How to Buy Cheese in Italy

Much like in the US, you can buy cheese at the deli counter. Near the deli there is usually some already pre-packaged and pre-weighed cheeses for you to browse as well. Personally, I like my cheese fresh cut, so I recommend going to the deli versus buying it pre-packaged. Alternatively you can get cheese from a caseificio, which is a shop that specializes in dairy products. These shops are usually close to the farm where the sheep / cows are bred. — Vorrei… – I would like… Parmigiano Reggiano 24 mesi (DOP): This is the good stuff. You can grate it or eat it; it’s good on or with just about every primo or secondo. — Poi? – Anything else? Hint: Rachel prefers 24 months to 12 months aged… the 24 months aging time makes it not too hard, and not too soft, but you can find both younger and older. Carlotta says that the 36 months is the best but to be prepared for a veeeery high cost! — Basta. – That’s enough. Pecorino (Romano, Toscano, Sardo) DOP: Pecorino is a sheep’s milk cheese. I prefer the Sardo version slightly more (to me it tastes more earthy), but they are all delicious. You can find fresh pecorino, aged, or super aged pecorino cheeses. Obviously the more it’s aged the “stinkier” it gets, meaning it has a bolder and less milky flavor. — Fetta – Slice — Fettina – Thin slice Ricotta: Want to know my secret to buying a good ricotta? Goat’s milk ricotta over cow’s milk ricotta, all day every day. The goat’s milk ricotta is sweeter and so delicious. I love an afternoon snack of ricotta on toast drizzled with oil and salt. Mmmm. — Un etto – 1/10th of a kilo, aka 100 grams. 1kg =2.2 lb so 1/10 of 2.2 is just barely under ¼ lb — Due / tre etti – Plural of etto, for more than 100 grams — Grammi – Grams, you can also order in grams instead of saying etti -- Buongiorno! Oggi vorrei tre etti di pecorino. – Good morning! Today I would like 300 grams of pecorino. Burrata: Burrata is essentially mozzarella, but a softer, milkier, buttery version. It’s great to be eaten when you want even more mozzarella flavor and texture. -- Bene allora, ma che tipo di pecorino? Abbiamo pecorino sardo o toscano. – OK, that’s’ fine but what type of pecorino? We have pecorino from Sardinia and Tuscany. Stracchino: This is a type of cow’s milk cheese that is delicious and gooey and so good as an appetizer with prosciutto crudo. It’s a fresh cheese, no rind, and sometimes known as “crescenza.” -- Ohhh quello Sardo di certo! – Oooo, the Sardinian one of course! Stracciatella: I would be a bad Pugliese girl if I didn’t mention this cheese! A cow’s milk cheese, similar again to mozzarella, it is produced by stretching and pulling. Delicious with an antipasto or some fresh tomatoes and olives! -- Un mezzo kilo per favore. — Half a kilo, please! Ricotta salata: Salted ricotta is AMAZING. Not everyone has tried it, and it’s definitely not a cheese you eat by the slice (too salty to eat alone) but grated on top of pasta in place of parm, or served in small cubes baked into a pasta dish, it’s truly fantastic. OK, quanto ne vuoi? – How much do you want? When the deli worker is done, he will usually say, “poi?” (or “altro?” or “vuole dell’altro?”) meaning, “anything else?” I continue this way, asking about or ordering just one or two items at a time, until I am done and I give a hearty, “basta, grazie” or “that’s enough, thanks”. OTHERS Una vera eccellenza del nostro territorio! Consigliatissimo per le mozzarelle ! Ricette - http://www.caseificiomaremmaintuscia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=16&Itemid=250 CPF >> Wondering what DOP means? Denominazione di Origine Protetta or Protected Designation of Origin, which means it was produced according to super strict standards. This label is definitely something you want to look for when buying a cheese like parmigiano. For more resources visit: http://iceberg.co/italian Special thanks to The Creative Impostor Studios for producing this show, to Patreon supporters for helping fund the show, and to the lovely Timarie Harrison for putting all of the pieces together. It takes a village. Like the podcast? Leave a review in Apple Podcasts! If you like the podcast, I would appreciate it a TON if you left a review. You can hit a star rating in your Podcasts app on your iPhone or go to the iTunes store and click Leave a Review on the show page.