Celebrating Italian Heritage Month
Growing up in an Italian neighborhood in Rhode Island was like living in a little slice of Italy. Our lives revolved around family, food, and community, and I was lucky enough to experience it all firsthand. October, being Italian Heritage Month, always brings back warm memories of my childhood on the East Coast. It feels like the perfect time to celebrate those moments and share a few of my favorite Italian products that I always keep stocked in my kitchen. But before I get into that, let me take you on a little trip back to my early days in Rhode Island.
As a child I spent many of my evenings on Federal Hill, the heart of the Italian-American community in Providence. My family and I often found ourselves at Angelo’s Restaurant, a casual, no-frills spot where you sat at communal tables, old men, young couples and families with children all seated side by side, knowing that they could count on good food and even better company. We made new friends there, I brought up my son going there, and it is still one of the first places I go when I go “home.” My go-to order as a kid was simple but comforting — meatballs and french fries, with a side of spaghetti. Angelo’s has been serving meatballs and french fries that way since 1934, and trust me, there was nothing better than soaking up the extra sauce with a crispy fry. Federal Hill was more than just a place to eat; it was a place to connect with neighbors, laugh, and celebrate everyday moments. Whether it was running into family friends or hearing a mix of Italian and English spoken all around, there was a sense of belonging that I’ll never forget.
Sunday nights, were all about Caserta Pizzeria, another local institution that still has a place in my heart. We’d place our order late afternoon, so I could pick up a pizza and have it back in time to watch the game on TV. Their rectangular Sicilian-style pizza was like nothing else I’d ever had. The crust was thick but airy, with a crisp bottom, topped with a rich, tangy tomato sauce and just the right amount of cheese. What made Caserta so special was the fact that corner and crust lovers could enjoy so many crunchy delights, but I…I loved the middle slice oozing with sauce and cheese and NO crust! For the others it was a big deal in our house because no one had to fight over the edges. We’d bring home a big box of pizza, some spinach pies, pepper pigs and their famous Wimpy Skippy’s. It was as much about the tradition as it was about the food. I can still taste it when I think about it, and even after all these years, Caserta’s remains the standard by which I judge all other pizzas.
Living in this close-knit Italian community also meant that I was exposed to the language from a young age. My Yiddish may have gotten lost somewhere along the way, but I sure picked up a lot of Italian! I remember my friend’s mom would yell out phrases in rapid-fire Italian, and soon enough, I was tossing around expressions like I was born into it. But it wasn’t all just colorful language. One of the best things I learned was how to make Sunday gravy for our pasta. My friend’s mom was a true Italian matriarch, and she took me under her wing in the kitchen. We’d spend hours simmering tomatoes, garlic, and herbs, letting the flavors meld together until the whole house smelled like heaven. She taught me that Sunday gravy isn’t just a sauce; it’s a tradition, one that brings people together, just like it did in their family — and in mine. It’s a recipe I still make to this day, and every time I do, I’m transported back to that tiny kitchen, listening to her tell stories in Italian while stirring the pot.
October being Italian Heritage Month feels like the perfect excuse to bring all these memories to the forefront and celebrate the culture that had such a huge influence on my life. While I’m no longer that little girl running around the neighborhood speaking half-Italian, half-English, the traditions I grew up with have stayed with me.
My kitchen is still stocked with my favorites that I can’t live without. From high-quality olive oils to imported pasta and cheeses, these are staples in my kitchen that make me feel like I’m right back on Federal Hill. Each of these products brings a little taste of Italy into my home, helping me keep those childhood memories alive while adding a touch of authenticity to my meals.
Bertolli d’Italia Olive Oil — Bertolli was the oil my mom and ALL of my friend’s moms swore by. It was in every kitchen growing up (I can still remember the big gold tins of it), and today I love Bertolli d’Italia Extra Virgin Olive Oil. My Italian cooking routine just got easier with the recent launch of Bertolli d’Italia Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Joining its successful line of red and white Italian pasta sauces, Bertolli’s d’Italia products bring the essence of Italian cuisine to American kitchens.
Premium-quality extra virgin olive oil sourced from Italy provides Americans with a way to get more Italian olive oil (and all its health benefits) into their meals as they elevate their dishes and cook the Mediterranean way with d’Italia products.
