Dall'Italia, con l'amore.
Written: Jun 06 '09 (Updated Jun 07 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Italian quality and flavor, low price, no preservatives, not seasoned, pasteurized instead of cooked.
Cons: None.
The Bottom Line: You can't beat San Marzano plum tomatoes for taste, and you'd have a hard time buying them for less.
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| JoeEkaitis's Full Review: Mangia Carmelina Brands Italian Whole Tomatoes in ... |
My two best friends in the kitchen are my slow cooker and my pressure cooker. Problem is, when I make marinara sauce in either using canned tomato sauce, most of the flavor cooks out. Domestic canned tomatoes are a gamble, running the gamut from nearly flavorless to over-seasoned.
After hearing a few Food Network chefs rave about San Marzano plum tomatoes, I discovered they were hard to find and a pricey indulgence locally. Bought by the case from Amazon.com, these Carmelina 'e San Marzano tomatoes work out to about the same price per can as nationally advertised domestic brands and a bargain compared to other imported brands.
You can't put a price on the experience of cooking with them. Open the can and catch a wisp of the Italian countryside where these tomatoes are grown in the volcanic soil of the Campania region. Dump 'em right into the pot, puree and all, because these ravishing Italian beauties are nearly seedless. No need to squish and strain them. They're so sweet, a few seeds won't matter. Since they're pasteurized and canned without preservatives, they aren't cooked until YOU cook them. The flavor is full and fruity, not weak, acidic and salty, and the cooked tomatoes transform into a velvety smoothness when pureed with an immersion blender.
Instead of affixing the Consorzio San Marzano's DOP stamp, Mangia, Inc. certifies that these are genuine San Marzano tomatoes with the European Union's Protected Geographical Indication seal. Growers and processors have to pay the Consorzio in order to display the DOP stamp on the label, which means you have to pay to see it in your pantry. Mangia, Inc. leaves off the DOP stamp because it doesn't make the tomatoes taste any better. Why pay for it?
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
JoeEkaitis
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Member: Joe Ekaitis
Location: Southern California, USA
Reviews written: 144
Trusted by: 16 members
About Me:
Joe Ekaitis is a business communications technician and a children's book author.
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