Ever feel like just jumping on a plane to Italy and enjoying their legendary cuisine? We do all the time! However, actually doing it can be difficult at best. So instead pick up some of the great Italian cheeses Zabar’s has to offer and create your own Italian experience with a few of your closest friends. Step out of the familiar and into the great unknown. As with any new adventure, it will be memorable and give you a little different perspective.
Interestingly, Italy exports more cheese by weight into the U.S. than any other country. This is thanks to such heavy cheeses as Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Romano and Gorganzola. However, Italy does not just produce those enormous, aged cheeses. No, in fact they produce numerous petite, luscious cheeses that are just as wonderful and perhaps not as well known as their bigger, harder counterparts. These little treasures are exactly what caught our eye this week. Cravanzina is so delicate and velvety it makes our mouth water just thinking about it. So creamy and buttery yet slightly nutty and complex thanks to the blend of milks. Bianco Sottobosco may be small in stature but not in taste. Slightly dry yet dissolves in your mouth leaving a wonderful truffle and nutty taste that makes you remember it long after it is gone. Taleggio is the biggest of our collection but it is so soft and slightly pudgey that you cannot help but to want to squeeze him! Beefy yet creamy. Wonderfully balanced. And Zola Crèma is so gorgeous with it’s blue and white striping that you almost don’t want to cut it. Almost…
So come away with us and try some of Italy’s softer treasures…you won’t forget it!
Visit Zabar's at 80th & Broadway Tomorrow, Thursday, November 5th at 3 pm and 5 pm For a sampling from Zabar's Four Cheese Italian Adventure cheese plate Featuring: Cravanzina, Bianco Sottobosco, Taleggio, Zola Crema
With over 600 cheeses in the Zabar’s cheese department, there is bound to be a few that get passed over. But these cheeses have not been forgotten. In fact, for those that know them, they are loved and never missing from the shopping basket. But we want to make sure that all cheeses get their moment of fame so we are featuring four lesser known cheeses that are stables in the cheese department for a reason.
Chaubier is that cheese that no one dislikes. The blending of cow and goat’s milk makes it flavorful but not too “goaty.” Semi-soft and creamy. The essential “table cheese” meaning you could bring it out for breakfast, enjoy it with some crusty bread and fresh vegetables for lunch and serve it with toasted nuts for dessert. No matter what time of day it is, this cheese is ready and perfect. Manouri is another one of those “table cheeses” that is as versatile as a cheese can be. Even its roots prove that this cheese was born of necessity and prudence. Instead of throwing away or feeding the animals the whey from Feta production, the Greeks added milk or cream to it and made Manouri. This way nothing was wasted and another cheese was created that could be used for everything from breakfast with honey, to salads at lunch and for spanikopita at dinner. One taste and you can just imagine the possibilities. Etivaz is like Gruyere on steroids. Full flavored with an aroma of apple cider, this cheese is a cult favorite that will knock your socks off and then have you coming back for more. Montagnola Blue is another blue cheese from Germany that is can be used for about anything a.k.a. “table cheese.” The Germans have set the standard in consistency and high quality. This cheese is both those things and it is delicious too!
So give these lesser knowns a chance and fill you table with cheese for every occasion.
Sometimes, good things pass under the radar and are often forgotten. Cheese is no exception. There are cheeses that are often overlooked but this does not mean that they are not worthy of attention. Many of these cheeses come from European Countries that sit on the Northern Sea. These countries are small in size but they produce delicious cheeses that are unique as well as delicious. So we decided to shine a little light on these tasty cheeses and share what we already knew…these cheeses are great examples of industriousness, creativity and hard work - and they taste great too!
