{"title":"Verve Culture","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"italian-olivewood-box-cheese-grater","title":"Italian Olivewood Box Cheese Grater","description":"\u003ch4\u003eDESCRIPTION\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA stainless grater plate that rests across an open Umbrian olivewood box, so the cheese falls into the box instead of onto the counter. Grate at the table, lift the plate out, serve from the box.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the form Italian households have used for grating Parmigiano and Pecorino for generations — practical rather than decorative, though olivewood makes it both. The grating plate is stainless steel with a wire handle and lifts free for washing. The box is cut and joined from Umbrian olivewood, with the dark irregular grain that makes every one different.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt sits well on a table already set with hand-painted Deruta, and it's substantial enough to leave out. Arrives in a cotton bag, ready to give.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe small imperfections such as the difference in color, shape, diameter or small bubbles that form inside, do not constitute a defect but testify that it is actually an artisanal product.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 10\" long including handle x 4\" wide · Box depth 2.5\"\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbrian olivewood with stainless steel grating plate\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbria, Italy\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWorkshop:\u003c\/strong\u003e Family woodturning workshop in Umbria\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePattern:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural grain — each piece unique\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeritage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbrian olivewood — the same region as Deruta\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-wash only · Dry immediately · Not dishwasher, microwave, or oven safe · Oil occasionally with food-grade mineral oil\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Individual, in a cotton bag\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMixes with:\u003c\/strong\u003e All Deruta majolica patterns, Tomassini grinders, Busatti linens\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow does it work?\u003c\/strong\u003e The stainless plate sits across the top of the olivewood box. Grate across it and the cheese collects in the box below. Lift the plate out and the box becomes the serving dish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes the grater come out for washing?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. The plate lifts free of the box entirely, so you can wash the steel without soaking the wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I care for olivewood?\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-wash only, in warm water with mild soap, and dry immediately — never leave the wood soaking or sitting wet. Keep it out of the dishwasher, microwave, and oven. When the surface starts to look dry or chalky, rub in a little food-grade mineral oil and let it absorb overnight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat cheeses is it for?\u003c\/strong\u003e Hard aging cheeses — Parmigiano-Reggiano, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romano. Soft cheeses will clog the plate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow much does the box hold?\u003c\/strong\u003e The box is 2.5\" deep — enough grated cheese for a table of four to six. Grate ahead and bring it out with the pasta.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I clean cheese out of the grater plate?\u003c\/strong\u003e Use a dry brush before washing. Dried cheese comes off far more easily than wet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it come ready to give?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. It ships in a cotton bag — no additional wrapping needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere in Italy does the wood come from?\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbria, the same central Italian region as Deruta, where Biordi's hand-painted majolica is made. Umbria is one of Italy's principal olive-growing areas, and the wood comes from trees retired after decades of fruiting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good Italian wedding gift?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. It's the kind of piece a couple uses weekly for decades, and it pairs naturally with a Deruta pasta bowl or serving platter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good housewarming or hostess gift?\u003c\/strong\u003e Very much so — it's useful, it's Italian, it arrives gift-ready in its cotton bag, and it goes straight onto the table rather than into a cupboard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?\u003c\/strong\u003e Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco's source for authentic Italian ceramics and tableware since 1946. We're a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029), the City declared May 1 \"Biordi Art Imports Day\" in 2021, and we were voted Best Overall Retailer in the SF Bay Guardian Best of the Bay reader's poll five years running. Everything we sell is sourced directly from Italian workshops we know by name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan this be customized or personalized?\u003c\/strong\u003e Not this piece. Customization and personalization are available on select hand-painted ceramics — Eugenio Ricciarelli, FIMA, Pia Formato, and Geribi accept special orders. Contact Biordi Art Imports at (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eArtisan Story\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUmbrian olivewood\u003c\/strong\u003e — Umbria is olive country. The same hills that produce the region's oil produce the wood, because olive trees are only cut once they stop bearing fruit, often after fifty years or more. The wood that comes out of them is hard, tight-grained, and darkly figured, and Umbrian woodturners have shaped it into kitchen and table pieces for centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUmbria\u003c\/strong\u003e — Umbria is also home to Deruta, the hill town that has produced Biordi's hand-painted majolica since 1946. Wood and majolica from the same region sit naturally on the same table.