One of my favorite places to spend time in Italy is in a supermarket.

Not your normal shopping venue, I know, but to me it is oh so much fun!  I can and do spend hours looking at interesting products.  I enjoy it because unlike the little fruit and veg markets throughout Italian towns and cities, the supermarket personnel leave you completely alone unless you request help.  I like to be anonymous and just browse for as long as I like.

Here are a few of my favorite chain supermarkets in Italy.

I mean a person could spend an hour in the dried pasta aisle alone!

One of my favorite areas to peruse is the spice aisle.  I typically bring a new supply back to the US from every trip.  It just gives me a kick to have Italian spices in my cupboard back home.

Here’s my latest batch:

Here’s my last batch from a few times back.  As you can see, they need to be replenished!

And then I usually can’t resist a few baking items as well.  I love these nonpareils which in  French means they are “without equal” for the intricate decoration of cakes, desserts, and other sweets.  I love the Italian name as well, which as you can see is argento perline or “silver beads.”

And then most recently I brought home a bottle of this weird spray gel which is supposed to be used to put a shine on fresh fruit on tarte tatin.  I haven’t opened this bottle yet, but I’ll let you know when I do.

On a cold, gray, soon-to-be snowy January afternoon at my home in Denver, it is fun and comforting to pull out my Italian spices and baking supplies and day dream about my next hours in Italian grocery stores!