Archive for the ‘Cheeses of the World’ Category

Parmigiano-Reggiano: The World’s Greatest Cheese

Thursday, February 17th, 2011

The Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is known to be the world’s greatest cheese. It is one of the best specialties in Italian cuisine. Parmigiano Reggiano has been handcrafted by Italian artisans for centuries. Made from cow’s unpasteurized milk, hard and pressed. This Italian cheese is aged for 30 to 36 months. Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is a delicious, rich and full-flavored cheese. It is used to add tremendous flavor to many dishes. It is also a very delectable table cheese. You can grate it and add it to your pastas and baked dishes.

Choosing the Best Parmigiano Reggiano

Choose the best Parmigiano cheese. You have to select a high quality Parmigiano cheese. If you want to be sure, buy the one that still has a rind on it so you can be sure of the origin. Authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese has a traditional marking on the entire wheel of cheese. This cheese comes from Italy’s provinces in Reggio in Emilia parts of Modena and Parma. The unique flavor of this cheese is impossible to imitate. When you are buying at your gourmet cheese store, talk to their cheesemongers and ask all the details regarding their Parmigiano cheese.  Establish a relationship with your local cheese store or supplier and know where the cheese came from. Also, determine how long the cheese is aged. It should be aged at least one year or more.

Serving Parmigiano Reggiano

Since parmesan cheese are always used extensively in pasta dishes, we suggest to buy the authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. It is the best authentic parmesan cheese in the world. Parmigiano Reggiano cheese makes a great table and dessert cheese. You can serve and break it in small chunks or curls and match it with good seasonal fruits. You can cut it in bite-sized slices. You can put a few drops of honey over your Parmigiano for more enjoyment. You can cut your Parmigiano in paper thin slivers or grate it into your mixed green salad. You can also use the rind to flavor your soup, it will add a rich, great texture and full of flavor.

Nutritional Value of Parmigiano-Reggiano

Parmigiano Reggiano is an excellent source of protein, calcium and other vitamins and minerals. Parmigiano’s high level of calcium and phosphorous makes it an extremely useful nutrient for those suffering from osteoporosis. As valuable for your health as it may be, this cheese will bring exquisite taste and aroma to any dish you prepare this with.

Shopping for a Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is easy today. There are a lot of gourmet cheese stores selling genuine cheese products. If you haven’t tried one yet, try one now. You can go to your local cheese stores and shop for the authentic Parmigiano cheese. You can also shop at a gourmet cheese shop online. Just make sure you are buying authentic Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Tete de Moine: Swiss Cheese That Complements Any Dish

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Have you heard of the Tete de Moine cheese? If you’re tired of buying different kinds of cheese for different kinds of dish then this cheese is the solution to your dilemma. Tete de Moine, in English translation, is monk’s head. This refers to the bald head monks in Bellelay, Switzerland. This cheese dates back to 1520, made at the Swiss Alps called Bernese Jura.  Tete de Moine is defining what real gourmet Swiss cheese is all about. It is a true masterpiece of cheese making. This Swiss cheese is an unpasteurized cow’s milk that is cooked lightly. The aroma is simply amazing. Its flavor is so complex and this particular cheese exhibits much more flavor and aroma compared to other Swiss cheeses. It is truly a fantastic gourmet Swiss cheese.

Cutting the Cheese
Tete de Moine cheese is very aromatic even before you cut them into pieces. To be able to experience the full extent of its aroma and flavor, it would be best to have it shaved with a knife into thin slices. A wonderful tool that is so perfect for shaving this cheese is the Swiss made Girolle. This tool is specially designed for accenting cheese platters and making perfect cheese rosettes. This will give you a perfect shaving with your Tete de Moine cheese at a minimum effort.  But if you don’t have this particular tool, you can use your knife. You can thinly cut the top off with your knife and then shave it.

Keeping it Fresh
To keep the freshness of your Tete de Moine, store this cheese in the refrigerator. You can wrap it with aluminum foil or a waxed paper can also be very useful. You can serve this gourmet cheese with almost anything. It is certainly fantastic to serve it in fresh salad. You can mix it with fruits like apples and grapes. It also complements well with prosciutto or other cured meats. You can put in on top of crackers or for whatever food that you will serve it with. When you use this Swiss cheese, rest assured that there won’t be any leftovers.

You can buy Tete de Moine Swiss cheese in gourmet cheese stores or you can also order it online thru online cheese shops. Although it would be best to buy it on cheese shops so you can really check the quality of the cheese, buying this cheese online through the Ideal Cheese website will be as good as buying it in your local retail cheese store. You may also ask the stores cheese expert for some advice on what is the best wine that you can pair with this cheese. Before you buy Tete de Moine cheeses just make sure the shop you are buying is trusted in selling authentic cheeses. This cheese is certainly worth the price.  If you are looking to buy for the top quality Swiss cheese, then Tete de Moine cheese is the right choice. So go and try one now!

Pecorino Gran Cru: Best Quality Sheep’s Milk Cheese that is Perfect for You

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

If you are looking for a best quality sheep’s milk cheese, the Pecorino Gran Cru is another exquisite cheese that is perfect for you. This cheese is a newcomer on the scene building on a long tradition of Sardinian pecorinos. Pecorino Gran Cru is a cheese that has been produced for hundreds of years but recently made its way from Italy to the rest of the world.  This is a best quality sheep’s milk cheese that is aged for 20 months in cheese banks with the use of the Parmigiano Reggiano technology, better known as the Parmesan Cheese technology.  The use of this method preserves and accentuates the characteristic flavors of Sardinian cheese beyond the unique way the cheese is made. The milk comes from the high mountain milk, producing a very poignant taste that is unlike any other Pecorino cheese.

Pecorino Gran Cru cheese has a balanced structure and firm texture. You would be surprised by the complexity of its aroma and the sweet touch of fresh milk. This cheese is perfect when eaten alone. You will be able to taste its amazing flavor when it touches and melts in your mouth. It can be complemented with a drop of aromatic honey or paired with a glass of robust red wine. You can use Pecorino Gran Cru cheese as a table cheese. You can use it for grating, for your garnishes and you can use it in soups. If you will try to add this traditional Sardinian cheese on your dishes would surely experience a creamy, delicious and delectable dish. It is a great complement to appetizers, pastas and sandwiches. You can slice or grate the cheese depending on the type of food you are preparing.

Certainly this is another top quality cheese that you should try. If you haven’t tried this creamy and tasty cheese, you should try one now. It would be best to buy this Sardinian cheese to known gourmet cheese shops that are distributing this delectable cheese. In that way you will be sure of the quality of your cheese you are buying. Buying in cheese shops has also one advantage, you can ask for more information from their respective cheese experts. You may also try to shop through online cheese shops to find a good quality Pecorino Gran Cru cheese. For one, Ideal cheese is offering this sweet tasty cheese. You may also be able to find other good quality cheese that they have in their ideal cheese board selection. So for the best quality sheep’s milk cheese, the Pecorino Gran Cru is definitely the perfect one for you.