Old Country Meatballs in a Mix

Porta Mangiare. The name alone conjures images of Old World Italy. But more than a pair of beautifully sounding words, the phrase porta mangiare means “doorway to good eating.” And that’s a primary goal of these ready-to-bake mixes.

The product was inspired by an Italian immigrant named Giulia, who left Calabria, Italy, in the 1800s at age 17 for America, where she raised a big family then opened her home to friends and neighbors, always offering a home-cooked meal.

The objective of Porta Mangiare Foods, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., was to bridge the gap between Giulia’s golden days and the 21^st century, when consumers have little time to shop for fresh ingredients to create a complex, home-cooked meal. The meatball mix is simple to use (pour the tin’s contents into a bowl; add eggs, water, Romano cheese, and a pound of ground beef or turkey; then cook) but stays true to the ingredients and flavors of the Old Country. It incorporates specialty breadcrumbs made from all-natural, artisan breads and uses a variety of ingredients that are specifically selected for different types of meat (turkey or beef).

The name, the ingredients, the backstory. It all adds up to an experience bursting with flavor.

Porta Mangiare’s Spicy, Turkey and Traditional Calabrese Meatball Mixes, which debuted in summer 2009, retail for $4.95 (mix makes 15 meatballs) at select specialty stores and at portamangiare.com. –Kara Mayer Robinson

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