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Valentine’s Day Sale on Balsamic Vinegar at Gourmet Living

Gourmet Living announced today a Valentine’s Day storewide sale of its balsamic vinegar, California extra virgin olive oil and Mediterranean sea salt.  Save 25% on ALL Gourmet Living products through February 11.  Skip the box of chocolates and celebrate Valentine’s Day in style with gourmet food products that will make a huge impression on your loved one.

Choose from an extensive selection of balsamic vinegars ranging from our new Goccia Nera that works  well for vinaigrettes.   Or how about our award-winning Goccia d’Oro balsamic vinegar of Modena that has recently been ranked as “one of the best balsamic vinegars for 2017” by Wiki Ezvid.

We are pleased that our balsamic vinegar is ranked with many traditional or DOP balsamic vinegars, but taste comparisons with these other brands is like comparing apples and oranges.

If you wish to sample authentic 12-year old traditional balsamic vinegar or 25-year old PDO that has been bottled and sealed by the Italian consortium, please visit the Gourmet Living website and save 25% on these exceptional barrel-aged traditional balsamic vinegars.  The 25-year old PDO ships with a handmade display box.

Gourmet Living prides itself on having authentic and certified balsamic vinegars for all tastes and budgets.  Choose the one that makes sense for you!  The labels and contents of these products have been certified by the Italian authorities and are designated as DOP and IGP, respectively. These vinegars contain no additives or preservatives and are bottled in Italy under the strict supervision of the Italian Growers Consortium.

Sheila May of Gourmet Living explains the following, “Strict Italian regulations are in place for a very good reason: to guarantee the integrity of the product for the consumer. Gourmet Livings wants to insure that our products meet these stringent requirements so that people can actually enjoy the true taste of balsamic vinegar of Modena.”

Sheila May, one of the owners of Gourmet Living, explains how balsamic vinegar is aged in this instructional video:

Goccia Nera is a less expensive balsamic vinegar best suited for vinaigrettes, glazes and marinades. While most commercial balsamic vinegars have a density level of below 1.04, Goccia Nera has a density level of 1.07 and is more viscous.  A 250 ml bottle is heavily discounted from its normal retail price of $19.25.   In fact, for Valentine’s Day, you can purchase this balsamic vinegar for only $14.75.

Goccia d’Oro is a premium grade balsamic vinegar with a density level of 1.33. This award-winning balsamic vinegar comes with an attractive display box and wax seal and makes a great gift for cooks and gourmands seeking a high-quality balsamic vinegar.   This is a must-have gift for friends and families and fellow gourmands.

Gourmet Living’s traditional balsamic vinegar (“DOP”) of 12 and 25 years is tested, sealed and bottled by the Consortium in a distinctive 100 ml bottle. Traditional balsamic vinegar consists exclusively of wine must and with no wine vinegar, additives or preservatives.  Please note that the hand-made presentation package in ONLY available for the 25-year old traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena.

Gourmet Living’s balsamic vinegar product line has been created to give buyers an authentic taste of artisan vinegars at various price points to suit their budget. A few drops of this vinegar is all that is needed to create a dish that tastes as if it were made in the heart of Italy itself. These vinegars are made from pressed Trebbiano and Lambrusco grapes in Modena, Italy, and then aged in oak, chestnut and cherry barrels.

Special Valentine’s Day promotional pricing on these balsamic vinegars will continue through February 11 , so order now.

For those interested in extra virgin olive from California or trio of Mediterranean sea salts, click on the preceding hyperlinks.

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WW1 in the Val di Sole and Trento

Grappa, Polenta and Venison in Val di Sole

Verona: Where Civility and Magic Embrace

I must admit that I am a hopeless romantic when it comes to Italy.  It seems that this wonderful country is caught in a time-warp and Sheila and I are among the lucky few to have been able to step through a time portal. This is certainly the case for Verona, Italy.

Mind you, “popular” Italy is overrun with tourists, but if you travel during the right season and seek out destinations somewhat off the beaten track you will be rewarded with a magical experience that is difficult to replicate.

I will writing more about our recent visit to Ossana in the stunning Val di Sole with our good friends Anna and Claudio, but I did want to take the opportunity to comment on Verona, while it is still fresh on my mind.

Verona is a popular visitor destination, but less so in the middle of winter.  Nevertheless, Asian tourists toting selfie sticks have largely replaced Americans beneath Juliet’s balcony.  I can only surmise that the “love-life” of Asians is far more complicated than that of Americans.  Presumably, “gringos” find it easier to tweet their “love” frustrations rather than drop a love note to Juliet.  Of course, maybe self-adulation by those on social media does not require Juliet’s help.  After-all, she was only 14 years when she took her life.

Now, Sheila insists that Romeo and Juliet is fiction.  Personally, I opt for Kellyanne Conway’s “alternative facts” or “artistic license,” as my liberal friends prefer to capture the majesty of love in the medieval ages.  In any event, we are all greatly enriched by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and the wonderful ballet music of Prokofiev, particularly “The Dance of the Knights.”  As Karl Marx was prone to say, “Politics is theater.”  (actually, it was Harvey Milk).

Walking around the historical district of Verona is like strolling through history as if you were a Medici.  The streets are pretty much deserted after 7:3o p.m., but I would strongly recommend an initial visit to the Arena, which is in Piazza Bra just on the southern outskirts of the historical district.

From there you walk north into the historical district.  Fashionable people (mink coats are optional) will take Via Mazzini, which runs into the eastern end of Piazza delle Erbe.  Piazza delle Erbe is a delightful piazza featuring eclectic architecture, a market and several bistros and restaurants where you can watch people watching other people.   Found below is a short video of Piazza delle Erbe that I found on YouTube.

It is almost impossible to get lost in Verona, since the historical district sticks out like a sore thumb around the meandering Adige River.  If you get tired, simply have an Aperol Spritz, coffee or hot chocolate at one of the many pastry stores and bistros spread out through this magical town.  For those in need of a little religious inspiration, we suggest the lovely Abbadia di Sant’Anastasia.  The locals consider this to be the finest abbey/cathedral in Verona.  Sheila quite agrees.

If you want to explore the magic and wonder of Italy, I can think of few better places to start than Verona.

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