Alimento’s chocolate “salami”
The closest I’ll get to feeling like I’m visiting Italy for the price of a TTC token might be to step into Alimento Fine Food Emporium and stare dreamily at the 140+ Italian cheeses, olive oil that is likely more authentic than what I bought at the corner store, and over 50 varieties of high-end pastas imported from the motherland. Located on King St. West, Alimento is part Italian food mart and part restaurant, Bar Mozza. Want to fakey-fakey a homemade Italian meal? That’s what the pre-made mains are for. Just like nonna used to make; you can grab and go from a selection of carb-licious specials.
If biscotti and tiramisu are your only experiences with Italian desserts, make a beeline for the dessert case. Pastry chef Michelle Lee fills Alimento with a selection of flavours old (don’t mess with favourites) and new. Over 10 types of biscotti ($11/pound) include flavours like Cranberry Fig Almond and Cranberry Pistachio. Sweet, chewy almond amaretti cookies ($15/pound) are some of the old-school favourites, but Michelle has introduced some newer sweets, many available in perfect individual-sized portions.
A pine nut and honey tart ($4.00/slice) is dripping with sweetness, a steal for anyone who’s ever had sticker-shock when buying pine nuts. If you’re faking the dinner anyway, why not fake the dessert and introduce your guests to the Salame Di Cioccolato ($2.00/slice)? Yes, basically chocolate salami. But have no fear (or, sorry to disappoint), there’s no meat in this salami. It’s a chocolate-ganache-like dessert with biscuits and nuts formed into a log — hence the salami — and cut into thick slices.
With surprisingly low prices for house-made desserts, I start to think it’s more economical to purchase my desserts at Alimento rather than attempting to make them at home. Generous slices of cakes and tarts hover around $4.00 a slice and small tarts and desserts average $2-$3 apiece. Visiting Italy has never been so affordable.
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