will talk about the Academia Barilla Italian Tomato Sauce, Academia Barilla Pesto alla Genovese and Academia Barilla Pitted Sicilian Green Olives.

ITALIAN TOMATO SAUCE

Academia Barilla’s Italian Tomato Sauce is the result of a premium quality, exclusive Italian Scarpariello tomato grown in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, Italy’s Food Valley.

An incomparable fresh and sweet flavor enriched with extra virgin olive oil, this all natural tomato sauce is a traditional, delicious recipe with an intense red color great for a variety of Italian pasta courses.

Characteristics and serving suggestions:

- Aroma: Scent of sweet, vine ripened tomatoes.
- Flavor: Sweet and delicate with fresh tomato taste.
- Texture: Smooth texture is a perfect complement for a variety of pasta dishes.
- Serving suggestions: very versatile; its smooth texture is a perfect complement for a variety of pasta dishes.

PITTED SICILIAN GREEN OLIVES

Academia Barilla’s Pitted Sicilian Green Olives are personally selected from the centuries-old trees of the well-known Belice Valley of Sicily. Here, the red soil and warm climate offer the precious and renowned Nocellara del Belice D.O.P. olive variety.

Seasoned with hot pepper, local wild oregano and garlic, this traditional Sicilian recipe offers fresh and exceptional Mediterranean flavors.

Characteristics and serving suggestions:

- Aroma: Rich and intense aroma of olive pulp, enriched with Mediterranean spices.
- Flavor: An intense and fresh fruitiness with traditional Sicilian flavors.
- Texture: Firm olives with minced herbs and spices.
- Serving suggestions: perfect as an appetizers, a first course and as a snack.

PESTO ALLA GENOVESE

A unique non-pasteurized fresh pesto direct from the seaside town of Sanremo in Liguria, Italy. Made with the freshest basil of the Italian Riviera, top quality extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano and whole pine nuts.

Characteristics and serving suggestions:

- Aroma: perfume of fresh sweet basil and aged Parmigiano Reggiano.
- Flavor: tangy, sweet, freshly picked basil.
- Texture: chunky, minced basil and whole pine nuts.
- Serving suggestions: perfect for lasagna, gnocchi and pasta al pesto.

Enjoy Academia Barilla’s Italian gourmet gastronomy! Remember you can buy them all at the Academia Barilla online shop! Academia Barilla Pesto alla Genovese is exclusively available at Sur la Table at this Sur La Table link.

Tomorrow we will publish a gourmet recipe using some of the new Academia Barilla products, stay tuned!

As announced a couple of weeks ago in a press release and a blog posting here on Italian Food Lovers, Academia Barilla just launched a new series of Italian gourmet specialty foods that enrich the Academia Barilla gourmet product line, which is available at the best gourmet and specialty food stores across the United States and worldwide, and of course at the Academia Barilla online shop.

Today we want to focus on some products that will bring the flavors of Italy, the new Academia Barilla Italian Cheese Spreads, Pasta Toppings and Pesto Genovese, right to your table.

The new Academia Barilla Cherry Tomato Pasta Toppings come in two flavors: a mild and sweet variety and a spicy and sweet variety.

Both Sicilian recipes are authentic and offer a delicious succulent blend of naturally sun dried Pachino cherry tomatoes and include fresh basil; the spicy variety also contains hot chili peppers. Academia Barilla’s pasta toppings are very versatile as a base ingredient, and can also be used as bruschetta and pizza toppings, as well as for appetizers, focaccia, couscous, roasted fish and meat.

Academia Barilla’s Pesto Alla Genovese is a unique non-pasteurized fresh pesto direct from the Italian seaside town of San Remo in Liguria.

The freshest basil of the Riviera, top quality extra virgin olive oil, Parmigiano Reggiano and whole pine nuts make this recipe tangy and sweet, perfect for a variety of dishes. This product is available exclusively at the Sur La Table online store.

The Academia Barilla range of spreadable Italian cheeses is the result of premium quality Italian cheeses of time honored tradition and culinary innovation to create authentic, unique combinations.

These spreadable cheeses are the ideal solution for quick and easy dishes. Offering a Parmigiano Reggiano D.O.P. variety and a Pecorino Sardo with Truffles and Porcini Mushrooms, these spreadable cheeses are a perfect addition to crackers, meats, pasta dishes, sandwiches, sauces and vegetables, and a new way to experience Parmigiano Reggiano and Sardinian Pecorino.

A product approved by the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium in Emilia Romagna, Italy, the Academia Barilla Parmigiano-Reggiano D.O.P. Cheese Spread brings to the Italian food lovers’ tables delicate notes of fresh milk, yogurt and honey, and a taste with intense sensation of Parmigiano-Reggiano. 

Academia Barilla also just launched a Pecorino Sardo, Truffles and Porcini Mushrooms Cheese Spread: this recipe brings food lovers the prestigious Bianchetto white Truffles and Porcini Mushrooms from Tuscany to celebrate Italian gourmet flavors.

Produced in Sardinia, Italy, the new Spreadable Cheese with Pecorino Sardo with Truffles and Porcini Mushrooms brings an aroma with delicate notes of fresh milk and cream, and the intense undertones of Truffles and Porcini Mushrooms. Its milky and sweet tones and the very well balanced aroma define a full round flavor for this new gourmet spreadable cheese, making it an ideal sauce to prepare Italian Rice and Pasta dishes. Also perfect spread on crackers and sandwiches, or melted on vegetables and grilled meats.

