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10/23/2001 Archived Entry: "More New Links: Mail Order Italian Foods"

Here are two more links that eventually will become permanently available on the “Links” section of this website. They are both invaluable sources for Italian foods by mail. Arthur Avenue Specialties provides locally made artisinal products. Esperya provides artisinal products made in Italy. Enjoy!

ARTHUR AVENUE SPECIALTIES
www.arthuravespecialties.com

Arthur Avenue has long been a Mecca for great Italian products. If you can’t make it to Arthur Avenue but still want the taste, you can now buy many of the foods from home via the internet. Log on to this website for, for instance, great homemade mozzarella delivered to your door the day after it was made, well-made fresh egg pasta, cured meats such as dried sausages and fabulously funky pancetta with or without hot pepper, hard-to-find fresh meats such as baby lamb and goat, and much more. This service is reliable and professional. Prices are reasonable. Shipping is fast.


ESPERYA
www.esperya.com

Esperya, which is an ancient Greek word for "west," as in the islands called the Hesperdes, and a name the Greeks called Italy, which was to Greece's west," bills itself as the “Italian food experience.” I find this website invaluable, as it features a wide range of artisanal (hand-made) products that are difficult, if not impossible to find in stores in the United States. I mean, where else would I get organic extra-virgin olive oil from Cilento, south of Naples in the province of Salerno. Now that’s esoteric. It is well-organized by type of product and subcategorized by region. You can even use a search engine to check if they a carry specific product. Products range from the aforementioned rare olive oils (many, and from different regions) through raw milk cheeses, pastas from family-run factories with antique equipment, tempting honeys, preserves, candies, and cookies. Prices are high, but then these products are rare. Delivery is fast and every item comes beautifully packaged and with a card describing it. Great for gift-giving.