WHAT: Kosterina Balsamic Vinegar
WHY: Similar to olive oil, finding “good” balsamic vinegar is not unlike solving the riddle of the Sphinx. Should it be syrupy? Or does that mean it’s trash? Can’t I just get some rando bottle from Trader Joe’s? How do I even know when it’s good since they all taste....kind of the same.
Today we answer none of those questions.
But we do give you the answer of what balsamic vinegar to buy if you don’t want to think about balsamic vinegar ever again.
And it’s this one.
Made from grapes in Modena, Italy, this balsamic is rich, lightly acidic, softly sweet, sort of thick, and brings almost any tomato to life. The unctuous mouth-feel instantly reveals itself as a more elevated vinegar, and yet any cloying aftertaste is blessedly absent. When used on salads, it’s so full of flavor that we found ourselves skipping olive oil altogether. (!!)
The original flavor has our heart, but it also comes in fig as well as dark chocolate.
Does it help that the bottle is stunning? Sure it helps. But that’s just icing on the cake.
PRICE: $20