In December 2021 a new Italian food store opened in the south of Amsterdam, La Bottega. As lovers of Italian food it did not take us very long to pay a visit. From the moment we walked into the shop, I could feel the warm and happy atmosphere. There was music playing in the background and the owner was very friendly and welcoming – I felt right at home. What really stood out was how genuinely interested she was in getting to know us. It’s rare to find a shop owner who takes the time to chat with each and every customer. But she did just that. She made me feel like a part of the family, and that’s something you don’t come across every day.
Chiara and La Bottega
Meet Chiara: one of the founders of a unique Italian food store in the south of Amsterdam. Her passion for food and love for Sicily led her to create a place where customers can find the best products from small, independent producers.
Chiara’s journey began with online business before finally opening her store during the second wave of COVID in December 2021. It took her and her business partner Gianbattista three years to build the business and add more products and producers. When the pandemic hit, she knew it was time to expand and make her business more accessible. After months of hard work, she opened the doors to her Italian store in Amsterdam offering customers the chance to experience the same passion and love for food that she has.
Where it all started
Chiara’s love for food and passion for small producers started in her family, which is originally from Sicily. Her grandmother, who is still alive at 96 years old, is a typical Sicilian grandma who can cook anything, from arancini to cannoli. Growing up, Chiara was always fascinated by her grandmother’s cooking but was never allowed to know the secrets behind her amazing dishes.
In her summer house in Sicily, Chiara would spend time visiting the local markets and being captured by the colourful and tasty produce. This sparked her fascination with the stories behind the food and how it was made. At university, she would visit small markets with friends and choose the best cheese and learn about how it was made.
Chiara’s fascination for small producers and their stories has led her to create a unique store that offers customers the best products from small, independent producers. Her store is not just a place to buy products, but a place to learn about the stories behind them.
Cooking is not Chiara’s strong suit, but she loves to showcase how the right product can make all the difference in the end result. Her love for food and passion for small producers have created a unique store that offers customers an unforgettable experience.
Chiara’s favourite produce
Now, let’s talk about the products. This shop is a food lover’s paradise! From pasta to authentic Italian cheeses and meats, everything looks and smells amazing. I also love that if you don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen, La Bottega still has your back. There are ready-made sauces, pestos and even homemade lasagne that you can just heat up at home.
When asked about her favourite products from her homeland, Chiara immediately thinks of zucchini flowers. “They’re hard to find and crazy expensive in The Netherlands and we don’t make them often, but in Italy, we love to stuff them with ricotta or mozzarella and anchovies, then fry them. When you take a bite, everything comes out, it’s super delicious!” she exclaims.
Another product Chiara misses is eggplant that has real flavour. “You can find eggplants in the Netherlands, but they don’t always have the same taste as the ones from Sicily,” she explains. She also mentions a specific fruit from Sicily which is a mix between a little plum and a little peach. “It’s very peculiar and specific, but when I go there in the summer, I enjoy it.”
However, Chiara acknowledges that she cannot have everything she wants all the time. She travels to Italy every few months and indulges in her favourite produce during those visits. “It helps me appreciate these specialities even more,” she says.
Chiara’s favourite La Bottega-products
When asked about her go-to ingredients in the kitchen, Chiara grabs a jar of ‘Estratto Pomodoro‘ from the shelves. ‘Estratto Pomodoro’ is a tomato paste made from concentrated sun-dried tomatoes. “I love to make soups, and this tomato paste adds an amazing taste to them. Instead of adding salt, I use this paste for flavour,” she explains.
Another ingredient Chiara always keeps on hand is Salsa Ognina. This saice is a must-have ingredient for any food lover, according to Chiara. Made in collaboration with Fratelli Burgio, this sauce is exclusively sold at her shop and named after the place she is originally from. What makes this sauce so special is that it’s made with ingredients that her father loved, including olives and capers. The best part? It’s ready to go and only needs to be heated up, making it a simple and easy ingredient to use in a variety of dishes.
Lastly, Chiara always keeps a jar of pistachio pesto in her kitchen. “I’m addicted to pistachios,” she confesses with a laugh. This creamy, nutty pesto is a perfect addition to pasta, sandwiches, or as a dip for bread.
Music & food
At La Bottega music is just as important as the food. Chiara loves music and often has music playing in the background of her shop (listen to her playlist with some favourite songs).
When asked which band she would like to cook for, she admits it’s a tough choice because music is so integral to her life. However, she mentions the vibrant artistic scene in her hometown of Siracusa in Sicily, which has a lot of talented songwriters and musicians. “Music is really important, so to choose [a band to cook for] it’s a bit complicated,” she explains. However, thinking of the vibrant artistic scene in her hometown of Syracuse, Chiara has a band in mind to invite to her shop. “The singer of the Kings of Convenience who moved to Siracusa years ago. He created this band called La Comitiva. That’s him and three musicians from Siracusa. And they make really nice music. Very funny, very moving,” Chiara says.
Chiara recently invited them to her shop. If they were to accept the invitation, she would prepare them one of her gourmet sandwiches with green peppers or burrata. Something simple, “ just something so that they can feel home.” Chiara believes that simple is best and that good food and music can make anyone feel at home.
Chiara’s recommendations
Amsterdam has some fantastic Italian restaurants and places to visit.
- For pizza lovers, Chiara highly recommends Eatmosfera Oost, which she says has a light, digestible dough. The same pizzeria also owns a restaurant in the centre of the city that serves delicious pasta, meat, and fish dishes.
- For fine dining with an Italian twist, Pianeta Terra is a must-visit, with a changing menu that carefully selects local producers.
- Finally, for those with a sweet tooth, Chiara recommends Miuz. An ice cream shop in the West owned by a good friend of hers.
Where to find La Bottega
Chiara’s Italian food store can be found in the south of Amsterdam or online:
Van Woustraat 201H, Amsterdam
https://chiarasfood.nl
@labottegachiarasfood