Bella Lodi is Bellissimo

Hailing from Parco Adda Sud, in Lombardy in the north of Italy and home to Gorgonzola and Tallegio cheese, Bella Lodi cheese has much, but not all, of the intensity of Parmigiano Reggiano. And at just under $20/kg, it is not as intensely expensive, either.

A whitish cows’ milk cheese sometimes with a dark rind, I really enjoyed the slight crunch of calcium lactate (protein) cheese crystals that you find in many cheese, including the aforementioned Parmigiano. It is not too sharp and not too salty, and I thought I detected a slight lemony flavour to it as well.

It worked well in some risotto I made. In fact, the Milanese refer to cheeses like Bella Lodi as lodigiano cheese, that superlative tasting cheese that has the privilege of topping risotto. I bought this $6 worth at Vincenzo’s in Waterloo. Give it a try and let me know what you think of this bellissimo lodigiano.