As much as I loved every part of Boston, there was one particular neighborhood in the city that I knew I couldn’t rest until I was in the heart of it: The North End. It’s Boston’s Little Italy, a mecca for Italian restaurants and cafes. The size of it took my breath away. It would take days to see each and every restaurant and shop. I love getting the chance to totally immerse myself in a European-American environment. My mind, heart, and taste buds drift to a place of pleasant idleness. I like to refer to it as my “Dolce far niente” state, which literally means the sweetness of doing nothing. Sheer indulgence. It’s my favorite feeling in the world. We wandered the windy streets, strolling in and out of cafes and specialty food stores. Thanks to a friend of mine in Cleveland who lives, breathes, and bleeds Italian, I was directed to this little Italian grocery store called, Salumeria Italiana.
I could’ve spent hours in there. As soon as I stepped foot in the quaint store, I instantly felt like I was in Italy. I made a beeline for the fresh olives, meats, and cheeses that were screaming my name. Just by looking at the mozzarella, I could tell how soft the texture was going to be. I couldn’t pass it up. Their mozzarela di bufala is imported straight from Italy. Every time I took a bite of it, I felt as if I was there. This is what it’s all about. That’s when I know I’m eating good food.
Indulge....
Salumeria is widely known for their cured meats and cheeses, but it’s their exclusive brand of aged balsamic vinegar, Rubio, that makes their customers go crazy. It’s made just for them by an artisanal producer in Modena, Italy. The friend to whom I owe this visit, shared her love for this same balsamic vinegar in her recent blog post, which I read a week before going to Boston.
I was thrilled when she realized I was going to be within minutes of the only store in the US that it’s sold in. Lucky lucky me! I purchased two bottles and carried them all the way back to Ohio like a mother would carry her newborn. She said it’s just that good.
And PS- Salumeria Italiana ships all of their meats, cheeses, and oils! And get this… because freshness is so crucial to them, they only ship their products on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday because they don’t want your packages sitting in the UPS warehouse over the weekend!! That alone tells you how much they value their food. So readers, go ahead and indulge a little by sending yourself or someone special a fresh delicacy from Salumeria. Everyone deserves a little “Dolce Far Niente”…
Salumeria Italiana
151 Richmond Street
Boston, MA
(617) 523-8743
www.salumeriaitaliana.com
