Gourmet Italian dishes are in high demand. In 2007, a Harris poll revealed that when Americans eat out, 22 percent prefer Italian food. Whether your food business is strictly Italian based or simply features a few tasty Italian specialty foods, you, too, can cash in on America's love of Mediterranean dishes.

Depending on your business needs, you may either create Italian gourmet from scratch or purchase it already prepared and ready to serve to your customers. Main dishes are one area of focus, while gourmet Italian desserts are something of a speciality. Take a moment to consider Italian specialty and gourmet foods basics:

1. Find excellent gourmet Italian dishes to prepare in your commercial kitchen.

2. Discover Italian specialty stores that will provide prepared Italian foods for your customers.

3. Locate recipes and sources for Italian specialties, like desserts.

Action Steps
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Research Italian gourmet food recipes

Italian food is often quick and easy to prepare, but a good recipe--and fresh ingredients--are key to making your Italian dishes stand out from the crowd. Look for familiar and popular Italian foods, as well as those that will stretch your customers' understanding and appreciation of Italian dishes.

I recommend: For lots of great traditional Italian recipes, see The Gutsy Gourmet. For recipes based on traditional Italian dishes, but with new twists, visit New Italian Recipes.

Purchase prepared food from Italian food companies

If Italian foods seems too far beyond your area of expertise, seek out Italian food manufacturers who can provide you with prepared items. You may also find that in order to prepare authentic dishes, you require specialty Italian food imports.

I recommend: All Things Sicilian offers gourmet Italian food wholesale, including oils, salts, pasta and sauces. Salumeria Italiana also carries a selection of Italian gourmet foods, such as rice, polenta, cheese and cured meats.

Make or buy gourmet Italian desserts

Italian desserts are considered a specialty by many. Whether your want to try your hand at making them from scratch or you prefer to buy them already prepared, consider offering your customers such treats as cannoli, biscotti, and Italian cakes and cookies.

I recommend: For a fine selection of Italian gourmet dessert recipes, visit Epicurious. For prepared wholesale Italian specialties like biscotti, cannoli and cakes, visit Bela Palermo Pastry Shop.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When planning an authentic Italian gourmet menu, remember to keep things balanced. In Italy, each meal is a good balance between carbohydrates (often from bread and pasta) and protein (from meat and poultry), with plenty of vitamins and minerals (from vegetables and fruit).

Online Italian specialty stores stock everything you need to throw the best parties, send the best corporate gifts or stock your business shelves. Italian specialty foods include gourmet Italian dishes, gourmet Italian desserts, Italian sausages and other gourmet Italian food.

Italian gourmet food is the perfect choice when you want to get your business noticed. Just send a gift basket of pastas and secret Italian sauces. Or select truffles, fine Italian wine or spices for a corporate gift that stands out.

You can also do all your stocking with online Italian food imports from distributors. Choose from distributors from around the country that will ensure you always have the highest quality products on your shelves. To find the best Italian foods:

1. Choose Italian food importers to stock your shelves with the very best.

2. Buy Italian specialty and gourmet foods to get noticed when sending corporate gifts.

3. Throw the perfect office party with Italian specialty foods.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose Italian food importers that will help you stock your shelves with all the best gourmet foods

Buy pasta, olive oil, tomatoes, sauces and other Italian specialty foods from distributors located throughout the United States. These Italian gourmet choices will help your business be a step ahead of the competition. Choose from fine Italian brands such as Cento, Ferrara, Bellino and other others.

I recommend: For distributors and easy online shopping for Italian gourmet foods, go to Bellissimo Foods and Fine Products International.

Buy Italian specialty and gourmet foods for the perfect corporate gifts

Show your class by sending the very best Italian specialty and gourmet foods as corporate gifts. Choose from Italian wines, gourmet Italian dishes, gourmet Italian desserts and even truffles. Exquisite, these Italian gifts will ensure your business associates remember you next time.

I recommend: For exquisite gift baskets, choose scrumptious Italian specialties from Dean & Deluca or Zingerman's.

Add Italian specialty foods to your corporate party plans

When you want to throw the best office party, choose Italian specialty foods. Make it easy by buying these from online Italian specialty stores. Choose from Italian sausages that are all natural and low in fat. Add pasta sauces and other delicious Italian food for a perfect Italian feast at the office or for an elegant party at your home for all your top employees.

I recommend: Choose from exquisite sausages at Isernio and other gourmet foods at Italian Foods Corporation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When ordering gourmet Italian food for your store, compare prices to ensure you get the highest margin return.
• •  Ensure that the Italian specialty foods show up in good condition. Check on delivery dates when you order Italian gift baskets online.

Italian specialty foods include a wide array of products from cakes and cookies to wines and sauces imported from Italy. Some Italian specialty and gourmet food stores even make fresh food daily using recipes from mother country.

Italian specialty and gourmet foods education and training will come in handy as you interact with customers and share with them your knowledge base of the products. That knowledge base will serve as the extra touch of customer service that helps make your business successful.