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Verve Culture","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48928558841909,"sku":"6752","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1001\/9802\/files\/735ba738e1d4bd44ef93cc56a1458eb3835fb3074c839da66efac0625750a3ad.jpg?v=1789865369"},{"product_id":"italian-dried-herbs-and-spices-mediterranean-blend-40g","title":"Italian Dried Herbs and Spices: Mediterranean Blend - 40g","description":"\u003ch4\u003eDESCRIPTION\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA seasoning blend from Tenuta Sant'Ilario in Pineto, Abruzzo: sea salt, sweet pepper, parsley, hot pepper, cumin, oregano, and garlic. Sea salt is the first ingredient, which makes this a seasoning rather than a herb mix — it salts and flavors in one step.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePineto sits in the province of Teramo, the same province as Castelli, the town Emilio Biordi came from. The blend is packed on the farm at Costa del Mulino, a few kilometers from the Adriatic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUse it the way an Italian cook uses a \u003cem\u003espezie\u003c\/em\u003e tin: sprinkled over roasted potatoes and vegetables, rubbed on chicken or fish before it goes in the oven, stirred into olive oil for dipping bread, or finished over grilled meat. Because it is salted, season with it instead of salting separately, then taste before adding more. There is hot pepper in it, but the heat is mild — a warm blend, not a fiery one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe tin is resealable and filled by weight rather than volume, so it will not look full to the top. Good paired with an olive oil dish or a Deruta serving bowl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNet weight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 40g \/ 1.4 oz\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIngredients:\u003c\/strong\u003e Sea salt, sweet pepper, parsley, hot pepper, cumin, oregano, garlic\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeat level:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mild\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pineto, Abruzzo, Italy\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tenuta Sant'Ilario Pineto (Azienda Agricola Colancecco Laila)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePackaging:\u003c\/strong\u003e Resealable steel tin\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStorage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cool, dry place away from light; close tightly after each use\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Individual tin\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePairs with:\u003c\/strong\u003e Olive oil dishes, Deruta serving bowls, Italesse glassware\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat is in the Mediterranean Blend?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nSea salt, sweet pepper, parsley, hot pepper, cumin, oregano, and garlic. That is the whole list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it spicy?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nMildly. The hot pepper is there for warmth and is balanced by sweet pepper and cumin. Most people find it seasoned rather than hot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I use it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nRoasted vegetables and potatoes, chicken and fish before roasting, grilled meat, and stirred into olive oil as a dip for bread. It is also good on eggs and on sliced tomatoes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDo I still need to add salt?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nUsually not. Sea salt is the first ingredient, so season with the blend and taste before adding anything more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good Italian wedding gift?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nNot by itself — it gets used up. It is a good addition to a larger gift: pair it with an olive oil dish or a Deruta serving bowl. For a wedding gift built to last, look to hand-painted Deruta dinnerware or Salviati Murano glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good housewarming or hostess gift?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nYes — it is the kind of thing people actually finish. Bring it with a bottle of olive oil, or set it alongside a small ceramic dish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nBiordi Art Imports has imported from Italy since 1946 and is a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029). We buy directly from the makers — FIMA, CF Deruta, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, Susanna DeSimone, Geribi, Bucci Ceramiche, Ortigia Sicilia, Italesse, and Salviati — and we know where each piece comes from. Questions: (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eArtisan Story\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTenuta Sant'Ilario — Pineto, Abruzzo\u003c\/strong\u003e — A working farm at Costa del Mulino in Pineto, on the Adriatic coast in the province of Teramo. The herbs and spices are packed there under the Tenuta Sant'Ilario name. Pineto is in the same province as Castelli, the hill town Emilio Biordi left for San Francisco in the 1940s, which makes these tins one of the few things in the store that come from the founder's own corner of Italy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Verve Culture","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48928558874677,"sku":"6753","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1001\/9802\/files\/d9b573b0bf213e59a5f2f42cde8a6e9a07d1fa5a7f7041e5b621900216060227.jpg?v=1789865373"},{"product_id":"italian-olivewood-aperitivo-bowls-set-of-4","title":"Italian Olivewood Condiment Bowls - Set of 4","description":"\u003ch4\u003eDESCRIPTION\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA set of four small oval bowls turned from Umbrian olivewood, sized for the things that sit on the table alongside the food — olives, capers, flaky salt, grated cheese, chili flakes, a pour of good oil for dipping.