If Apple made Italian cookies, their packaging would probably look like this. Roughly the size of the packaging for a video iPod, the box for these Cantuccini from Deseo Prato caught my eyes at Bay Cities Import this weekend. Clean design, with a picture of a single cookie on the front against a white background, and another of the ingredients on top. After much deliberation, I've selected the classic Almonds and Aniseeds but I think I will have to come back and try the other flavors as well. Specially now that I've seen the suggested wines pairing for each of the 4 flavors:

Walnuts and Pistachio: a crunchy, light and aromatic version of the classic cantuccini. Here the rich walnuts combine with the delicate but vivid taste of Sicilian pistachio from Bronte. Recommended match : Marsala and Passito di Pantelleria.

Chocolate and Hazelnuts: Crunchy and delicate biscuits made using only high-quality products: Langhe hazelnuts, extra plain chocolater flakes (72% cocoa mass) and aromatic cocoa powder selected by Domori. Recommended match: vintage Rum and Barolo chinato.

Almonds and Aniseed: An aromatic version of these crunchy and light biscuits, made from roasted almonds grown in the Apulia region and aniseed. Recommended match : dry Grappa.

Candied Orange Peel: The secret of the full-bodied aroma of the candied orange used for these biscuits is the low temperature at which the Washington orange peel is slowly crystallized. This slow process preserves all the aromas and essential oils contained in the orange peel. This candied orange peel is used to produce our cantuccini, which are softer than our other biscuits. Recommended match: Passito di Pantelleria.

And as an added bonus, the Deseo Factory is still located in Prato. This little Tuscan city, is credited for inventing the Biscotti, and my all time favorite cookie called Brutti Ma Buoni (literally Ugly-But-Good) which is can only be described as a fluffy Macaroon, but with Almonds instead of coconut.

When in Prato, pretty much any little store will sell these amazing Cantuccini and Brutti Ma Buoni, usually freshly  baked on the premises. But if you are in Santa Monica, getting a box of Biscotti from Deseo Prato.