The Italian chef, restaurateur, TV personality, and founder of Giadzy —a marketplace for elevated Italian ingredients—brings a taste of la dolce vita to our latest pop-up dedicated to the fine art of entertaining.
Our curator on the importance of authentic ingredients, holiday memories at Bloomingdale’s, and her top picks from Giadzy.
Q: How did you choose the products featured in the shop?
A: I was inspired to share all the authentic Italian ingredients I grew up on and introduce people to the small purveyors that make them—they are the heart and soul of Italian culture. I’m excited to bring the flavors of Italy to everyone’s dinner table!
GIADZY Dolci Delight kit, Choose Your Own Pasta Adventure kit
Tell us about the Giadzy gift boxes you created exclusively for the shop.
Everything from the tomatoes to the oils, pasta, and truffles are made by small, often family-owned farms that have been making them for generations. It’s so hard to pick a favorite kit, but if I had to, it would be the Choose Your Own Pasta Adventure kit—a mix of my favorite pasta shapes from Naples, the most incredible tomatoes in the world (pomodorini from Corbara), along with my favorite herbs and spices you can transform into various recipes. Oh—and the Dolci Delight kit! I can’t live without sweets, and the truffles and choco-late hazelnut spread are divine.
Q: Why were you excited to collaborate with Bloomingdale’s?
A: I grew up shopping at Bloomingdale’s with my mom and I always loved looking at the holiday window displays. It’s an iconic store, and I’m so thrilled to team up for this unbelievable colla-boration. It’s a dream come true!
ENTERTAINING ESSENTIALS FROM NESPRESSO
The perfect ending (or beginning!) to every holiday meal: café-worthy coffee and espresso. In NYC? Stop by the Nespresso Café at Bloomingdale’s 59th Street to shop all your favorite products and refuel with complimentary tastings on weekends.
FOR YOUR
“The secret to a great party is to always make sure there are plenty of snacks to nibble on in different areas. I also like to have something cooking when guests arrive so the house smells good. Ambiance is also key—light some candles and create a fabulous playlist.”
FOR YOUR
“My family always does the Feast of the Seven Fishes, which is a seafood-abundant meal that many Italians eat on Christmas Eve. Every family has their own take on the meal and not everyone makes seven different types of seafood dishes. I personally love to make just a few: a shrimp and sausage cioppino, my creamy crab cannelloni, and my tangerine and herb branzino.”
FOR YOUR
“I love to keep it classic with a fun holiday twist, which is why my holiday negroni is one of my favorite drinks to make for holiday gatherings. I add anise liquor for a combination of bitter, sweet, and spicy flavors—perfect for sipping by a fire!”
FOR YOUR
“I come from a big Italian family, so we always have large gatherings around the holidays. One of my favorite memories when I was a kid was the pizza parties my grandfather used to throw around Christmastime. Everyone would roll out their own dough and top their mini pizza. It was always such a fun time and one of the reasons why I had to include a pizza party kit as part of the collaboration!”
“Around the holidays, I always try to give something a little unexpected. This year, I’ll be gifting herb salt from my friend Dario the butcher in Chianti. He first sent me a giant jar after visiting him this past summer, and it is the best salt I’ve ever had—it transforms every dish, from meats to salads, into something remarkable. He sent me a bunch to share via Giadzy!”