The Best of Sicily – Il meglio della Sicilia (w/Boxes)

“Il meglio della Sicilia” is a mix for typical regional meals with pasta, toppings, and dry pastry, at the best value for money.

The pack includes:

• Pasta, made by the Fontanazza farm with only 100% Sicilian durum wheat (Timilia or Tumminia), with a brown color and a distinctly typical Mediterranean taste, perfect to embrace any sauce, enhancing each dish in a divine way; typical from Trapani, “Busiate” have particular spiral shape; “Paccheri” have the characteristic shape of large macaroni; “Cavati” is a rare type of handmade pasta, also referred to as “Cavati col buso” (the “buso” is a steel stick that allows you to make perforated pasta)
• Fennel pesto by Nasonte, unique pesto of its kind that recalls the notes of anise, with a strong and intense taste. Made mainly with 75% wild fennel tips, sun-dried tomato with natural method without sulphites, almonds, EVO oil, ground black pepper, white divine vinegar and salt, ideal for seasoning first courses, main courses and side dishes and making delicious snacks.
• Wild fennel sauce, by Nasonte. A ready-made Sicilian sauce based on wild fennel and tomato, ideal for first courses
• Capperina, by Nasonte, is a ready-made sauce of Sicily sun-dried Sicilian tomato, capers, toasted almonds, Evo, slightly spicy with the addition of basil and garlic. Excellent when paired with appetizers, bruschetta, first courses and side dishes.
• Pesto alla Trapanese, by Nasonte, is a ready-made sauce of Trapani tradition, mainly prepared with fresh tomatoes and toasted almonds, Evo oil. Slightly spicy, it is capable of making any pasta dish special, better in combination with busiate, and also delicious to taste on bruschetta.
• Sundried tomato pesto, by Nasonte; this ready-made sauce of Sicilian tradition, prepared with sun-dried tomatoes, is able to make any pasta dish special, better in combination with paccheri; it is also delicious on bruschetta or, alternatively, on boiled or steamed fish
• Radicchio Pesto, by Nasonte. A radicchio-based preparation, perfect to eat as an accompaniment to pasta or to spread as a cream on croutons.
• “Olio Vardaro”, the green gold of Sicily, is a Sicilian superior category EVO oil, from the milling of 100% Sicilian olives, within 12 hours of harvesting; obtained with mechanical procedures and cold processing, it is a limited production using only 100% organic olives from their own olive grove; its unique sweet and round flavor, almost nutty, makes it particularly suitable for salads, soups and roast meats.
• Assorted almond pastries, by Pasticceria Bilardo, artisans of taste from Caltanissetta. A mix of Sicilian almond pastries, including “Croccantini” (crunchies), Classical pastries, Pistachio pastries and Sicilian Lemon pastries. 
• Dragees misti, by Tentazioni e Sapori, are almonds covered with artisan chocolate
• “Croccante alle Mandorle” by Tentazioni e Sapori are truly one of a kind. Made with more than 60% of Sicilian dried fruit and sugar, without flavorings, without dyes, their 100% natural flavor will conquer every palate.
• Caltanissetta Nougat is a confectionery product typical of the city of Caltanissetta, where almonds are habitually cultivated. For more than a century, Caltanissetta has been considered a place of production of nougat. It is packaged in practical single portions of 40g (approximately)
• Martorana fruit is a Sicilian dessert, prepared with almond paste, finely modeled and colored in order to perfectly imitate fruits and vegetables on a small scale, considered a work of art of pastry. It is packaged in a practical wooden box.