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOlivewood comes from trees that are pruned and eventually retired after decades of fruiting, so the wood is dense, slow-grown, and marked with the dark, irregular grain that only comes with age. No two bowls are alike. The grain runs from pale honey to deep amber, and the variation shows even within a single set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThey are shallow by design — made to hold a small amount of something and be passed around, not to serve a course. The wood is naturally closed-grain and resists staining and odor, which is why Italian kitchens have used it for serving pieces for centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe set arrives in a cotton bag, ready to give as is. Mix with Deruta majolica for a table that reads Italian without matching — the warm wood grounds the bright hand-painted patterns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe small imperfections such as the difference in color, shape, diameter or small bubbles that form inside, do not constitute a defect but testify that it is actually an artisanal product.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 4\" x 3\" oval, approximately 1\" deep, each bowl\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbrian olivewood\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbria, Italy\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWorkshop:\u003c\/strong\u003e Family woodturning workshop in Umbria\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePattern:\u003c\/strong\u003e Natural grain — each bowl unique\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeritage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbrian olivewood — the same region as Deruta\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCare:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-wash only · Dry immediately · Not dishwasher, microwave, or oven safe · Oil occasionally with food-grade mineral oil\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Set of 4, in a cotton bag\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMixes with:\u003c\/strong\u003e All Deruta majolica patterns, Il Mio Tavolo stoneware, Busatti linens\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow big are they, really?\u003c\/strong\u003e Small. Each bowl is about 4\" x 3\" and an inch deep — the size for olives, nuts, salt, or a dipping pour, not for a salad or a side dish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill the bowls all look the same?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Olivewood grain is unique to each piece, so expect variation in color and figure across the set. That variation is the point.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I put oil or vinegar in them?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. Olivewood is naturally dense and oil-resistant. Wipe out after use and dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow do I care for olivewood?\u003c\/strong\u003e Hand-wash only, in warm water with mild soap, and dry immediately — never leave the wood soaking or sitting wet. Keep it out of the dishwasher, microwave, and oven. When the surface starts to look dry or chalky, rub in a little food-grade mineral oil and let it absorb overnight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan they go in the dishwasher?\u003c\/strong\u003e No. Heat and prolonged water will crack the wood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it come ready to give?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes. The set ships in a cotton bag — no additional wrapping needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhere in Italy does the wood come from?\u003c\/strong\u003e Umbria, the same central Italian region as Deruta, where Biordi's hand-painted majolica is made. Umbria is one of Italy's principal olive-growing areas, and the wood comes from trees retired after decades of fruiting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good Italian wedding gift?\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes — especially paired with a hand-painted Deruta serving piece. Wood and majolica together make a complete table gift at a moderate price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good housewarming or hostess gift?\u003c\/strong\u003e One of the best. Small, useful, immediately in service, arrives gift-ready in its cotton bag, and it suits any kitchen style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?\u003c\/strong\u003e Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco's source for authentic Italian ceramics and tableware since 1946. We're a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029), the City declared May 1 \"Biordi Art Imports Day\" in 2021, and we were voted Best Overall Retailer in the SF Bay Guardian Best of the Bay reader's poll five years running. Everything we sell is sourced directly from Italian workshops we know by name.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan this be customized or personalized?\u003c\/strong\u003e Not this piece. Customization and personalization are available on select hand-painted ceramics — Eugenio Ricciarelli, FIMA, Pia Formato, and Geribi accept special orders. Contact Biordi Art Imports at (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eArtisan Story\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUmbrian olivewood\u003c\/strong\u003e — Umbria is olive country. The same hills that produce the region's oil produce the wood, because olive trees are only cut once they stop bearing fruit, often after fifty years or more. The wood that comes out of them is hard, tight-grained, and darkly figured, and Umbrian woodturners have shaped it into kitchen and table pieces for centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUmbria\u003c\/strong\u003e — Umbria is also home to Deruta, the hill town that has produced Biordi's hand-painted majolica since 1946. Wood and majolica from the same region sit naturally on the same table.