Parmigiano Reggiano Pull-Apart Garland

This gorgeous garland of pull-apart bread makes a spectacular centrepiece for special occasions. ➤ SERVES 8 ➤ PREPARATION 30 minutes (plus time for rising and proving) ➤ COOKING 20-25 minutes Ingredients: 500g White bread flour, plus extra for sprinkling 1 tsp Salt 1 tbsp Caster sugar 1 Rounded tsp. easy-blend yeast 300ml Warm water 4 tbsp Red pesto […]

Parmigiano Reggiano – the process

Have you ever wondered how Parmesan is created? Wonder no more! Chris Allsop discovers the process behind the making of Italy’s favourite cheese 1 To start the Parmesan making process the milk is steamed in shallow, copper lined vats. The cream is taken away to make butter and the remainder slowly separates into curds and whey […]

Parmigiano Reggiano: the king of cheeses

Chris Allsop flies to Emilia Romagna to tour a Parmigiano Reggiano dairy and discover how this world-famous cheese is created…   “When I have French groups, they have many excellent cheeses, but they do not have Parmigiano Reggiano.” Our guide, Helena, puts her fingers together and gestures aggressively. “They have to accept.” Only five minutes into […]

Buy Italia: Parmigiano Reggiano

Hailing from Emilia-Romagna, the clue is in the name: Parmigiano Reggiano is the ‘king’ of Italian cheeses. We tried seven savoury samples to find our favourite. Parmesan enjoys Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status, meaning that similar hard cheeses from other regions – and of varying quality – cannot use its name. As a rule, […]

Parmigiano Reggiano Protests

There seems to be something really grating cheesemakers in Italy at the moment – particularly those who produce the infamous Parmigiano Reggiano. Parmigiano Reggiano creators plan to line the streets of Bologna this week, in protest against impetuous imposters that are using Parmigiano Reggiano’s fame to cash in on inferior cheeses that just don’t cut […]

5 foodie reasons to visit Modena

Discover five delicious reasons to visit Modena… 1. Beautiful balsamic vinegar Modena is a favourite with gastronomes for many reasons, but one of its greatest attractions has to be its world-acclaimed balsamic vinegar. The DOP product has been made in the city since the Middle Ages, and unlike ordinary vinegar is made from reduced grape […]

The top 10 reasons you should visit Gavi

We are all familiar with Gavi wine, but how much do we know about the region it comes from? Marina Spironetti reveals ten reasons why you should make ‘Gavishire’ your next destination… Images by Marina Spironetti unless otherwise stated. The name Gavi is a favourite on any wine list. One of Piedmont’s most popular exports, […]

Italy’s top five cheeses

Italy’s cheeses are famed throughout the world – and with good reason! Here are our top five… which is your favourite?! Photos by iStock/ Getty Images 1 Parmigiano-Reggiano, the undisputed king of Italian cheeses (above), comes from a designated area around Modena, Parma and Reggio Emilia, and is a grana, or hard cheese, with a nutty, […]