When exploring Italian food labels, two acronyms appear more often than any others: DOP and IGP. For a practical example, see our list of DOP balsamic vinegar producers in Modena. Both are European quality designations. Both are intended to protect traditional food products from imitation and misuse. But they are not the same thing, and […]
DOP vs IGP – What’s the Difference and Why It Matters Read Post »
Emilia-Romagna produced some of the most adventurous architecture, painting, and sculpture of the Italian Baroque — not from a single centre but across six cities, each with distinct artistic ambitions. This guide covers the principal Baroque monuments city by city, with practical information for visiting. Piacenza Piacenza’s Baroque legacy centres on Piazza Cavalli, one of
Discover the Heart-Stopping Beauty of Baroque in Emilia-Romagna Read Post »
Montechiarugolo sits 15 kilometres southeast of Parma in the agricultural plain between Parma and Reggio Emilia — territory that produces Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, and Lambrusco, yet sees relatively few of the visitors who come to the region for its food. The village is built around a medieval castle with cylindrical towers that have
Montechiarugolo: Parma’s Medieval Castle Village in the Food Valley Read Post »
Slow Food, the international movement dedicated to protecting traditional and regional food cultures, has launched a public petition calling for a ban on powdered milk in cheese production. The campaign supports an Italian law introduced in 1974 that prohibits the use of powdered milk in products such as yogurt, traditional caciotta cheeses, robiola, authentic mozzarella
Save Parmesan Cheese From EU Bureaucrats Read Post »
According to The Guardian, during recent trade talks the European Union expressed its intention to restrict the use of European cheese names in the United States. Parmesan was one of the cheeses specifically mentioned in the discussions. The EU argues that many cheeses produced in the U.S. pale in comparison to their European originals and,
EU Stops USA to Use the Name “Parmesan” For Fake Cheeses Read Post »
For decades, Americans who wanted genuine Prosciutto di Parma had to either visit Italy or rely on inferior substitutes. That changed in 2013, when the USDA lifted a long-standing ban on cured pork imports from northern Italy. Parma ham is now legally imported and sold across the United States — but finding the real thing,
Importing Parma Ham in the USA is Now Much Easier Read Post »