What to put on my wonderful homemade sourdough toast?  I opened a jar of Santa Maria Novella’s organic hazelnut spread–think of it as Nutella’s distant, soigne, Florentine cousin, made by the oldest pharmacy/perfumery in the western world.  Closer to syrup in texture, the crema di nocciole has a lightly toasty, malted flavor.  It is delicious drizzled over toast, waffles, ice cream, or on a spoon.  While Santa Maria Novella products are available in the US through Lafco New York, sadly, this one isn’t.

Just opening the jar reminds me of the pietra serena of Florence, slick with rain.