- Check it out HERE
Ponti Balsamic Vinegar of Modena
Let me start by saying, that my husband (AKA: Mr S) owned a restaurant in Providence and when I tell you that he is the pickiest cook and eater, I’m not exaggerating. There is only ONE Balsamic Vinegar that he will use — Ponti Balsamic Vinegar of Modena Italy. It just happens to be the #1 vinegar and embodies the rich culinary heritage of Italy. Crafted using a traditional method, this balsamic vinegar is made from a blend of grape must and wine vinegar, aged to perfection to develop a deep, complex flavor profile.
With its rich, dark color and smooth consistency, Ponti Balsamic Vinegar offers a perfect balance of sweet and tangy notes, making it an ideal addition to salads, marinades, and glazes. Its versatile nature allows it to enhance a variety of dishes, from drizzling over fresh vegetables to complementing cheeses and meats.
Each bottle encapsulates the essence of Modena, a region renowned for its high-quality balsamic vinegar, ensuring that every drop delivers authenticity and flavor. Whether you’re a gourmet chef or a home cook, Ponti Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is a must-have in your pantry, elevating your culinary creations with its exquisite taste.
- Purchase on Amazon
Rosa Regale Sparkling White Wine
Rosa Regale Sparkling White Asti DOCG is a sparkling wine that delights from the moment it’s poured. Its bouquet bursts with intense and fruity aromas, classic to the Muscat grape, offering fragrant notes of acacia flowers and sage. On the palate, this wine balances sweetness with fresh acidity and subtle hints of honey, creating a smooth and refreshing experience. Whether you’re enjoying it on a sunny patio, pairing it with delicate pastries, or sipping alongside a charcuterie board as an aperitif, Rosa Regale’s sophistication and elegance shine through every sip.
Kloveo Champagne Stopper
Kloveo champagne stopper is designed to keep champagne, prosecco, and sparkling wine “fizzy” longer! Made in Italy, Kloveo’s chrome-plated stainless steel body and hinge construction make it the most durable sparkling wine stopper on the market. It’s the only stopper with a self-tightening seal and easy-release clip. Kloveo also makes champagne glasses, a must-have for any celebration. Kloveo is the #1 selling champagne stopper in Italy & France!
It’s available in various colors like chrome, gold, black and white.
Valdo Marca Oro Prosecco DOC Brut
Valdo Marca Oro Prosecco DOC Brut is an elegant and cheerful Prosecco that has been winning the hearts of multiple generations since its introduction in the 1950s. Its golden yellow color with greenish reflections in the glass is accompanied by cheerful notes of green apple, stone fruit, and floral nuances on the nose. On the palate, it is fresh, fruity, and slightly tart with a discreet sweetness. The bubbles are small and abundant, providing an exciting sensation on the tongue. It is a versatile wine that can be enjoyed as an aperitif, with first courses, or to enhance any moment.
- Purchase: HERE
Tirrena Pasta
Pasta Tirrena is a 100% Tuscan pasta made from durum wheat grown on Frescobaldi estates southwest of Florence. The region’s fresh soils, mild climate, and marine breezes give the pasta a distinct personality. Best enjoyed with Laudemio Frescobaldi Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Pasta Tirrena comes in Spaghetti, Fusilli, Penne, Tortiglioni, Linguine, and Casarecce shapes.
- Purchase: HERE
Monti Trentini Cheese
Monti Trentini, a family-run business in Italy’s Trentino region since 1925, specializes in mountain cheeses made from the milk of mountain-grazing cows, which impart unique herbal aromas and a distinctive yellow color. Their Caciotta cheeses are crafted from locally sourced Italian cow’s milk, salt, and rennet. The standout in their range is the Caciotta Black Truffle, featuring locally sourced black summer truffles.
- Purchase: HERE
Laudemio Frescobaldi Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Laudemio Frescobaldi Extra Virgin Olive Oil is a premium, cold-pressed Tuscan olive oil known for its emerald green color and distinctive aromas of freshly-mown grass and artichoke. With a robust, balanced, and intensely spicy flavor, it makes an excellent gift for food enthusiasts and home chefs. Its elegant packaging adds sophistication, making it a versatile and appreciated present.
- Purchase: HERE
Italicus (SRP: $41.99)
Italicus was created by the authority on Italian spirits, Giuseppe Gallo, to bring back the forgotten Rosolio category. With keynotes of Cetalabrian bergamot, Italicus is made using the finest Italian ingredients to create a sip of Italy. The striking bottle design embodies the history and heritage ofItaly’s distinctive regions, whilst telling the story of Rosolio’s time-honored traditional drinking occasion of Aperitivo. Italicus is one of the world’s most awarded aperitivo globally.
