traditional balsamic vinegar adds a flair to gourmet cooking. A kitchen without aged balsamic vinegar is minus a wonderful flavor. Less than twenty years ago, aged balsamic was nearly an unnoticeable Italian accouterment. Now, gourmet chefs use it more and more. A couple of drops of the very best aged balsamic on ripe strawberries, bartlett pears, or other fruit is a customary combination to end a meal.