The Grana Padano at Casa Del Gusto comes from a farmer who makes exactly two pieces a day. Not two pallets, not two crates: two pieces of cheese, per day. That really says it all about how Gianni and Gessica approach their sourcing. No wholesalers, no middlemen, but direct contact with the people who make the product.
Gianni and Gessica are both of Italian descent and set up Casa Del Gusto out of a clear conviction: products have a story, and that story is worth passing on. They import exclusively from small, organic farm producers in Italy, with an emphasis on Tuscany and Umbria. Two regions known for traditional production, slow processes and flavors you won't find in a supermarket. The relationship with the farmers is not an afterthought; it is the heart of the matter.
The store on Church Street looks like what a good deli should look like. Cheeses behind glass, meats on the knife, bottles of wine on the shelf. But the assortment goes beyond the standard Italian classic. In addition to fresh and dry meats and cheeses, you'll find slow-food bean varieties you won't easily find elsewhere in town, and natural wines and beers imported directly from Italy. The 55-centimeter focaccia also speaks for itself: not a slice to chew on, but a whole loaf to put down at the table at home.
The Grana Padano at Casa Del Gusto comes from a farmer who makes exactly two pieces a day.
Kerkstraat runs from Utrechtsestraat toward Leidseplein and in recent years has gotten more and more of this kind of business: small, specialized stores that really understand something. Casa Del Gusto fits right in. It is not a window store for tourists who want a box of pasta as a souvenir. The peasant families in Tuscany and Umbria deserve better than that, and Gianni and Gessica know that.