We will soon publish new gourmet recipes created by the Academia Barilla Chef Team with these new exciting Italian gourmet products, so stay tuned!

Here is a link to the new Academia Barilla press release announcing the new exciting initiative for the promotion of Italian food culture and the Art of Italian Gastronomy in the United States: the partnership with US top culinary center Sur La Table we blogged about yesterday.

The partnership develops within a Sur La Table initiative called A Taste of Italia, with a full calendar dedicated to Italian cuisine, and several initiatives in partnership with Academia Barilla that include food tasting and Italian regional cooking classes in the US, and an Easter 2009 Culinary Tour of Parma, Italy.

We republish the press release here below for all those Italian food lovers who are interested in getting all the details of the Academia Barilla - Sur La Table gourmet series of events.

Academia Barilla partners Sur La Table to celebrate Italian Food Culture in the United States, with a calendar rich of food tasting, Italian regional cooking classes in the US, and an Easter 2009 Tour of Parma, Italy.

Top Italian Culinary Center Academia Barilla partners Sur La Table, the place for Chefs to shop, for a series of initiatives celebrating the Taste of Italia, that include food tasting of Academia Barilla Italian gastronomy specialties across 63 Sur La Table stores in the US, Italian regional cooking classes at 25 Sur La Table locations across the United States, and a 6-days gastronomic and culinary Easter 2009 Tour of Parma, Italy.

PRWEB, September 18, 2008 - Academia Barilla, the world’s premier Italian culinary center dedicated to the art of Italian gastronomy and one of the top 5 luxury cooking school according to Gourmet Magazine, partners Sur La Table, the place for Chef to shop and top US culinary network, for a series of initiatives celebrating the Taste of Italia.

The gourmet initiatives designed by Academia Barilla in partnership with Sur La Table include:
• Food tasting of Academia Barilla Italian gastronomy specialties across 63 Sur La Table stores across the United States
• Italian regional cooking classes at 25 Sur La Table locations across the United States
• 6-days gastronomic and Culinary Tour of Parma, Italy, scheduled for next Easter 2009 (April 5-10).

In-Store Gourmet Product Sampling

For the entire month of September 2009 Sur la Table, who showcases the entire lines of Academia Barilla and Giada De Laurentiis Selected by Academia Barilla gourmet product lines, will organize free gourmet food tasting of Academia Barilla products at 63 Sur La Table stores across the United States.

Sur La Table customers will have the opportunity to learn how to professionally taste the products, what kind of quality to look for, how they can use the products at home, and more gourmet, gastronomy and culinary tips.

Authentic Regional Italian Cuisine – Sur La Table In-Store Gourmet Cooking Classes

Academia Barilla partnered with Sur La Table to introduce four Italian culinary classes celebrating the best of regional Italian cooking, exploring delicious local recipes from four of Italy’s richest culinary regions: Emilia-Romagna, Sicilia, Liguria and Toscana.

Participants to the Academia Barilla cooking classes will use classic recipes and the best artisan Italian ingredients to prepare signature dishes steeped in the traditions of this food-loving nation.

The in-Store cooking classes will be held at 25 Sur La Table locations across Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington.

For more information, full class schedule and booking please visit the Sur La Table website, and the Google Map created by Academia Barilla for the Italian Food Lovers blog.

A Taste of Italia – Sur La Table Culinary Easter Tour of Parma, Italy

Academia Barilla and Sur La Table are proud to introduce the ultimate Italian culinary experience, a 6-days culinary and gastronomy tour of Parma, Italy. Scheduled for Easter week (April 5-10, 2009), this culinary tour designed by Academia Barilla exclusively for Sur La Table is a must for those who love the food culture and cuisine of Italy, who will spend 6 days in Italy’s Food Lovers Mecca.

Participants will learn how to prepare traditional Italian Easter and regional menus, working hands-on with local artisanal ingredients and Academia Barilla chefs. The 6-days gastronomic and hands-on cooking tour is designed by Academia Barilla and Sur La Table to allow tour guest to explore the rich culinary and cultural heritage of this 2000-year-old city, linger over meals in courtyard gardens and participate to tour workshops with producers of local artisanal delicacies including Parmigiano Reggiano, Aceto Balsamico, Prosciutto di Parma and Culatello, while exploring castles, historic landmarks and Medieval villages in Italy’s richest culinary area, Emilia-Romagna.

Register soon for this amazing experience - space is limited and selling out fast; due to the popularity of this trip, only a few spots are left. For more info and online booking please visit the Sur La Table website. Also call the US toll free number 866-392-3302 or email academiabarilla@surlatable.com to learn more about the gastronomy trip.

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We took the boilerplate off the press release for this blog post as our Italian Food Lovers readership surely knows Academia Barilla - for those who still need Academia Barilla’s Press Office contacts, here they are:

In the USA: Stephanie Sette: Tel. +1 847-405-7564; ssette@barilla-usa.com
In Italy: Ilaria Rossi: Tel. +39 0521-2621; i.rossi@barilla.it
Barilla Press Office (Italy): Marco Magli; Tel. +39 0521-2621; m.magli@barilla.it