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| - Small Update - For those of you who are addicted to San Marzano tomatoes, the Italissma tomatoes are back on the shelves. Those who were disatisfied with the EMMA product can fret no longer; the Italissma delivers that coveted San Marzano flavour in bucket loads (wonderfully sweet with low acidity). I tasted them last night and they are right on the money. Please note that the EMMA tomato problem was NOT LINA'S or MARINO'S FAULT.
They have a newer and better Portuguese olive oil that is more stellar than the previous one I reviewed, it is $19.95 for 750ml. This again will definitely please those who like stronger flavoured nutty olive oils. I still do not know what the varietal of olive is but it is much stronger than nocarella or frantoia. It delivers the taste of a premium olive oil.
A recent addition to their shelves is the Mini Italia 12 year Balsamic Vinegar. It is not cheap being $29.95 for 250ml, but it is wonderfully bittersweet with a viscosity approaching an old Oloroso sherry. Try it on strawberries, slivers of aged parmesan cheese (Lina's has the best price in the city for parmesan), or in a very ripe tomato and bocconcini salad (maybe a tad extravagant). Heck, it is so wonderful one could drink it right out of the bottle. Be forewarned, in the future the six buck supermarket crap will just taste like that, crap. Your balsamic vinegar budget will have permanently quadrupled overnight. If you are billionaire, Lina has balsamico that will blow you away at about $200.00 for 50ml. Try the truffle pate which is right next to it. If you have to ask how much it costs, you cannot afford it.
Lina's is now using Fratello Godfather Blend Espresso (catchy name for an Italian coffee bar). Fratello is internationally recognized as one the best roasters and sourcers of coffee beans in the world. What is even better is that they are local. Fratello is my personal favourite for coffee (alongside Phil and Sebastian and 49th Parallel) and after lunch, where Lina provides the best and least expensive Italian lunch in the city, rejuvenate yourself before heading back to work with one of their excellent coffee concoctions.
Unfortunately, Yelp does not have a provision for six stars.
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