All the stars find their way into Salumeria Italiana. Yesterday it was Guy Fieri of Food Network's "Guy's Big Bite," who came in to browse the store. He was hard to miss with his bleached blond locks and booming voice. After checking out the olive oils, pastas, vinegars, and cheeses, Fieri talked tomatoes with our chef Raymond Gillespie. Then he picked out a couple of San Marzano tomato seedlings to take back to California. Let us know how they do, Guy!!

GRANA DI BUFALA -- A NEW TASTE YOU'LL LOVE

Now is always the right time to try something new. If you're a fan of our aged Parmigiano-Reggiano DOP (and there are legions of you), taste our newest treat -- Sovrano Grana di Bufala. This cheese containing 20 percent buffalo milk is slightly milder than aged Parmigiano, making it a good choice to accompany stronger cheeses on an antipasto platter. Here's an idea for a fantastic ending to a late-spring party: Drizzle a few drops of our exclusive Rubio balsamic over thin wedges of Grana di Bufala and accompany the cheese with a few strawberries or the first cherries of the season. 

We know you'll love the combination, and to sweeten the deal, right now we'll give you a free Rubio Nip for each pound of Sovrano Bufala Grana you buy. Each Nip contains about 1 1/2 teaspoons, or 8 ml, of Rubio, enough for eight or so wedges of cheese. 

Of course, you don't have to stop there. Grana di Bufala's texture is similar to Parmigiano, making it perfect to grate for pasta sauces, risottos, soups, and almost any other Italian dish. Shave it over a salad of arugula, the summer's first small lettuces, and radishes, or over a Caesar salad. You'll marvel at how the cheese makes the flavors pop. 

Special savings on Rubio

Summer parties, backyard barbecues, and lazy days are on the horizon. To encourage all sorts of get-togethers, Italian-style,  owner Gaetano Martignetti has reduced the price of Rubio, our exclusive and beloved balsamic vinegar from Modena. Check it out and stock up!!!

Stay tuned for new items and to hear what we're up to at Salumeria Italiana.