Alpino Giardiniera Hot Pepper Mix - Premium Italian Topping - 64oz (1/2 gallon)

First off I purchase this from Amazon for $21.10 in October 2022 and they have already raised the price in 37 days by $4. I’d say it’s still worth that but unclear why the sharp increase. It is a great value though. I’m pretty sure this is the product used at Jason’s Deli on their salad bar. Just like theirs it’s super hot, and has varied size cuts of peppers, at least 3 sizes I can tell and the carrots on the Alpino brand are cut into little rectangular blocks just like Jason’s. The key here is this product is “hot pepper mix”, so it’s more focused on the peppers than it would be for carrots, cauliflower and celery even though they are included. This is excellent topped on garlic toast, on blue cheese dressing, on ranch dressing, on crackers, and added to pasta. It’s hot ! And delicious! This product has always been what brings me back to Jason’s. It’s so unique. This summer we moved to an area in north Georgia where the closest Jason’s is now 42 minutes away and that’s when I went full bore on my quest to discover a similar if not equal product. I’ve seen in Jason’s external communications that mention the giardiniera as both a customer and management favorite. So I bought every product I could find with that word in it from Kroger, Wal mart; Publix, Amazon, Albertsons, food service direct, webstaurant store, round eye supply, rebel smuggling, and restaurant depot. This Alpino product from Amazon is the match I have been looking for. I’ll still eat at Jason’s when I’m in the area, but this will tide me over. Unless inventories have changed I was unable to find this anywhere else. I’m willing to bet Jason’s buys from a restaurant distributor. One thing is for sure, if this is what Jason’s uses it’s solidifies my opinion Jason’s uses only the finest ingredients and products available because that’s what this product is, the best in class hot pepper mix giardiniera available.

For those few who give a bad review and complain about a bad design, they are talking about the packaging -- someone else's product, not the Alpino product. The package is a jar, not designed to be thrown from an Amazon loading dock and dropped by a tired, clumsy or distracted truck loading employee. Jars break if dropped.As for the product; a great mix of serano peppers, olives, carrots, celery, cauliflower, salt, and a blend of spices in canola oil. Maybe not the perfect design -- olive oil instead of canola or soy oil, a little more (or less) cauliflower or salt or this or that... but it certainly tastes good and if you are in a Southern food desert where you cannot buy a good Italian Beef sangwich for love or money, you can make a very good approximation with thin sliced deli roast beef in a split hoagie roll or a 6" nah, 8" length of baguette heaped with this Alpino gardiniera. Optional, I suppose if you must, mozzarella. Then of course the gravy. I use a tablespoon or more, (to taste), of better than bouillion in two cups or so of water, simmered with a teaspoon (+/-) of a basil, thyme and oregano mix and a crushed clove of garlic. Warm up the sliced beef in the gravy before putting it on the sliced roll and the gravy takes on an almost "made fresh" flavor.Update 3-12-2022: I received a new order yesterday and was very disappointed to see that the box came soaked with oil, and the oil had leaked onto the front stoop, staining the stone and cement. While this does not change my mind about the product, I do not hold the seller in high regard for substandard, inadequate packaging. Others have had a similar experience and have posted videos of their experiences.

This is by far one of the best giarginiera on the market. It has a great balance of crisp veggies ie carrots, celery, cauliflower, olives and of course peppers, flavorful spices with just enough heat. I grab a fork and eat straight out of the jar I even take some on my weekend camping trips to nibble on, it's that addicting. I have tried many others, the last one I got was a hugh 64oz jar before realizing it was only peppers so I was disappointed. Try this one if you want the real thing.

Product received. The lid was cracked by product itself was not compromised. Would purchase again.

Good but expensive then if I can get it from a local store. In chicago's costco it was for $8 aprox.

The jar came with a cracked lid so we will need to put it in another container. That is unacceptable. There is no way to keep the product fresh in the container it was received in! I tried to upload a photo and the system won't let me do that.

Great product, ordered multiple times.

I have one thing to say... this product is exactly what I thought it would be.. it has passed as outstanding. More hot peppers in this jar then carrots, celery, a d onions... its simply fantastic, I will order more, as this is the product I remember as a teenager... excellent. Thank you.