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This shop would make my Italian friend Helene cry! The smells that hit you when you walk in the door are heavenly!

Pastas are made fresh daily ... everything you can think of from lasagna, ziti, stuffed shells, cannelloni, ravioli, penne ... you name it. They have five different pasta machines.

I spoke with Mario who told me they bake their own bread daily ... there's nothing like fresh bread baking ... ummm!

And homemade desserts, tiramisu, cannoli, mini $.75 and large $1.75 ... now those are hard to find here. Also, biscotti and are you listening Marion? Chocolate sin cake! All kinds of fruit tortas, cakes and pastries ... I think I gained weight just looking in the cases!

You can find just about any Italian specialty food in here as well as a whole case of wonderful imported cheeses, big wheels to small wedges from provolone at $6.49 a pound to Munster at $5.99 a pound, grated cheeses and everything else in between.

I loved the case of imported olives. There was prosciutto de parma, hand made sausages ... sweet and Italian mild or hot, hot, hot! The meat counter featured osso bucco, beautiful veal chops, and beef braciole.

You can buy a pound of fresh pasta and a jar of their homemade sauces or they will put the whole thing together for you. One case is all prepared, chicken marsala, cheese cannelloni, pumpkin ravioli, gnocchi. And yes, they sell pizzas or you can just buy the dough and create your own.

You will find extra virgin olive oils in small bottles to one gallon size. What's a salad without balsamic vinegar? There were moss mushrooms in sunflower oil ... I don't know what they are but they sound pretty!

A Touch of Italy also carries fresh farm produce and herbs. A large selection of Italian canned goods. Fresh soups and stocks. A selection of fine wines. Freshly baked focaccia and sandwiches toasted in their panini press. You can buy one of their many prepared dishes, toss up a salad ... Waa-Laa ... you have a great Italian dinner ... who would know?

Want to have a Thank God The Holidays Are Over Party? You can order starters if you just want to do a cocktail party with half pans or full pans of stuffed zucchini, potato croquettes, proscuitto and melon, or chicken and spinach in puff pastry, to name a few. Or, a specialty platter with a 10-person minimum on all platters, antipasto, assorted cheeses or mozzarella caprese, assorted sandwiches and others.

They also do the pastas by half pan serves 8-10 or full pan serves 18-20.

Vegetables, seafood, meats, salads and desserts are also available by half pan or full pan. Take the pressure off -- kick back and let Touch of Italy cater for you. It will be a much talked about party!

A Touch of Italy was a great find and a little off the beaten path but worth looking for! They are located at 7890 Summerlin Lakes Drive in Fort Myers. Phone 482-8727. Go off Cypress Lake as you are going into Reflection Lakes in one block you will see Summerlin Lakes Drive on the right. A Touch of Italy is located in the little strip mall there.

BUON APPETITO!