Before you open the door to your Italian specialty food store, make sure that you define the products you'll be selling. Rather than selling every item under the sun, it's best to start with a focused approach and branch to more products as your customers make more and more requests. Here are some pointers to aid with your education and training for your Italian specialty and gourmet foods store.

1. Find Italian gourmet food distributors that offer product training classes and product marketing ideas.

2. Learn how to make regionalized gourmet Italian dishes.

3. Get in touch with Italian specialty stores that offer franchise opportunities.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate Italian gourmet food distributors that specialize in training classes

Familiarizing yourself with Italian specialties will allow you to stay one step ahead of the competition. Such training classes will discuss the finest Italian food companies such as Genesio, Mariella, Felecio and more. Furthermore, training oneself on how to market your Italian food imports on the floor of the store is imperative.

I recommend: Rolling up your sleeves and experiencing such hands-on training will be invaluable during the course of operating your business. For places that offer such training, check out Maxco International or Gourmet Retailer.

Take a class in regionalized gourmet Italian dishes

Operating a hot and cold food service counter is a great way to get people patronizing your Italian gourmet and specialty foods shop. It gives people a reason to stop in your shop for a quick lunch or dinner and be introduced to all of the wonderful products that the store is selling. Even if you are not the day-to-day chef, having an understanding of the regionalized gourmet Italian dishes that are being sold at your hot and cold food service counter is a plus. Not to mention, the store will smell wonderful.

I recommend: It's imperative to really take the time to understand the subtle differences in the regional cuisine. Depending on the region, influences from Greece, France, Switzerland and more can be found within the greater context of Italian cuisine. For more information on classes in regionalized Italian cooking, check out the Italian Culinary Academy or Cucina Casalinga.

Find a franchise that aids you in opening your Italian specialty foods store

In today's business world the name of a company can be completely invaluable. Name recognition will bring customers through the door because they have grown comfortable with a certain brand. Seek out companies which offer franchise opportunities for your Italian specialty store. Once you've aligned with a certain product brand for your store, they will give you an education and training seminar in their product. Also, if you open a hot and cold food counter, you can sell their products already prepared to your consumers making it a win-win for both your suppliers and yourself.

I recommend: Seeking out franchise opportunities that not only offer training, but will consider partnering with other companies. For instance, you can have part of your store which is franchised with a pasta company and another piece which is partnered with a gelato company. This provides you two brand names to bring customers into the door. Check out Villa Pizza and Rita's Ice for more information on great franchise opportunities that also offer education and training in their products.

Go the source for Italian specialty foods -- take a trip to Italy

A food tour of Italy or a visit to an Italian food fair is educational, delicious and good for business, though possibly fattening.

I recommend: MIA is the big annual trade fair for Italian gourmet and specialty food product vendors. Delicious Italy suggests many ways to eat your way through Italy.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take a trip to Italy every so often so you can meet some of the suppliers of your gourmet Italian food. Not only will it help cement business relationships, but you'll have a wonderful vacation.

The popularity of Italian specialty and gourmet foods has been riding high in the United States for decades now. American restaurateurs compete to produce the most authentic and creative Italian-inspired dishes. Luckily, the Internet is a great source of information and recipes on Italian gourmet foods. You just need to acquaint yourself with some of the ingredients most commonly used to prepare those dishes. Here's an overview of key terms related to Italian gourmet foods that can get you started:

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Arborio rice

Arborio rice is the principal ingredient in the Italian dish, risotto.

I recommend: Season by Season explains how arborio rice differs in color, shape and appearance from other rice. You'll also find out how arborio rice is able to give Italian risotto its starchy, creamy consistency.

Balsamic vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is an aged, sweet vinegar that comes chiefly from the Modena region of Italy.

I recommend: To understand how balsamic vinegar gets its sweetness, check out What's Cooking America. Find out how to tell a superior balsamic vinegar from a lesser product and how an authentic balsamic vinegar is made.

Espresso

Espresso is the name for the Italian method of brewing coffee.

I recommend: Find out what espresso is and is not by reading a piece by Espresso People. You'll learn a short history of espresso, how it got its name and details about the correct brewing method for Italy's special coffee.

Biscotti

The word biscotti has slightly different meanings as used by Italians and Americans. Italians use the term to refer to all cookies. Americans use the term to refer to Italian cookies made by cutting individual slices from a log of already baked cookie dough and then baking these slices again.

I recommend: Joy of Baking briefly discusses the origin of Biscotti and how the term is used in different countries.

Polenta

Polenta refers to the Italian dish made by cooking corn meal and water to a thick consistency.

I recommend: If you're looking for a quick description of the cooking method for polenta, check out San Gennaro Foods. You'll also learn about some popular serving suggestions for polenta.

Pesto

Pesto is the Italian pasta sauce produced by pureeing nuts, oil, herbs and cheese.

I recommend: The discussion of pesto at Reluctant Gourmet gives the origin of the sauce, some popular versions of pesto and suggestions for using it on foods other than pasta.