Discover the Magic of Parmesan: Take a “Caseifici Aperti” Tour!

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Imagine waking up to the tantalizing aroma of fresh milk simmering in large cauldrons, witnessing master cheese makers transform this simple ingredient into the world-renowned Parmigiano Reggiano, and later, savouring a slice of this freshly made cheese. This isn’t a fantasy; it’s what awaits you during the “Caseifici Aperti” tour.

A Journey to the Heart of Italy’s Gastronomy

The “Caseifici Aperti”, which translates to “Open Dairies”, is an event unlike any other. Hosted in the heart of Italy’s Parmigiano Reggiano production area, it offers a rare peek into the time-honored tradition of cheese-making. Scheduled this year for October 7th and 8th, this is a weekend where the doors of numerous dairies swing open to the public, inviting one and all to delve into the world of Parmesan.

More than Just Cheese

While the cheese itself is undoubtedly the star of the show, the event promises an immersive experience. Here’s what to expect:

Live Demonstrations: Witness firsthand the artistry and skill involved in turning milk into Parmigiano Reggiano. The dedication of the ‘casari’, the cheese makers, is palpable as they work meticulously, following processes that have remained unchanged for centuries.
Interactive Sessions: Engage with the casari, ask questions, and understand the passion that drives them. Their tales weave a rich tapestry of tradition, culture, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
Gastronomic Delights: The tour is not just about watching and learning; it’s about tasting too! Relish freshly made Parmigiano Reggiano, and discover the nuances of its flavor profile.
Explore the Region: Beyond the dairies, the event is a celebration of the region. Tourists can explore local attractions, bask in the region’s natural beauty, and partake in various entertainment activities, including games, performances, and more at Iren Green Park in Reggio Emilia.

Make It A Weekend Affair

To make the most of your “Caseifici Aperti” experience, plan ahead:

Choose Your Dairy: With numerous dairies participating, you’re spoilt for choice. Whether it’s the CASEIFICIO UGOLOTTI in Parma or the SOCIETÀ AGRICOLA BERTINELLI GIANNI E NICOLA in Noceto, each dairy has its own unique story to tell.
Book in Advance: These tours are popular, and spots can fill up quickly. Once you’ve zeroed in on a dairy (or multiple dairies), reach out to them to secure your place.
Stay Local: The Parmigiano Reggiano production area is brimming with cozy accommodations. Staying local allows you to soak in the region’s charm and ensures you’re fresh and ready for your dairy tour.

The Parmigiano Reggiano Process: What to Expect at the Dairy

Parmesan, or as it’s authentically known, Parmigiano Reggiano, is the result of art, time, and tradition. Here’s a step-by-step overview of the fascinating process and what you might witness during your visit to the dairy:

Milk Collection: The journey begins with the collection of milk. Parmigiano Reggiano is made from a mix of evening and morning milk. The evening milk is left to rest overnight, allowing the cream to rise to the top. This cream is removed the next morning, and the partially skimmed milk is then combined with the fresh morning milk.
Copper Cauldrons: The combined milk is poured into large, bell-shaped copper cauldrons. Here, it’s gently warmed, and natural whey starter and calf rennet are added to initiate the curdling process.
Curds and Whey: As you watch, the milk will begin to coagulate and form curds. These curds are then broken down into tiny granules using a traditional tool called a ‘spino’. The mixture is heated once more until the curds settle at the bottom, separating from the whey.
Forming the Cheese: The settled curds are lifted with a muslin cloth and divided into two parts. Each part is wrapped in the cloth and placed in a circular mold called ‘fascera’. The weight of the curds compresses them, giving the cheese its characteristic wheel shape.
Salting and Aging: The freshly molded cheese wheels are then immersed in brine for salting. Once salted, the wheels are transferred to aging rooms, known as ‘cascine’. Here, they rest on wooden shelves and are regularly turned and cleaned. This is where the magic truly happens! Depending on the desired age of the cheese, it can be aged from 12 months to over 36 months.
Quality Inspection: Not every wheel makes the cut! Inspectors from the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium use a small hammer to tap the cheese and listen for defects. Only those that pass the rigorous inspection are fire-branded with the iconic Parmigiano Reggiano mark.

During your “Caseifici Aperti” tour, not only will you witness these stages, but you’ll also appreciate the skill and dedication of the ‘casari’. The ambiance of the dairy, the rhythmic sounds of cheese-making, and the sight of countless cheese wheels aging to perfection is an experience that stays with you long after the tour concludes. Whether you’re a cheese enthusiast or just a curious traveler, seeing the birth of Parmigiano Reggiano is a spectacle that is both educational and mesmerizing.

Foods that you must eat in Bologna

5 foods you should eat when visiting Bologna. This province has one of the greatest culinary tradition in Italy because its area encompasses the Appennini mountains and the Pianura Padana. The array of basic ingredients is enormous giving birth to sophisticated and traditional cuisine.

