On a recent trip to Italy, I had the opportunity to visit a co-op that makes Parmigiano Reggiano. It was a first for me – I have witnessed the cheesemaking process before and have even tried my hand at making chèvre but I have never before observed the making of a hard, aged cheese like Parmigiano Reggiano. A small group of farmers in the area bring milk to the co-operative each week and, starting at 5am every day, that milk begins a process that transforms it into a cheese so many of us know and love. Parmigiano Reggiano is a DOP product. In Italian, DOP stands for Denominazione di Origine Protetta (Protected Designation of Origin).
Posts Tagged ‘Italy’
Italian Cheese: The Makings of Parmigiano Reggiano
Posted in Cheese, Education, Italy, Travelogues, tagged casaro, Cheese, cheesemakers, cheesemaking, Cravero, curds, DOP, food, Italy, parm, Parmigiano Reggiano, ricotta, whey on November 26, 2011 | 1 Comment »
Bra, Italy 2011: A Visit to “Cheese”
Posted in Cheese, Italy, Travelogues, tagged Bra, Caggiano, Cantine Ascheri, Caseficio Caggiano, Cheese, Comté, enkir, food, Giorgio Cravero, Italy, Jason Hinds, Marcel Petite, Maria Caggiano, Matteo Ascheri, Mulino Marino, Neal's Yard Dairy, Parmigiano Reggiano, Philippe Goux, Randolph Hodgson, Romano Levi on October 21, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Every two years, the biggest festival in the cheese world happens in Bra, Italy. The event is known simply as “Cheese.” Cheesemakers, cheesemongers, journalists, food lovers and folks lucky enough to live close by, descend on the small town of Bra to sample, sell and eat literally tons of cheese.
Producer Profile: Azienda Agricola Pacina di Giovanna Tiezzi Borsa
Posted in Italy, Producer Profile, Wine, tagged Chianti, Chianti Colli Senesi, food, Giovanna Tiezzi, Italy, organic, Pacina, Sangiovese, Stefano Borsa, terroir, Wine, winemakers, yeasts on July 26, 2011 | 2 Comments »
If you are familiar with our wine philosophy, you will know how important natural, traditional farming is to us. In general, we have found that those winemakers who have a closer relationship to their land translate their terroir most authentically. Giovanna and Stefano are pioneers in their growing community, not only for their organic farming but also their commitment to tradition in both the vineyard and wine cellar.
Melting Cheese Traditions: Fondue, Fonduta & Aligot
Posted in Appetizers & Hors d'Oeuvres, Cheese, Main Dishes, Recipes, tagged Aligot, Appenzeller, Auvergne, Beaufort, Cantal, Cheese, Comté, cooking, Emmental, Emmentaler, fondue, fonduta, Fontina d'Aosta, Fontina Val d'Aosta, food, France, Gruyere, Italy, Laguiole, melted cheese, recipe, Recipes, Salers, Vacherin Fribourgeois on January 13, 2011 | 4 Comments »
We had the opportunity to try two French fondues. They were both delicious but the one Claude, the Chef du Cave at Marcel Petite, made for us was hands down the best fondue I have ever had.
Parmigiano Reggiano: Burglars, Banks and A Fifth Generation Family
Posted in Cheese, Italy, Producer Profile, tagged Cheese, Cravero, Emilia-Romagna, food, Italy, parm, Parmesan, Parmigiano Reggiano on January 6, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
While each wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano varies with the season, we find that Cravero parm tends to have a moist texture and flavors of pineapple, baked bread, and grass flavors. Well cared for and sourced from farms of the highest quality, it’s what we recommend to customers looking to include a Parmigiano on a cheese platter.
Part II: VinItaly ’10 – Memorable Tastings
Posted in Italy, Travelogues, Wine, tagged growers, Italy, sommeliers, tasting, terroir, varietal, Vini Veri, VinItaly, VinNatur, vintage, viticulture, Wine, wine buyers, winemakers on June 29, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
One of the most memorable tastings I had at VinItaly was with Valli Unite, a cooperative I visited in 2006, located in the hills outside of Tortona (essentially in the DOC Gavi growing area).
Part I: VinItaly ’10 – Checking In with Our Growers
Posted in Italy, Travelogues, Wine, tagged growers, Italy, sommeliers, tasting, terroir, varietal, Vini Veri, VinItaly, VinNatur, vintage, viticulture, Wine, wine buyers, winemakers on June 22, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
During the second week of April, I had the opportunity to attend VinItaly – one of the largest and most well-attended trade shows for wine professionals – and two smaller, organic off-shoot shows: VinNatur and Vini Veri
Guanciale: A New Staple for Your Pantry (or Freezer)
Posted in Italy, Meats & Charcuterie, tagged Amatriciana, bacon, Carbonara, food, guanciale, Italian cooking, Italy, Meats & Charcuterie, pancetta, pasta on June 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
I wish I could say that my first introduction to guanciale was in Rome, perhaps at one of those little family restaurants in a tiny alley just off the Campo dei Fiori. Alas… no.
A Special Find: Saladini Knives
Posted in Gifts & Wares, Italy, Producer Profile, tagged buffalo horn, cheese knife, cutlery, Italy, knife, knives, ox horn, Saladini on April 25, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Saladini knives were an accidental discovery for us – a happy case of being in the right place at the right time! Ihsan and Valerie, owners of Formaggio Kitchen, were on a trip in Italy to find new cheeses. One night, they happened to be staying in Verona and ended up going to the restaurant 12 Apostoli.
Formaggio Kitchen Online
Buy cheese online.Formaggio on Twitter
- Strawberries arrived in from Pell Farm in Somers, CT this morning + we made a batch of shortcake biscuits! twitpic.com/9rei7d 31 minutes ago
- Learn how to make jam with Rachel Saunders of @bluechairfruit this Sunday! Preserve summer in a jar: tinyurl.com/79talax 1 hour ago
- Planting tomatoes this summer? This @NatureMagazine article about the tomato genome might be of interest to you too! tinyurl.com/7b62hkn 20 hours ago
- Farm help needed - downeast coast of Maine: ow.ly/bfnWr 1 day ago
What we’re blogging about…
Archives
-
Flickr Photos
More Photos
