Buffalo Mozzarella

Does Mozzarella cheese actually come from Bufalo?

YES the real mozzarella does! And as we were interested in finding out more about the genuine Italian soft and delicate Mozzarella di Bufalo we visited an organic farm not far from Napoli.  The milking was all done by machines and the big black buffalo were well trained and extremely patient. After being milked they walked straight to their individual food boxes, with a greeting and a nuzzle from their neighbours on arrival.  Later we watched the cheese makers - such strong thumbs!   And realised why Mozzarella is so called: "mozzare" translates as "to cut off", and the mezzatura is the skilled process of doing that by pulling pieces off the main cheese stock. A simple light lunch served in the Vannulo dining area was perfect: wonderful  baby deep red pomodori, fresh bread, and mozzarella naturally. With a touch of Ricotta.

Slow Food Salone del Gusto, Torino

We visited the huge Salone del Gusto in Torino on Saturday.... the bi-annual main event of the Slow Food movement, celebrating the food we eat and the growers that grow it and make it.

The exhivition building is always absolutely chock-a-block with thousands of interested people looking, tasting, learning. Generally enjoying themselves. A coupon frm the newspaper got me a free lunch. Also a great cheese tasting... I'm still trying to find the actual name of the best runny cheese I've ever tasted. I was too late to book a workshop or formal tasting, but a generous man at the table offered me a large spoonful of his.

Pienza, Tuscany, Itay

The delightful small Renaissance hill town of Pienza is around 50km from Siena in Southern Tuscany. It's main piazza is Piazza Pio - simple and elegant. And its most famous food is pecorino cheese: we tasted several of their special cheeses at a shop on Corso Rossellino, and bought a Caprino, and a Pecorino Stagionatao to take home to add to our antipasti platter with drinks . Yum!