With Valentine’s Day around the corner, many of us are picking out chocolate treats for our Valentines, families, children, and friends.  Instead of a big chocolate heart this year or an array of candies in a heart-shaped box, consider an Italian chocolate delicacy instead.  Sure to please the pickiest connoisseur, Mia Emilia’s Dark Chocolate with Balsamic Vinegar of Modena is a truly special gift for those who appreciate quality and tradition. The excellent, passionate balsamic vinegar makers at Acetaia Castelli in Reggio Emilia, Italy are well aware of the love that develops for their products after one taste.  A love...

While here in the States, New Year’s Day often marks the end of our holiday season, in Italy, the fun continues.  Especially for kids, Epiphany on January 6th is almost as exciting as Christmas itself.  Epiphany celebrates the day when the Wise Men came, following a star, to the manger to visit the Christ Child and bring Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  In Italy’s famous Presepe, nativity scenes, and the Renaissance paintings like the one featured here by Sandro Botticelli, we often see this moment beautifully depicted. Italians have added legend to the holy celebration in the form...

Every year the time seems to fly by faster, and here we are in December once again!  It’s Christmas time, and in Italy markets are opening, cities are lighting their trees, and the spirit of Christmas warms the chilled air. If you are still thinking through your Christmas list this year, we have put together a guide to help give you some ideas for the special people in your life.  Please enjoy, and we wish you all, Buon Natale!  Merry Christmas!  

Since cocoa was still quite expensive, but hazelnuts grew plentifully in the area, chocolate makers began to experiment with mixing the two.  To their delight, it was an exquisite combination!  Today, the combination of chocolate and hazelnuts has created a world-wide obsession.  Chocolate-hazelnut spread.  Chocolate-hazelnut gelato.  Chocolate bar with hazelnuts.  The products are endless, and beloved throughout the world.  Thank you, Torino!  The city of Torino (Turin) today is still famous for its chocolates and still home to some of the world’s finest chocolatiers.  Mia Emilia’s La Perla Chocolates come from a chocolatier in Torino who began his work out...