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Pickled Vegetables and Specialty Items 101— Pick an ingredient to explore
Artichokes
Artichokes are a variety of a species of thistle cultivated as a food. The edible portion of the plant consists of the flower buds before the flowers come into bloom. Our artichokes are hand-trimmed and picked to maintain a uniform shape. Both our grilled and marinated artichoke hearts make for great additions to your pizza and salads!
COLOR
Pale green
FLAVOR & TEXTURE
Bold, savory flavor
Tender & juicy
USAGE
Snacking, salads, sandwiches, pasta, pizza, dips and antipasti platters
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Hand-picked, blanched, and trimmed.
Marinated: Marinated with herbs and a dash of oil.
Grilled: Hand-grilled over an open flame, packed in sunflower oil, sea salt, vinegar & spices.
Capers
Did you know that capers are actually the unripened flower buds of the Caper bush? The perennial bush is native to the Mediterranean, and is found growing wild in rocky crags and coastal cliffs. Mezzetta capers are hand picked as soon as they reach the desired size.
COLOR
Dark green
FLAVOR & TEXTURE
Piquant, slightly tangy flavor
Tender texture
USAGE
Mediterranean dishes, especially veal, fish and chicken.
Add chopped Capers to sauces or dressings.
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Picked from dessert shrubs by hand, sized and fermented in a salt brine.
Cherries
The Maraschino name originates from the Marasca cherry from Croatia and the Maraschino liqueur made from it. Today, Maraschino cherries are an ingredient in many cocktails, giving them the nickname "cocktail cherries."
COLOR
Bright, vibrant red
FLAVOR & TEXTURE
Sweet, vibrant flavor
USAGE
Cocktails, glazed ham, baked goods, on top of ice cream, fruit salad
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Harvested at the peak of freshness and treated with a proprietary process to achieve the ideal flavor and color. Our Maraschino cherries contain no artificial colors or flavors.
Pearl Onions
The pearl onion is a close relative of the leek and is more tender than the common onion. With its uniquely small size and sweet taste, the pearl onion makes for a great cocktail garnish.
COLOR
Pearly white
FLAVOR & TEXTURE
Crisp, tangy & tender
USAGE
Cocktails, antipasti platters, meatballs, stews
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Peeled, sized, and cured in a vinegar brine.
Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes
Mezzetta Sun-Ripened Dried Tomatoes are made using farm-fresh California tomatoes, grown near our Napa Valley facility.
COLOR
Dark red
FLAVOR & TEXTURE
Deep, rich flavor and soft, velvety texture
USAGE
Appetizers, pasta salads, sandwiches, pizza and pasta
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Farm-fresh California ripe tomatoes are oven dried then packed with fresh herbs and olive oil. We oven dry our tomatoes instead of sun dried to minimize exposure to the elements.
Giardiniera (Cauliflower, Carrots, Celery, Red Bell Peppers)
Giardiniera is an Italian relish of pickled vegetables in vinegar or sometimes oil. Giardiniera adds punch to sandwiches, sausages and hot dogs, as well as eggs and pizza. And you can’t talk about Giardiniera without a shout out to Chicago-Style Giardiniera and its popular use as a topping for Italian beef sandwiches
COLOR
Variety of fresh colors (white, orange, red, light green)
FLAVOR & TEXTURE
Hot or mild flavor and crisp texture
USAGE
Snacking, as a condiment, Italian beef sandwiches, deli sandwiches, antipasto platters, salads
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Our cauliflower is picked on local family farms at the peak of ripeness and then processed in our Napa Valley facility within 24 hours to retain flavor and crunch. We pickle them with carrots, celery and bell peppers.