Fini Balsamic Vinegar

photo from Williams-Sonoma website

I love a good balsamic vinegar. I remember the first time I tried it with olive oil and amazingly delicious crusty bread. I had just moved to Los Angeles and my cousin took me to Il Fornaio, her favorite restaurant. I know it's a chain and some people don't like chain restaurants (me being one of them) but I have to say they do serve great food here. Anyway, back to the story. They brought out their bread basket and the plates. My cousin had them make a plate of oil and vinegar for us and then she showed me how she dipped her bread in it.

Oh heaven. How we love you so. Whenever I eat something amazing I feel like it's just a taste of heaven. And taking that first bite of bread with oil and vinegar was like stepping into heaven. Dramatic, maybe just a bit. But when something alerts all of your senses in a wonderful way -- isn't that what heaven is going to be like? Mine is, anyway!

Cut to going to the store to buy olive oil and vinegar. I've bought some very expensive oils and vinegar from specialty stores. I even pre-ordered a special olive oil from Italy from an Italian specialty food store. But never have I been able to create at home the same experience. Until now.

Welcome FINI Balsamic Vinegar.

It is thick, it is rich and it is the perfect balance between sour and sweet. I add it to EVERYTHING. For example tonight I sauteed some greens and yellow bell pepper (I throw in whatever is in the fridge to add as a side "green" dish for dinner). To give it some added flavor I drizzled some of the Fini vinegar over it.

It's sooooo good. And yes, put it with some amazing extra virgin olive oil and an amazing loaf of crusty bread and you too will have welcomed heaven into your life as well.

Oh, in case you were wondering where to buy -- Williams Sonoma, Amazon, an other online shopping places.

Enjoy!