• This pack will be delivered with a small tin box and a large wooden box, both with traditional Sicilian decorations

HEALTH BENEFITS

• Pasta: made from Timilia or Tumminia durum wheat flour, a particular type of wheat known for its organoleptic properties. Rich in vitamin B and mineral salts, it protects the integrity of the cardiovascular system. It is a wholemeal flour that contains many trace elements of wheat germ and bran; it has a high protein value and a low gluten index.
• Pesto alla Trapanese: This preparation is ideal for seasoning pasta, giving life to exceptional dishes, with great flavor and a very intense scent, with all the nutritional benefits associated with its ingredients. Garlic is, in fact, the most powerful natural antibiotic; almonds are an invaluable source of vitamin E, unsaturated fats and fibers, which make them ideal for those who practice sports. The presence of tomatoes is also important as they are rich in lycopene, useful for preserving the health of the skin and sight.

• Capperina: This preparation is ideal for dressing pasta, giving life to unique dishes with a Mediterranean scent and a strong taste, including all the nutritional benefits associated with its main ingredients: tomato and capers. Tomato, in fact, is rich in lycopene useful for preserving the health of the skin and sight. Capers are a source of antioxidants: quercetin has antibacterial, antitumor, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, while rutin strengthens capillaries and inhibits the formation of platelet aggregates, thus promoting good circulation in the smallest blood vessels.

• Wild fennel pesto and wild fennel sauce: Fennel is used in cooking as an aromatic herb, but it also has numerous phytotherapeutic, purifying and digestive properties. It helps fight stomach pain and colitis. Thanks to its expectorant properties it favors the elimination of phlegm. It also enhances breast milk in breastfeeding mothers.

• Dried tomato pesto: This preparation is ideal for seasoning pasta, giving life to exceptional dishes, with great flavor and a very intense scent, with all the nutritional benefits associated with its ingredients. Tomato is, in fact, rich in lycopene, useful for preserving the health of the skin and sight.

• “Olio Vardaro”: High in healthy monounsaturated fats – These fats – oleic acid – come with a variety of health benefits such as reducing inflammation and reducing the risk of heart disease. Rich in antioxidants – The Polyphenols are one of the natural antioxidants found in olive oil. They work by clearing out arteries and improving your overall cardiovascular health. Thus, they can improve your heart’s health and lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Anti-inflammatory properties – Another antioxidant found in EVO oil is oleocanthal, which is an anti-inflammatory that reduces pain. It mimics the properties of ibuprofen or other pain relievers in alleviating discomfort. Antibacterial – The polyphenols found in olive oil have shown to be effective in preventing and delaying the growth of harmful bacteria. For better skin – Another beneficial antioxidant found in olive oil is hydroxytyrosol, which can prevent aging and helps your skin to glow. Olive oil can also help heal abrasions faster as well as delay and reduce skin cancers caused by UV rays. For reducing cancer risk – The oleocanthal found in olive oil can increase the destruction rate of cancer cells. For preventing type 2 diabetes – Another important benefit of olive oil is regulating your blood sugar and insulin levels. Studies have shown that people who have diets that include olive oil, such as the Mediterranean diet, have a decreased risk of developing diabetes, compared to those who have other types of diet. For preventing strokes – Strokes are caused by an abrupt interruption of constant blood flow to the brain provoked by a clot or other kind of bleeding. Studies have shown that olive oil was the only source of monounsaturated fats that is associated with a decreased risk of stroke. For rheumatoid arthritis – Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties and an ability to reduce oxidative stress, olive oil can also help to alleviate rheumatoid arthritis. And when olive oil is combined with fish oil, their anti-inflammatory properties are even more powerful.
• Almond croccantini & pastries are all made with almond and other dried fruit (pistachio or hazelnut). Hazelnuts contain many vitamins (A, B1, B2 and E) and many other precious substances which, however, are lost during roasting. More than 90% of their fat is made up of fatty acids, oleic and linoleic, which protect tissues from aging and prevent atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Among all nuts, almonds are the ones that contain the least unsaturated fats: about 52 grams per hectogram. In addition, they are among the richest in potassium, calcium and phosphorus, which have an important function in the bones. Furthermore, almonds have significant protein levels: about 20 grams per hectogram. Pistachio is a source of vitamin E, an effective antioxidant against free radicals and, therefore, is an elixir against aging. In addition, almost 90% of its fats are mono and polyunsaturated (“good” fats). Pistachios also help fight high blood pressure and improve biological responses to stress.
• Caltanissetta nougat: in addition to the benefits of the almonds, it contains honey, rich in nutritional components with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, decongestant effects and a concentrate of polyphenols and essential oils that, combined with the well-known emollient effect of the food, make honey a good  treatment for pharyngitis.

