GUSTI Blog

Olive Oils in Clear Bottles - No Good!

You buy extra virgin olive oil because it is delicious but also because you think it's good for you. You are absolutely right: EV olive oil is rich in antioxidants that are good for your health.

Everybody knows, but now it is also confirmed by two new studies published in the Journal of Food Science: the health benefits of antioxidant-rich oils wane if the oil are stored for too long or not properly.

Antioxidants stay in the olive oil IF the bottle is not exposed to heat and light. Therefore, any decent olive oil producer would NEVER bottle the olive oil in a clear bottle. Ergo, BEWARE of olive oils which are bottled in clear bottles and BEWARE of the merchants who sell them. It is not good for you. And it can't be good to the taste, either. Why would any producer of good olive oil put it in a clear bottle?

 These are Gustiamo's olive oils. The bottles are so dark, you can't even see what's inside. In fact, the color of the Olive Oil is only a marketing gimmick. It doesn't mean anything. Professional tasters taste olive oil in a dark glass little cup, because its color has no relevance to its quality and taste.

Drink Sant'Eustachio Coffee and Be Smarter

Consumers who drink specialty coffees on a daily basis are 70% more likely to score highly in the category of leadership, 55% in superiority and 48% in creativity than the general population, according to a profile of premium coffee drinkers by Mindset Media.

Consumers who drink Sant'Eustachio coffee on a daily basis are 100% leaders, 100% superiors and 100% more creative, according to a scientific survey by Gustiamo.com.

 In these tough times, maybe it's worth a try? This is our special offer: 20% discount on Sant'Eustachio coffee until May 15. Magic words: GET SMARTER. You have to write these words in the "special instructions" box of your shopping cart. If you do, we'll reflect the discount in your bill and credit card charge.

Do you want to become a member of the Sant'Eustachio club? And receive the coffee every month? Call us at 718 860 2949 or email Anne. And Grazie.

Buffalo Mozzarella - with illegal drugs

There are two kinds of mozzarella. Buffalo mozzarella made from the milk of water buffalo cows, like the ones on the left. Mozzarella made from the milk of plain cows is "fiore di latte". I never heard anybody in America asking for a "flower of milk" though. While you can find many good suppliers of local mozzarella or "flower of milk", all buffalo mozzarella cheese in America is imported from Italy, mainly from the Campania region. Many are even DOP, certified "mozzarella di bufala campana".

In the past few months, we sadly learned that these buffalo cows were grazing in contaminated fields in Campania, thanks to the Camorra's bad dealings. (Did you see the movie Gomorra?) The other day, a disturbing article in Corriere della Sera revealed that the Carabinieri (in the picture with the buffalo cows) found that out of 40 farms, 25 were using a drug which is illegal in Europe to make the buffalo cows produce more milk. The drug was made in Korea and imported by the Camorra, of course, from Albania and Switzerland. Now, 25 out of 40 farms, seems to me incredible news. Why doesn't anybody talk about it? Does the Camorra have a foot in the media, too? Do you know what you are eating?

Requiem for Balducci

I came to this country 20 years ago for work. I was an accountant with Ernst & Young and they transferred me from Rome to the NY office. This to say that when I came to New York, with no support from cooking friends and family and with no clue of even how to boil pasta, my safe heaven was Balducci's in the Village (the only location at the time, before they were purchased and destroyed by financial investors), where I would go often even if it was far from home. I remember them dearly.

With much sorrow, I read this article, which says they are in the process of closing "underperforming" stores in Ridgefield, CT, in Lincoln Square and Chelsea in New York City and in Washington, DC. Are there any Balducci's stores left?

Squisito!

  This crazy idea started with Carla Latini, who said: if you are in Italy around the first of May, you MUST go to San Patrignano, where some of Italy's best food artisans will attend the event of Squisito! ! The second exclamation point is to reflect Carla's enthusiasm. The first comes attached to the name of the event.

Quick search: San Patrignano is a community in Emilia Romagna, which for some thirty years helps kids to overcome drug addiction with the help of manual and intellectual labor. Now, the community is approximately 1,000 young members engaged in all kind of works, mainly farming, wine and cheese making. Squisito! is an event in its 6th year, where the community and many other Italian artisans, including Pasta Latini showcase their precious wears.

