When it comes to Italian food, most of us think about pizza, pasta and tiramisu – each of which comes in many different varieties and is absolutely delicious, especially when it is freshly made!
However, Italians, and those of you who have had the good fortune to live in Italy, will tell you that there is so much more to Italian food. Indeed, the range and variety of good traditional dishes is quite extraordinary – especially when each dish has its own distinct flavor as you move from one region of the country to another. Recipes are tweaked, new ingredients are added, and before you know it, you have yet another unique dish to add to Italy's culinary repertoire!
In an attempt to capture the essence of Italian cooking, native Italian, Stefano D’Ambrosio, has launched an on-line Italian food shop, called Zia Lucia, that will deliver a small selection of freshly made Italian dishes to your door. He explains the philosophy behind his new company to knowitall.ch.
“I come from Gallipoli in Puglia (the heel of the Italian boot), so this is the obvious starting point from which to begin our culinary exploration of Italy. In the olden days in Italy, one of the aunties in each family would devote her life to helping bring up the kids and look after the whole family. She was typically a very gifted chef. At Zia Lucia, we have set out to deliver to our clients a selection of the very yummy recipes that our 92 year-old grand aunt, Zia Cici (Lucia), still makes today. They are mostly vegetable-based dishes that use fresh ingredients and require several steps and hours work to make. We have chosen to focus on a narrow range of dishes so as to preserve the craftsmanship of the process, which you could not find at your local supermarket or in most restaurants. These are Parmigiana di Melanzane, Gattò di patate and Sartù di riso.”
Recognising that many people do not have the time nor the patience to cook good quality, traditional food, and noticing that many of the authentic Italian restaurants in the region are also quite expensive, Zia Lucia has decided to offer its dishes in the most convenient form possible to its customers. Meals are provided in take-away single portions that can be warmed up in the microwave or oven, or freezed for a later date.
Sensitive to the environmental impact of their business, Zia Lucia provides all dishes in bio degradable, fully compostable containers – even including the sticker with their logo! In line with their healthy, green policy, vegetables are generally sourced from Switzerland, and none of the dishes contain monosodium glutamate, artificial flavors and colors, or hydrogenated fats. When it comes to the cheese, however, this is sourced from Italy – Galbanino is most frequently used, and their grana cheese is sourced from the Piedmont region whenever possible.
Vegetarian versions are available for all dishes, and vegan and gluten free versions can be provided for Zia Lucia’s bestseller, the parmigiana. In their quest for Italian regional excellence, Zia Lucia has also teamed up with Italian company, Lurisia, to offer clients drinks that they would not normally find in their local supermarket. Their Sorrento-sourced lemonade is definitely worth a try!
While the Zia Lucia website is still currently under development, dishes can only be ordered via email or telephone at the address below. The temporary images currently being used on the site certainly don’t give credit to the quality of the dishes being served, but it is worth taking a look at the site to get an idea of the recipes being used.
If you’re looking for a recommendation, then this one from Mona, a regular client of Zia Lucia, says it all,
“Until Zia Lucia was launched, it was very difficult to find freshly made, home made food that is to such a high quality. Since the launch, I have been ordering my lunch from Zia Lucia every day and sometimes when I have guests for dinner and I know I will not have time to cook, I order some extra portions and heat it that way too. One year ago I would never have dreamed of being able to do this in Geneva to such a high standard but the launch of this business has changed my life. The ingredients are fresh, the recipies are unique and the beauty is that they are also healthy. Zia Lucia has my vote for sure!”
To encourage more customers to try out their dishes, Zia Lucia are offering knowitall.ch clients a one-off 30% discount on their first order. Simply mention this article on the knowitall.ch website when you email or phone through your order, or place your booking via the form on their website.
Stefano D'Ambrosio
Zia Lucia Sàrl
www.zialucia.ch
076 50 60 753
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