Crescentine or Tigelle.

a typical dish of Bologna and Modena: crescentine or also called tigelle

Crescentine are simple small breads traditional baked sandwiched in disks of clay and cooked by the kitchen fireplace. The ingredients for the dough are simply flour, water salt, yeast (sometimes a splash of cream). The greatness of this bread is that it becomes crispy outside and it is hot and moist inside therefore thy are just great when cut in half and stuffed with the local salumi. Crescentine are the food of the Appennini mountains and widely eaten across the provinces of Bologna and Modena. For a nice addition you should try them with Pesto alla Modenese. This nothing else than pork lard mixed with a pinch of salt, garlic, rosemary and parmesan cheese.

Mortadella

It is long the tradition of pork raising in the Emilia Romagna area. The meat is mostly consumed in form of sausages, salami and hams, and rarely eaten fresh. Bologna most iconic sausage is Mortadella. Lately this cooked sausage is living a revival and producers are trying to move away from the unhealthy image of a fatty sausage. According to the traditional recipe it must be made from the lean and noble parts of the animal which are ground to a fine paste, fat cubes and spices are added, then stuffed into a casing suitable for the size, and finally slowly cooked for 2/3 days at low temperature. Mortadella can be thinly sliced or cubed.

Parmigiano Reggiano.

Parmesan cheese is the king of cheeses. Made from high quality unpasteurised milk and aged from a minimum of 12 months. However rarely it is eaten at this age. Bolognese people like their cheese when it is at least 24 months old. At this age it has fully developed its potential flavours and it is suitable to enhance the stuffing of tortellini . Bologna produces Parmigiano Reggiano only on the west bank of the Reno River. At the moment of writing there are about 10 producers of the cheese in the Bologna area, you will find more proudcers in Mantua, Modena, Reggio Emilia and Parma.
Shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano can be also enjoyed with a few drops of traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena.

Tortellini.

Tortelllini are the quintessential Bologna’s winter food. In town there is no Christmas without a plate of tortellini cooked in capon broth. As the legend goes they have been shaped according to the navel of Lucretia Borgia. As she checked in to a INN, the host impressed by her beauty was trying to spy her from the keyhole, but he could only see her pretty belly button.
Traditionally tortellini are made from sheets of egg pasta. Then stuffed with minced pork, parmesan cheese, mortadella, prosciutto, and the recipe changes depending on the family who makes it. Today you can buy tortellini almost everywhere but the best ones are those made by hand. They are pricey but well worth every cents.

Zuppa Inglese.

To conclude our short guide to the Bologna food tour we wanted to include a dessert. After all sweets always close all good meals. Zuppa Inglese is another iconic dish of Bologna but quite common all over Emilia. This pudding is inspired from English trifles in fact the the name translate roughly to “The English Soup” . it is made from 2 custards: egg and a chocolate custard which are then layered on top of savoiardi biscuits (Italian Ladyfinger). These biscuits are spongy and especially made to soak up the liquors that are added.

Parmesan dot com Launches in the U.S.

Consorzio Del Formaggio Parmigiano-Reggiano Launches Parmesan.Com

by Marcelo Pinto Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

The Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano-Reggiano today launched its new US website, Parmesan.com in New York. This website is now the most comprehensive online resource for recipes and information on Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.

Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is a protected product and is one of the DOP cheese recognised in Italy. The website was created in partnership between Good Food Creative, Inc, 2nd Nature and Digital Brand Expressions, and New Jersey. It is designed to help Americans and the world in general understand and appreciate the history and uses of parmesan cheese better. Rather than just provide recipes, it is going to encourage users to interact and share so that they can learn more.

Parmesan cheese comes from Parma in northern Italy, and it is the original cheese that many American associate with cheeses from Italy that are hard, and have a strong savoury flavour. Parmesan cheese is considered a delicacy, in fact, it is the privilege of the true gourmand . Parmigiano Regiano is a brand that represents status and prestige in the world of cheeses as well, and eating it is a delightful experience.

A typical Parmesan cheese is made through a unique process of heating half fat milk, adding whey and rennet. The curds are then broken to obtain the grainy textures. Each vat has 1000 kilos of milk in it, and they will produce 2 wheels each. The cheese is aged for minimum 12 months before being labelled Parmigiano Reggiano by an expert from the consortium. For few centuries ago and till now, the waste whey from the process was fed to pigs which were then slaughtered for making Parma ham.

Visitors to the launch were treated to a taste of Parmigiano Reggiano as part of a 3 course meal that was prepared by Chef Michael White of Wisconsin who discovered and fell in love with Parmesan cheese in the course of his cooking career.

Parmesan.com will provide cooking inspiration through plenty of recipes, ranging from simple salads to main dishes. Chefs and other Parmesan.com community members are free to share the recipes with visitors, as well as rate recipes from around the world. The site also allows both visitors and members to contribute newly discovered meal ideas, build a recipe box of favorite recipes, test their knowledge of Parmesan cheese and learn how Parmigiano Regianno cheese is made. To get started, register at parmesan.com you can do so and log in using your Facebook account.