BAVA Brothers LLC is taking their authentic Italian, all-natural sopressata and ‘nduja Calabrese nationwide, with the launch of a new online store. Now, the recipes that have been handed-down through generations can be enjoyed anywhere in the world.
Food is family for BAVA Brothers LLC. It is meant to be savored in the company of friends and loved ones. Four generations of the Bava family have put their heart and soul into creating traditional southern Italian Sopressata Calabrese for holiday gatherings and neighborhood get-togethers. With the new online store, brothers, and company founders, Steven Bava and Eric Bava are inviting consumers around the world to experience their handcrafted delicacies.
Who is BAVA Brothers? “The heart and soul of this company is all about celebrating modern families. Our products have been a big part of the Bava family for four generations, and now we want to share them with others.”
Scroll down to see our interview with Steven and Eric Bava to get the detailed inside scoop!
Italian food aficionado and contributor Joe Razzano shares: “Bava Brothers Sopressata Calabrese is fantastic. I loved it. You start out with the pert taste of the spices exciting the palette, then find the tang of the fennel seeds and red peppers. My taste buds are still on fire with the wonderful combination.”
Consumers are more selective than ever before about what they put into their bodies. They are looking for food that not only tastes good but is lightly processed and free of antibiotics and hormones. BAVA Brothers LLC offers traditional foods that are full-flavored while addressing the concerns of a more health-conscious public.
Tradition informs everything BAVA Brothers LLC puts its family name on. The spicy sopressata includes the same quality ingredients used generations ago in Calabria. It is dry-aged to perfection just as it was in the old country. This incomparable salami also provides the basis for the ‘nduja which can be spread on cheese or bread as well as giving an extra kick to pasta sauce. The ways of the past translate into contemporary food with a robust flavor and heartiness that is all too rare in our modern diets.
Sopressata is informal. You can enjoy it at a summertime gathering under the stars or while hanging out with your family in the kitchen. Now, an authentic taste of Southern Italy is only a click away. To place your order visit www.bavabrothers.com
We wanted to get the inside scoop, and asked Steven Bava and Eric Bava to fill us in:
Q: Tell us about your family and how this recipe made it from Calabria to online?
A: Our grandfather came to America in 1921 from a very small village in Simbario, Calabria. Like so many Italians at the time, he was eager to experience the American dream and build a better life for himself. He always remained very proud of being Italian and instilled in his children and grandchildren the importance of family and traditions. As we became adults, the word “family” has taken on a larger meaning to include close friends we’ve known for decades; our given and chosen family. That’s what BAVA Brothers is all about and why we decided to share this Sopressata tradition with everyone.
Q: What is your earliest memory of enjoying this food with your family?
A: It was right after the Christmas holidays, and I must have been like 6 or 7 years old. Bundled-up beyond recognition to brave yet another snowstorm, my family drove to my grandparents’ home in Lincolnwood, IL to make the Sopressata. There was no greater tradition and source of family pride than making our Sopressata every January. All of the cousins were wearing 1970’s red plaid shirts, standing silent and staring as my grandfather measured every single spice and ingredient. I had no idea what was going on, but I’ll never forget the scent of the fennel seed emanating throughout the house. Sopressata brought the family together. We made it together and we enjoyed it together.
Q: How is sopressata different from other salami?
A: Sopressata is native to the Calabria region of Italy, and it actually means ‘pressed salami’ in Italian. True Sopressata have an oval shape and are spicier than most salami.
Q. How difficult is it to make traditional food available on a large scale?
A: It’s incredibly difficult! Sure, we could cut many corners to make it faster or use lesser quality ingredients to make it cheaper. But our grandfather would turn over in his grave. That’s why every batch of Sopressata is handmade with the finest ingredients – all-natural heritage pork and spices – to get the quality we’ve experienced our entire lives. It’s a craft and art form—a real labor of love, that’s for sure.
Q: Is it accurate to call traditional food the original health food?
A: Well we definitely think traditional food, especially traditional Italian food is better for you because Italians have always taken great pride in using the best meat and ingredients. So, our belief is that the higher the quality of the ingredients that go in, the better it is for you.
Whether it’s all natural pork raised using sustainable methods in Iowa or herbs and spices from California, the ingredients are wholesome and supplied by vendors that put a premium on excellence. The philosophy is simple; if Grandpa Bava wouldn’t use it in his kitchen, you won’t find it in anything BAVA Brothers LLC produces today.
To celebrate the launch online, BAVA Brothers LLC is offering free shipping for first-time orders over $75. You can also pick up their gourmet wares at Eataly in LA and Las Vegas and Lady and Larder. These delectable products are organic and non-GMO.
