Additional information
PACKSIZE | 12/5.3 OZ |
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Only the finest wheels are heat-branded with the Parmigiano Reggiano trademark. Did you know that Parmigiano Reggiano is produced exclusively in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena, in the Bologna area left of the river Reno and in the Mantua area to the right of the river Po? On these farms, cows are fed a controlled diet based on locally produced fodder, in full compliance with the regulations of the Protection Consortium, which forbids the use of silage fodder, fermented feeds and animal-origin meals.
No cheese case would be complete without Gorgonzola, Italy’s contribution to the big blues of the world. This piccante version, called Mountain Gorgonzola, is a “natural” type of cheese, and matures for 90 days. With its buttery consistency and fervent blue veining, it straddles the line between creamy and crumbly, making it suitable for the table as well as sauces and salads.
Created by Antonio Carpenedo, Perla Grigia, which translates as “gray pearl”, is the original truffle cheese preserved under ash, or sotto cenere in Italian. This cow’s milk cheese, produced in Veneto, is quite soft and smooth with the distinct characteristic of actual small slices of black truffle incorporated into the paste. Its rind is rubbed with a mixture of beechwood ash and spices that allows the cheese to remain soft and gives it its gorgeous, pearly appearance. Unique and unforgettable, Perla Grigia is exceptional as a table cheese and also possesses a beautiful melting quality that makes it perfect for use in the preparation of many dishes. The history of this company began in early 1900 when Ernest Carpenedo began working as a “casoin” (a dialect term meaning a cheese seller) in a little shop in the village of Preganziol (TV). From these humble beginnings, Ernesto’s son and founder of La Casearia, Antonio Carpenedo, became one of the first cheese affineurs in Italy and today he runs the business with his son Alessandro. “The cheeses of the Antonio Carpendedo cellar” are not only appreciated around Europe but overseas as well.
Produced according to ancient traditions in the sheepfolds by Sardinian shepherds with raw milk to preserve the high nutritional value of sheep’s milk. The texture inside is firm, it has a characteristic smoky aroma and a spicy, savory taste. It has the typical shape “a dorso di mulo” that means rounded sides, a wrinkled rind, smoked and dark in color due to the treatment with olive oil during maturation. The cheese inside is white tending to straw-yellow. After selecting the best cheese, the Pinna Company takes care of the maturation, the smoking process and the product marketing stage.
Caciocavallo cheese is shaped like a tear-drop and is similar in taste to the aged southern Italian Provolone cheese, with a hard edible rind. It has a mild, slightly salty flavor and firm, smooth texture when young (about 2 months). As it ages, the flavor becomes more pungent and the texture more granular, making it ideal for grating.
Some may mispronounce this deliciously rich, fresh, Italian cheese as “Mar-sca-pone,” when in fact, the luscious sounding “Mas-car-po-ne” is the amazingly creamy cheese. No matter how it is pronounced, Gelmini Mascarpone has a pale, cream-colored paste and soft, spreadable texture. With a feel that is more akin to clotted cream, Mascarpone is made from cow’s milk and features a light taste with a slight tang and a rich, silky texture. The cream is churned like butter and then drained for a thick, luxurious feel. While Mascarpone is known as the cheese that defines Tiramisù, it actually pre-dates the dessert by approximately 400 years, with its origin said to be set in the 16th century in Lombardi, Italy. Today, Gelmini, located in the Ticino River Valley of Lombardy, uses only the freshest, finest, local cow’s milk to create their incredibly full-bodied cheese.