That Marcel Proust guy was on to something - taste has the power to conjure up very powerful memories. A bite of a sweet madeleine was the catalyst for Proust's vivid recollection of his childhood in Remembrance of Things Past. For me, a perfectly prepared paella transports me back to sunny Spain. Living in NYC, I have the luxury of being able to dine at restaurants that serve virtually every cuisine on the planet but sometimes you want to cut out the middleman and just nosh at home. Here are a few websites that will deliver your favorite regional goodies to your door. Bon appetit!
La Tienda sells everything you need to make an authentic paella right at home. Pans, rice, saffron, and peppers from Spain are all available at this popular site. They even ship a frozen paella! An impressive selection of chorizo, jamon serrano, turron candy, bath products, ceramics and more make La Tienda THE ultimate source for the best of Spain.
Foodies go crazy for truffles and for good
reason. A few slivers of this aromatic tuber take everyday foods like eggs and pasta from boring to sublime. Based in Umbria (Italy), Sabatino Tartufi has been in business for more than 100 years. Visit their website to order their highly coveted fresh black and white truffles in addition to truffle infused oils, salts and creams. Preserved and frozen truffles are also available.
While you can get a good crab cake in many places, Maryland has mastered the art of making a GREAT crab cake. If you're craving the Chesapeake's tasty crustaceans but can't make it to Maryland, just take a virtual visit to The Crab Place. Shipping Maryland seafood from the dock to your door, The Crab Place is a purveyor of crab cakes, King Crab legs, handpicked crab meat, and everything you need to host your own crabfest. They also sell lobster, shrimp, and seasonings.
And, if Proust has inspired you to snack on a tasty madeleine, you can buy them at igourmet.com. They import these quintessentially French sweets from Brittany.