CERTIFICATES & VALUE

TASTING

• “Busiate” pasta: its winning combination is certainly with pesto alla trapanese. Alternatively, it is possible to enjoy them with prawns and pistachio or swordfish and aubergines; zucchini pesto is also an interesting choice.
• Paccheri and Cavati are very versatile. Paccheri are ideal for the preparation of first courses: they can be prepared with dried tomatoes, au gratin with meat sauce, stuffed or alternatively with seafood; Cavati go very well with pestos.

• Pesto alla trapanese goes perfectly with busiate. It can also be used to prepare delicious bruschetta.

• Capperina goes perfectly with busiate. Alternatively, it can be used to prepare delicious bruschetta, first courses and side dishes.

• Wild fennel pesto goes perfectly with pasta as a condiment. It can also be used to accompany meats and works best if served with fish (swordfish, tuna, cod, etc.). Sublime when spread on bread.

• Dried tomato pesto goes perfectly with paccheri. Alternatively, it can be used to prepare delicious bruschetta, to dress succulent salads or to add flavor to boiled or steamed fish.

• Sicilian wild fennel sauce can be used to accompany fish and meat. It also beautifully seasons an excellent grilled fillet.
• “Olio Vardaro” is recommended on salads, soups and roasted meats. It is also excellent on bread as single starter or for pinzimonio.  Ideal for seasoning bruschetta  or Sicilian pastas like Busiate con Pesto alla Trapanese
• Almond croccantini & pastries, Martorana fruit and Caltanissetta nougat: apart from being an ideal dessert, they can be paired with an excellent Sicilian dessert wine such as Moscato or Passito.

STORAGE

• Pastas: once the package has been opened, it can be closed with a clothes peg and stored in the pantry.
• Pestos and toppings: after opening the package, keep it in the fridge and use it within 3 days.
• EVO Oil: keep the olive oil in its bottle, far away from heat sources at a temperature of 15 / 20 C°. Make sure the bottle is not left half empty
• All types of dry pastries: once the package has been opened, it can be closed with a clothes peg and stored in the pantry.

PRODUCER

Delicious Sicily

About

Authentic 100% Sicilian products

Authentic Sicilian products selected by our local food & wine expert, Liria Zaffuto

Delicious Sicily's assorted packages are all made in Sicily. Their processing faithfully reproduces the Mediterranean tradition. Through the use of a few genuine and also 100% Sicilian ingredients, freshness and quality are guaranteed. All products are tested in the kitchen by Sicilian gastronomic experts. These are authentic food products with a short supply chain.

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This pack is the result of  a careful selection and research process. Among the Sicilian specialties included in this pack, the following companies from the territory of Caltanissetta (central Sicily) were selected.

• Fontanazza for its pasta, made from Sicilian wheat flour (tumminia or timilia) which gives the pasta a truly unique flavor and color.
• Nasonte for its pestos and toppings, that reminds us of the simplicity of the past. Made with few and healthy ingredients, their flavors faithfully reflects the tradition and goodness of a homemade product.
• Vardaro for its unique local production of EVO oils made according to Sicilian tradition with their own olives.
• Pasticceria Bilardo for their croccante and almond, pistachio or lemon pastries, which are handcrafted, delicate and precious in their shape and presentation.
• Tentazioni e Sapori for their unique nougats, Martoran fruit and other pastries made according to Sicilian tradition