around italy

A journey to stimulate the senses

Italians are rightly proud of their food. Travel throughout Italy and you will find that each and every region offers its own unique style of cuisine which differs from place to place and is reflected in the dishes served on the tables.

At Napolina, we search the country to source the best ingredients for our products. From Puglia in the South to Emilia-Romagna in the North, Napolina brings the crème of regional Italian cuisine to your table.

Take a journey with us and you'll soon be bursting with passion for Italian food.

 

Bologna

One of Italy’s most famous dishes, served the world over, is spaghetti bolognese, which is believed to originate from Bologna, the capital city of Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy.

Bolognese sauce – a thick, meat-based sauce – can be used to create many dishes, including lasagne, but is most often served with spaghetti or other long pasta such as tagliatelle.

It is known in Italy as ‘ragu alla Bolognese’ – simply meaning ‘sauce of Bologna’.

You can use Napolina’s delicious bolognese sauce as a rich base from which to create your own dishes. Add minced meat and serve it with Napolina tagliatelle or spaghetti.

Or team it with Napolina egg lasagne sheets to create another traditional dish.

 

Venice

The capital of Italyís northern Veneto region, Venice is renowned for its water ways, gondolas and historic architecture.

But, legend has it that this ancient city could also hold the key to Italyís national dish ñ pasta.

The much-debated story goes that, rather than being created in Italy, pasta was first introduced to the country when traveller Marco Polo returned to Venice from China in 1295.

Whatever the truth, pasta can now be found in every region of Italy. Unlike in the UK, it often forms an appetiser for a meat course and the traditional way to eat it is with a simple tomato sauce, flavoured with basil, peppers or chilli.

For a quick and easy way to recreate this classic Italian meal, simply stir one of Napolinaís pre-prepared sauces into piping hot pasta and sprinkle with cheese.

 

Naples

Naples, the capital of the Campania region, is the home of Napolina. When Naples businessman Marino Iandiorio bought his first tomato vines over 40 years ago, he was so passionate about the quality of his produce that he formed the Napolina brand ñ which literally translated means ëLittle Naplesí.

According to the Italians Naples is also the birthplace of the pizza, one of the most famous Italian dishes enjoyed the world over. Legend has it that this famous dish was first created in the 18th century, and was originally a way for food to be eaten without utensils complete with an edible ëplateí.

One of the most famous pizza varieties, the ëMargheritaí, is simply made using mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and fresh basil leaves. It was created in honour of Queen Margherita Teresa Giovanni, the consort of the King of Italy, when she visited Naples. The red, white and green of the ingredients were chosen to reflect the colours of Italyís flag.

Pizza in Italy is always made on a thin crust and Napolinaís pizzeria range includes full-size and mini thin crust pizza bases that give you a quick and easy way to create your own Italian pizza. Pour on a jar of Napolina tomato and herb topping and then get creative.

Another dish popular in Naples is Pasta Puttanesca. It is simply a spicy sauce of tomatoes, herbs, onions, garlic, capers, olives and anchovies.

 

Puglia

Puglia, situated in the ëheelí of Italyís ëbootí, captures all that is wonderful about Mediterranean cuisine. From sun-ripened olives to juicy, rich tomatoes, local produce always features heavily on the culinary menu.

Little wonder then that the sun-drenched slopes of Southern Italy are where Napolinaís famous tomatoes are grown. Whether they are canned, sieved or crushed to create delicious passata and rustica sauces, Napolinaís tomato products use only the finest tomatoes, picked at the peak of perfection.

Italyís tomatoes are reputed to be amongst the best in the world thanks to the perfect climate and years of experience in growing and exporting tomatoes. Napolina harnesses this quality to give all your dishes not only authenticity but also superior taste.