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Verve Culture","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48928558907445,"sku":"6751","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1001\/9802\/files\/7130eba6417c2c2acec99c80d51f6261525022865a23ef47a618312059f2a519.jpg?v=1789865376"},{"product_id":"italian-dried-herbs-and-spices-basil-30g","title":"Italian Dried Herbs and Spices: Basil - 30g","description":"\u003ch4\u003eDESCRIPTION\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDried sweet basil from Tenuta Sant'Ilario, a farm at Costa del Mulino in Pineto, on the Abruzzo coast. One ingredient in the tin: basil. Nothing added, nothing extended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePineto sits in the province of Teramo — the same province as Castelli, the majolica town Emilio Biordi came from when he opened Biordi Art Imports in 1946. Eighty years later we are bringing in the herbs from the same corner of Italy as the ceramics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBasil is the backbone of Italian cooking: tomato sauce, pizza, minestrone, anything with mozzarella. Dried basil is not a substitute for fresh in a pesto or a caprese, but in a sauce that simmers it does something fresh basil cannot — it holds up to heat instead of collapsing. Add it early so it has time to open up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePacked in a resealable tin filled by weight rather than volume, so it will not look full to the rim. It is concentrated: a pinch goes a long way. Pairs naturally with Deruta pasta bowls and serving pieces, and makes a good addition to a ceramic gift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNet weight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 30g \/ 1.0 oz\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIngredients:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dried basil\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAllergens:\u003c\/strong\u003e May contain traces of celery\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pineto, Abruzzo, Italy\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eProducer:\u003c\/strong\u003e Tenuta Sant'Ilario Pineto (Azienda Agricola Colancecco Laila)\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePackaging:\u003c\/strong\u003e Resealable steel tin\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStorage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cool, dry place away from light; close tightly after each use\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSold as:\u003c\/strong\u003e Individual tin\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePairs with:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deruta pasta bowls, olive oil dishes, Tomassini pepper grinders\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eQuestions buyers ask\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow is this different from supermarket dried basil?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nOne ingredient and a single Italian farm behind it. Supermarket dried basil is usually blended from several origins and sits on a shelf for a long time. This is packed by the farm in Pineto, Abruzzo, in a sealed tin that protects the oils that carry the flavor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it contain allergens?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThe label states it may contain traces of celery. No other allergens are listed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow should I store it, and how long does it keep?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nCool, dry, out of direct light, tightly closed after each use. Each tin is stamped with a lot number and a best-before date. Dried herbs do not spoil so much as fade — use it within a year of opening for the best aroma.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good Italian wedding gift?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nOn its own, no — it is a consumable rather than something a couple keeps. It works well tucked into a larger gift: pair it with a Deruta pasta bowl or serving platter and it becomes part of the present rather than the whole of it. For a wedding gift meant to last, look at hand-painted Deruta dinnerware or Murano glass by Salviati.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs this a good housewarming or hostess gift?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nYes. It is the right size and price for a hostess gift, it travels well, and it gets used. Good on its own or alongside an olive oil dish or a small tray.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nBiordi Art Imports has imported from Italy since 1946 and is a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029). We buy directly from the makers — FIMA, CF Deruta, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, Susanna DeSimone, Geribi, Bucci Ceramiche, Ortigia Sicilia, Italesse, and Salviati — and we know where each piece comes from. Questions: (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eArtisan Story\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTenuta Sant'Ilario — Pineto, Abruzzo\u003c\/strong\u003e — A working farm at Costa del Mulino in Pineto, on the Adriatic coast in the province of Teramo. The herbs and spices are packed there under the Tenuta Sant'Ilario name, in small tins meant for a home kitchen rather than a warehouse. Pineto is in the same province as Castelli, the hill town Emilio Biordi left for San Francisco in the 1940s.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Verve Culture","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48928559005749,"sku":"6754","price":18.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1001\/9802\/files\/3c2f60957329f0df2660fb845e24d504cca339da9f39eb1baef0f481406437d4_4c5e5d0e-ab99-48f6-a710-40e61585e69b.jpg?v=1789865385"}],"url":"https:\/\/biordi.com\/collections\/verve-culture.oembed","provider":"Biordi Art Imports","version":"1.0","type":"link"}