The culture of good food is as central to the heart and soul of Italy as practically any other facet of the Dolce Vita. Each of Italy’s regions is renowned for distinctive food and wine specialties, all lovingly produced with pride and tradition. Yet only one region, Emilia Romagna, has earned the nickname of Italy’s “food basket.” Considered to be...

The export trajectory of Italian cheeses remains on a steady ascent, boasting a turnover of 4.1 billion euros in the initial ten months of 2023. These figures, signaling a global surge of 13.7% and a 15.8% uptick in the European market, are unveiled through analyses conducted by Confcooperative, the association of Italian cooperative producers, lev...

Emilia-Romagna solidifies its standing as the second-largest economic driver for Geographical Indication products in Italy. The province of Parma, boasting a value of 1.67 billion euros, takes the lead regionally, according to the latest Ismea-Qualivita 2023 report on Italy’s ‘PDO Economy.’ The figures depict a thriving sector on a national scale,...

When I used to be a cheesemonger (at a store that specifically only sold American-made cheeses), one of the things that confused customers the most was that we didn’t sell Parmesan cheese. Not a single wedge! This was simply because American Parmigiano Reggiano does not technically exist. Yes, you can pick up a hunk of something labeled “Parmesan”...

"Taste Atlas," an online portal that reports on the world's best food and wine experiences, in its "100 best cheeses in the world 2023-2024" ranking has crowned Parmigiano Reggiano as the world's best cheese. Second is Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, which takes the lead and in the "soft cheese" section. Completing the all-Italian podium is Stracchin...

italy has given the world many delicious cheeses, and, without a doubt, Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano are among the most notable and beloved. Ubiquitous in our kitchens, they are commonly used in pasta dishes, can be incorporated into fillings, and overall enhance our culinary experiences. But, while some people use them interchangeably—or e...

The National Italian American Foundation 48th Anniversary Gala, held on October 14, 2023, in Washington, D.C., at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, brought together a remarkable assembly of esteemed honorees, influential guests, and supporters to celebrate the rich heritage and achievements of Italians and Italian Americans. The evening was a resounding suc...

When is a cheese not what it seems? When it’s a fake parmesan. Italy’s renowned parmigiano reggiano, favoured for finishing off bowls of pasta and rocket salads, is one of the most counterfeited cheeses in the world. Now its manufacturers have found a new way to hit back against the lookalikes: by adding microchips.  The move is the latest innovati...

Parmigiano Reggiano is an Italian excellence that has a history of over a thousand years.  Like many other Italian cheeses it is widely used in the preparation of incredible dishes. Great to bite freely or sipping a red wine, seasoning and enters once grated in all Italian pasta sauce, both simple, stuffed or layered.  Still today it is produced fo...

Sales figures of Parmigiano Reggiano PDO in international markets are getting brighter and brighter. With 64,202 tons exported in 2022, the export share increased by two percentage points up to 47 percent. Among destination countries, the best-performing markets last year were Spain (+11.3% with 1,602 tons vs. 1,439 in 2021), the US, which is the f...