Wynedale is the perfect example of a Trappist cheese, meaning that it is made in a monastery and nunnery where necessity and hospitality has motivated the creation of great, full flavored cheeses. These cheeses are usually made from cow’s milk and washed in beer, wine or brine. Wynedale is made in Belgium but until recently was not available here. Its creamy texture and rich, complex flavor will make this cheese a new favorite with everyone who tastes it. Leerdammer is an innovative, relatively new cheese from Holland that blends Gouda creaminess with Swiss flavor. Wildly popular in Europe, this cheese is worth a try and you can always use the leftovers for a great sandwich the next day. Mimolette is a stunning cheese that from a distance may look like a cantaloupe but make no mistake, this cheese is hard and sharp especially when aged. It is made in Normandy, France and in the Netherlands where it can be enjoyed at many different ages. By 12 months this cheese has acquired a burnt orange color, dry crystal-filled texture and slightly smoky, sharp taste. Blue Castello is a wonderfully, creamy Danish blue that is not too strong yet not too boring. It is the perfect blue for beginners and children while pleasing everyone else.
These cheeses prove that good things do come in small packages or from small countries. Go ahead and see for yourself!
Have you ever wanted to give your kids a new cheese but didn’t know what? Have you ever hosted a party with lots of kids attending and you wanted to serve a cheese platter that everyone would like? Well have no fear! At Zabar’s we see lots of kids and have discovered some cheeses that they are sure to love. And even better, adults will like them too! So the kids are happy! Mom and Dad are happy! What more could you ask for?
St. Andre has been a favorite for a long time. Rich, buttery, smooth and mild, there is nothing offensive about this cheese. If your kids like butter on bread or cream cheese on their bagel, why not spread some St. Andre on a baguette instead? They will never go back. A semi-soft texture and nutty flavor with a sharp finish makes Pere Joseph a kid’s favorite here at Zabar’s. Some even walk up to the counter and ask for it all by themselves. It comes from Belgium where it is often served at breakfast with fresh fruit. Why not try that too and see what the kids think? It melts well too so use it in a grilled cheese to change things up a bit. St. Arnoux has the perfect consistency for kids and its flavor is a pleasant mixture of smokiness and mild Swiss. It’s petit size and chocolate brown rind is sure to heighten its appeal. Etorki is a cheese that proves that kids can like sheep’s milk cheeses. Modeled after the famous Ossau-Itaty cheeses of Southern France, Etorki is mild and smooth. The nutty, not too strong flavor makes this a sure bet with adults and kids. Try it with some fresh vegetables including sweet peppers and broccoli. Or serve it with apples and pears for an after school snack!
Opening a child’s mind to the vast world of cheeses can help cultivate a love for cheese that will last a lifetime. There are so many varieties that they are sure to find something they love. So the next time you build a cheese plate, make it kid friendly and open up a new world!
Diverse, regionally specific, and countless. These are three words that describe the cheeses of Italy. The Romans can be thanked for supporting a cheese industry that is still one of the most complex and exciting in the world. Many of the cheeses produced in Italy are still consumed by Italians, often times the cheeses never even make it out of their regions. However, in the last few years more and more have made their way here and we at Zabar’s are proud to offer as many as we can. So forget about the exchange rate or the language barrier and come with us for a tour of Italy’s great cheeses!
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Rocchetta is a fine example of the small, creamy cheeses that Piedmont is known for. With its blending of milks it is like a mini tour of flavors in your mouth. Ricotta Salata is to the Italians what Manouri is to the Greeks, a bi-product of feta production that is used for just about anything. Almost too white, this soft yet flakey cheese is not too salty, slightly nutty and crowd pleasing! Parmigiano Reggiano is well….everything a cheese should be! Held as one the best cheeses in the world, it never disappoints and should be used for more than grating. Set out a piece with honey and walnuts after dinner and your guests will be talking about that dessert for weeks to come! Then, Gorgonzola Mountain is Italy’s Roquefort. This definitive blue cheese packs a punch - but a sweet punch that never leaves you with a sour face.
So come and taste the cheeses that helped the Romans build an empire!
Check out some of our great values…We have Raw Milk French Morbier for just $5.98 per lb. We also have French Emmental now on sale for $4.98 per lb. And for all your holiday needs, pick up some Munster for just $3.98 per lb.
