I’ve been hearing about this Italian food store in Dallas called Jimmy’s Food Store for quite some time, and today I finally had the chance to check it out. Think Eatzi’s meets local Italian flare. It has the ambiance of a village market with a wide variety of meats, cheeses, pastas, wine, dessert, and fresh produce.
Aside from all of the market varieties offered, they also have a great deli with some delicious Italian Sandwich selections. I opted for the Muffaletta and in return received quite the monstrosity. This sucker was huge. Laced with delicious Mortadella, Ham, Provolone, Genoa Salami, and Olive Salad it was packed full of flavor and absolutely big enough for two.
Jimmy offers Saturday food tastings and monthly wine tastings and today we got to sample a little of both. After tasting some delicious Mionetto Prosecco and “Barbera D’Alba” from the Pertinace winery, we have two more reasons to stay inside this Halloween weekend. 🙂
Chef Gorji was also on hand to cook up some of his specialty dishes from his Mediterranean restaurant, Canary, in Addison. His line of sauces and dipping oils were absolutely divine. His Mediterranean pizza, served on pita instead of traditional pizza crust, was delicious. Chef Gorji’s cuisine comes to life from his vast experience in Greek, Italian, Spanish, French, Middle Eastern and North African cuisine. I will definitely be checking out his restaurant and giving a full report soon.
Matt and I rarely go out to eat Italian food so needless to say it dominates my kitchen menu. Due to the high fat content and sky high calorie count, I prefer to cook it at home where I can control how much cheese and oil go into the dishes. So a place like Jimmy’s is definitely a go to spot for the at home Italian cook. If you don’t cook, then no worries, they have a huge selection of frozen pastas and sauces.
Go check it out if you’re in the Dallas area. It’s a fun spot to kill a few hours on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon!
Frank Sinatra:I tried to think of some new artist I’ve been following or song I’m loving at the moment, but you just can’t talk Italian food and not think Sinatra. I’ve included him on posts in the past…and here’s another one!
Sarah's Musical Kitchen 
Have you been to Italy? I’m part of a travel course (I do Poli-Sci/history, an art historian, musician/music historian and literature person are part of this — 4 faculty, 40 students), and we make Italian cuisine a part of the course. Our music guy is the specialist, as we seek out Italian restaurants (we found an eggplant Parmesan that was unbelievable in Bologna) that are relatively cheap and authentic. What’s really great in Italy is that because they don’t have the huge portions we have here, you can get a meal with an appetizer, a pasta course, a main course (meat and veggie) and then desert without overly stuffing yourself. They also do not pressure you to leave the table, you can sit there all night if you want (and if they like you, they’ll bring you amaretto or shots of some similar liqueur ‘on the house’ at the end of the meal). Also, the food tastes better. Italian tomatoes are full of flavor, they aren’t the mass produced stuff we have here.
So if you and your husband want to really experience Italian food, go there! And if you are enjoying the country, you’ll walk enough to burn off any extra calories you eat. And when you decide to go, I’ll be glad to give you restaurant tips and ideas.
Hi Scott!! I have been to Italy…and it’s a magical place. One thing I remember is how long the meals lasted. We (my roommate and I) would start with a bottle of wine and bread and settle in to a 2-3 hour dining experience. I agree with you 1000% that the food just tastes better!! I love love Italy!!!
We plan on going to Europe for a friend’s wedding this Winter. I would love to hear your suggestions!
Hi Sarah – yes, there is nothing like the whole experience of dining in Italy. It’s definitely not the ‘Olive Garden’!
If you’re going to be in Rome, I strongly recommend Trattoria Lilli. It is a family run restaurant. We got there at about 8:00 (it opens at 7:30) and were finishing up at 11:00 as they were closing. If you know where Castel Sant’Angelo is (the fortress near the Vatican), it’s just across the Tevere river on Via di Tor di Nona 23. It can be tricky to find, it’s not right on the edge of the street. Go hungry and ready for a full meal! In Florence, my favorite is Trattoria Guelfa – it’s perhaps my favorite restaurant in Italy. It’s close to the center of town on Via Guelfa, just off Via Nazionale (about a 20 minute walk from the train station). It’s not only a great atmosphere, but a favorite of the locals. If you’re adventurous, try the tripe – a Florentine special. Florence also has the best gelato. I think the best is Gelateria Neri, on Via dei Neri, between the Palazzo Vecchio and Santa Croce. It is very close to another gelateria often called the best in Florence, Vivoli. I think Neri is better, and not near as expensive. In Rome, try Gelateria San Crispino, at via della Panetteria 42, not far from the Trevi Fountain. (I’m not sure where all you’re going in Europe, but if you get to Vienna, Austria, check out the Zwölf Apostelkeller – a restaurant located in a wine cellar that dates back to the 13th century, and the numerous ‘Konditereien’ for the best cakes and pastries in the world).
By the way, I just read your “real foods of India” posts, and printed out the recipes. Those look great! Thanks for posting those!