cheese

CHOOSING WHAT TO OFFER ONLINE

mozzarella di bufala

Salumeria Italiana is a small store, but it's packed with hundreds of products. Wonderful salumi from soppressatas to prosciuttos to cinghiale(wild boar) and all kinds of salamis. Delicious cheeses from the classic aged Parmigiano Reggiano to Crucolo to Moliterno al Tartufo to Robiola and dozens more. Olives, San Marzano DOP tomatoes, anchovies, capers, sea salt, breadsticks, rices, and much, much more. 

We try to offer as much as possible in our online store, excluding a few products that are too perishable to ship. And we try to add new foods as soon as possible after they come into the store. We're always getting exciting new foods in -- and if our staff is excited about a new extra virgin olive oil, a special wine vinegar, or even a delicate olive oil soap, we want to share that excitement. And Goni, our manager who does most of the ordering, also tries to make sure your favorites are replenished regularly.

Recently, a distributor brought in La Bonta Campania Bufala Mozzarella DOP shipped frequently from Italy. Our staff members tasted it, and the verdict was unanimous: This was a cheese that we had to offer. Although it costs a little more, the delicacy of its flavor and its smooth texture make it worth the difference. A summer delight, this mozzarella pairs beautifully with sun-kissed tomatoes, a drizzle of super-premium extra virgin olive oil, a few leaves of basil. Iconic, simple and perfect for any occasion. This will be online soon -- in the meantime, just call 800-400-5916, and we can send it to you. Or come in to pick it up. We're eager to share our exciting find with you!! 

 

CHEESE AND LIFE

saffron cheeseWe recently were privileged to tour the caves of Luigi Guffanti in Arona, Italy on Lake Maggiore. Here, Carlo Fiori and his sons age cheese purchased from small cheesemakers in Italy and France. Their skill in affinatore, or aging, is so prized that the Wall Street Journal just named Guffanti one of the 10 best cheese operations in the WORLD!!. We're happy for them, and so proud that we carry Luigi Guffanti cheeses.

Carlo Fiori, the great-grandson of the founder, is a poet of cheese. He told us how the land, the cows, their feed, the cheesemakers, and finally the affinatore revealed the soul of the cheese. In one of the caves are three cheeses marked with dates. This, Signore Fiori explained, signified the birth of three grandchildren, part of a tradition in Italian cheesemaking families. The dated cheeses would be opened and eaten on momentous occasions such as a young man's entrance into the military, a wedding day, or even a death. "For cheese," Signore Guffanti said, "is for all the times in life -- the bad as well as the good. Cheese is life."

Watch for news of more Luigi Guffanti in our retail and online store. Gaetano is looking at 5-year-old Parmigiano Reggiano, which the Guffanti staff thinks is the perfect age for this regal cheese.