Carla, it's a really crazy idea. Let me think about it and, most importantly... let me talk to Tony and Cathy! It's a long drive from Molise to San Petrignano. I mapquested it.  4 hours and 46 minutes ? Mmmmh, we would love it and we ARE crazy, but this seems to me too much too much of a schlep, we have to return to Roma to catch our plane. Next year?

Tony Mantuano Goes to Molise

 Tony Mantuano, his wife Cathy and I will be in San Martino in Pensilis, Molise, at the end of the month. At 8pm of April 30th, at city hall, Tony will be given the keys to the town by the mayor, Vittorino Facciolla. The local music band will play The Star Spangled Banner and Fratelli d'Italia. A dinner party will be held in the major square of the town. This is all too good.

But, where are we going; where is Molise?  Molise is south east of Rome, on the Adriatic sea, below Abruzzi (the proceeds of the dinner will go to the victims of the earthquake) and above Puglia. It is exactly here. It is Italy's second smallest region; with valleys, mountains, and sandy beaches. Pristine and unspoiled nature. Great foods (EV Olive Oils Tratturello comes from Molise),  culture and traditions. In the early 50's, many molisani, including Cathy's family, emigrated in search of a better life; the population density is smaller than the Italian average. It is a region off the beaten track, which makes it even more appealing.  It sounds like heaven and we can't wait to go.

Esperya, Good Products, Not So Good Customer Service

 Esperya is an online food merchant in Italy and a company name very dear to us. In fact, before Gustiamo, Martina and I founded Esperya in the USA. It was the year 2000 and it seems like ages ago. Then, the founder, Antonio Tombolini left; Esperya in Italy was sold to a big food concern; Esperya USA closed; Martina and I opened Gustiamo in 2002. We don't know anybody now at Esperya, but we feel we are still connected. And we share many producers, ie Italy's Best Foods.

So, when I go to Italy, as I am shortly, I often place an order with Esperya and stock my pantry there with the foods I can't live without. I placed an order last week. The following day I emailed customer service twice. The first time because I realized I forgot a couple of items I wanted to add to my order. They replied the NEXT day by which time, my order had already left. I emailed the second time because something was wrong with the order confirmation which I forwarded back to them immediately. This email confirmation (copied here) had SPAM and weird characters, many bad typos in the text. I don't know why but I was offended that something I feel related to was so sloppy. They never replied to me.

The point is: the foods are good but customer service needs improvement.

Colomba on Tasting Table

Tasting Table is a free daily email that delivers the best of food and drink culture to adventurous eaters everywhere. Hungry for fresh and smart news? Subscribe here.

They will keep you informed about the most interesting dining trends, essential new ingredients and websites and the latest food luminaries around the country, including Casimiro, who just told Tasting Table that the best cake for Easter is Gustiamo's Colomba. Tasting Table listened and yesterday's newsletter featured Colomba Pasquale. In the words of TT: "... Made at Milan's 185-year-old Antica Pasticicceria Marchesi, the cake is painstakingly crafted from a dough made with natural yeast and hop leaves, which is then blended with fresh Italian butter and candied Sicilian oranges. The dough is baked in the shape of a dove (or some approximation of a dove) and topped with crunchy sugar and almonds before being rushed to Bronx-based importer Gustiamo.." Read more.

Grazie a tutti e Buona Pasqua e Passover!

Casimiro Loves Gustiamo Products

I have written previously, on this blog about Casimiro, a street vendor with cart (read previous post here) who is our customer. Today, he visited us again and wanted to buy our Colomba. I could not make this up even if I wanted to. We insisted it was too expensive for him. No, he wanted it and he bought it. In case we don't see him again, I took a picture.

Casimiro, you are my hero!!! Have a wonderful Easter and enjoy the Colomba with your family. We think it's worth every penny, and we hope you agree. 

Earthquake in Abruzzi

 Last night, a strong earthquake shook the region of Abruzzi, east of Rome, killed almost 100 people and left at least 100,000 homeless.

We called Prisca Montani, in Abruzzo. She is the young lady who makes the EV Olive Oil la Quagliera. She and her family are fine. Glad we called. The farm where she lives and makes the Olive Oil is near Pescara, near the adriatic sea and the damages were not as devastating as inland. She said that at around 3:30 in the morning the earth trembled for 30 seconds, it felt like you were on a boat in rough sea. They all left the house and spent the rest of the night outside. They are all scared but fine, thank goodness.

It's a sad day. We are reading the news as they unfold. Abruzzesi, our thoughts and prayers are with you.