Product Review - Annette’s Italian Chili
Products: Gourmet Italian Chili
5.9.08
What is Italian Chili?
As the name implies, it is a unique Italian spin on the classic American-Southwestern chili, never before seen in the US marketplace. Made with the finest ingredients and true Italian flair, this product has already shown signs of being the next big hit in specialty food stores nationwide.
Packaging/Labeling: Classy, and upscale. The color combination of black, red, green, and gold really creates a nice clean professional appearance on the 24 ounce sturdy glass jar. Around the neck of the jar is a nice little hang tag with suggested uses attached by a neat little black rubber band-type attachment.
Overall, Annette’s Italian Chili presents a very classy, Italian-themed package that parallels the quality of the actual product.
Taste/Consistency/Quality: Fusion products and fusion restaurants are some that we really enjoy reviewing, and Annette’s Italian Chili has emerged as one of our new favorites. Thankfully for the ladies at Annette’s Gourmet, no one else has attempted to bring a product like this to market and they are poised to really make a splash.
As the name implies, Italian chili is a unique product much like a standard hearty chili we are accustomed to here in the US. Where it gets interesting is when spicy Italian sausage and spices are added to the mix. It is a perfect blend of Southwestern style chili with beans and a classic Italian-seasoned, marinara-type sauce with Italian sausage. The ‘spicy’ version had a perfect amount of ‘kick’ without overpowering the amazing flavor combinations. If you are not a fan of the heat, a mild version is available that offers the same delectable explosion of flavor without the added kick.
The second most commonly asked question will likely be, ‘How do you serve it?’ - which the hang tag answers quite well. We tried a few different ways, and were blown away with each variety. The most basic way is to simply eat it plain - just like chili; add some cheese and sour cream and you have a meal. Next, we poured some Italian chili over a potato, and enjoyed it even more. The third way was a unanimous favorite; served over pasta with cheddar cheese and sour cream. Yes, this sounds bizarre, but it created a truly amazing southwestern style Italian pasta dish that is out of this world. The added benefit of serving it this way is that the Italian chili goes a lot further than eating it by itself. Don’t be surprised if you start seeing restaurants serving entrees like this when the word starts to spread.
Uniqueness: Italian chili is definitely one of the most unique products we have seen in years. It is almost so unique that it might take some extra education to get consumers to try it for the first time. However, once they get it in their mouth, I think repeat orders will follow in great numbers.
Summary: Unbelievable fusion of common US-favorite dishes in one beautifully packaged jar makes this a must-try for the true gourmand and ‘out-of-the-box-thinking’ foodies.
How to purchase: Consumers can order directly online at iBuyGourmet.com, and wholesale customers (businesses only please) can get wholesale information here.
