Rustic Retreat Dinner Gift Box

A week's vacation with friends. Splendid. Their house, their food, their bath towels. You want to send a "thank you" that's not cliche. Solution: dinner on you.

We’ll send a simple, romantic, rustic Italian dinner for two that will seal your status as an exemplary house guest. This gift boxed set includes Rustichella's slow dried Spaghetti, excellent Il Mongetto Tomato Sauce, a hand-cut half pound wedge of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, our hearth baked Paesano Bread, and for dessert a pair of brownies: one walnut-studded Magic Brownie and one no-nut Black Magic Brownie.

The ingredients are simple, but each is the best I've tasted of its kind. They highlight why pasta with tomato sauce is such a big deal in Italy and why people there return to it again and again for regular meals. It doesn't take a lot of kitchen skill to put this dinner together but it's guaranteed to taste amazing.