Purchase via Curiada: HERE
Savoia(SRP: $24.99)
Crafted and bottled in a historic artisanal distillery in Turin, Italy, Savoia American is made with exceptional and predominantly Italian ingredients including artemisia, bitter orange and gentian root alongside a complex blend of more than 20 hand-selected botanicals, inspired by the historic “Bitter di Milano”, an authentic recipe that dates back to the late 1800s. The wine base is a blend of Trebbiano (Ugni Blanc) and a 14-month oak-aged DOC Marsala Fine. Savoia Americano Rosso is ruby red in color and is a complex blend of bitter orange, bergamot and citrus fruits. Hints of angelica, rhubarb and quassia wood, along with white cardamom, cinnamon and ginger add a balanced aromatic and gentle spicy tones.
- Purchase via Curiada: HERE
Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2019 (SRP: $79.99)
Banfi, producer and importer of fine wines, was founded in 1919 and is today woman-owned and operated by third generation family proprietor Cristina Mariani-May. Banfi is the sole U.S. importer of the Mariani family’s internationally renowned wine estates in Italy: Castello Banfi of Montalcino, Tuscany, and Banfi Piemonte of Strevi, Piedmont. Castello Banfi is credited with pioneering a new era in Brunello and bringing the wine world’s attention to Montalcino, while Banfi Piemonte produces the family’s sparkling wines. Under the leadership of President and CEO Mariani-May, Castello Banfi has been awarded international recognition for exceptional environmental, ethical and social responsibility, and also serves as a beacon of hospitality in the wine region. Banfi’s wide range of wines offer affordable luxury and include the flagship Brunello di Montalcino, Super Tuscans, Tuscan Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Sparkling and more varieties.
Banfi Brunello di Montalcino is a culmination of over three decades of Castello Banfi ’s pioneering research on the clones of Sangiovese; with the goal of producing a more outstanding quality Brunello. Released in the 5th year after harvest, the wine is aged for a minimum of 4 years, including 2 years in oak barrels. This iconic wine has notes of ethereal violet, vanilla, and licorice on the nose, with a full, soft, and velvety palate with warm spice notes.
- Buy via Shopify HERE
Donnafugata Mille e una Notte — Sicilia DOC Rosso (SRP $91)
Donnafugata, founded in 1983 by Giacomo and Gabriella Rallo, is a family-owned winery and leading example of authentic and sustainable winemaking in Sicily. Donnafugata produces tailor-made wines at the pinnacle of Italian craftsmanship, focused on small, prestigious productions from unique territories and vineyards across the island of Sicily. Their trademark labels illustrate the vibrant, colorful culture and storied history of Sicily in a distinctive and sensual style that makes their wines a natural choice for those drawn to the world of art. Today, Donnafugata is led by Giacomo and Gabriella’s children, Antonio and José Rallo, who represent the fifth generation of Rallo family wine production in Sicily. Donnafugata’s range of wines aims to showcase the extraordinary potential of Sicily, hailing from over 488 hectares of vineyards in Sicily across five estates in Contessa Entellina, Pantelleria, Vittoria, Etna, and Marsala; including the flagship wines Ben Ryé Passito di Pantelleria, Mille e una Notte Sicilia DOC, Fragore Etna Rosso DOC, and Tancredi Terre Siciliane IGT. For more information, visit donnafugata.it.
STYLE & BLEND: Red; Nero d’Avola, Petit Verdot, Syrah, and other grapes
PRODUCTION AREA: Contessa Entellina estate and neighboring territories, South
Western Sicily
STORY: The crown jewel in Donnafugata’s portfolio. The palace shown on the label
is the one where Queen Maria Carolina took refuge fleeing from Naples and was the favorite house of the writer Tomasi di Lampedusa in Santa Margherita Belice. Gabriella Anca Rallo — founder of Donnafugata, with her husband Giacomo — captures the image and embeds it into the sky from “Arabian Nights”, full of stars and full of promise. A tribute to the passionate masterpiece of oriental literature, capable of telling one thousand and one stories.
- Buy HERE
I’m excited to celebrate Italian Heritage Month with all of you and hope you’ll enjoy a bit of that Italian magic in your own kitchen, too. Whether you’re whipping up a Sunday gravy or indulging in a pizza night with friends and family, remember that food is more than just sustenance — it’s a way to connect with your heritage, your community, and the people you love.
So, here’s to Italy, to traditions that stand the test of time, and to the simple joys of great food. Buon appetito!
