I remember being so surprised when my daughter’s pediatrician wrote down Parmigiano as part of her weaning plan! For many of the reasons listed above, I used to give her pecorino as well. 10 years later she won’t touch either with a 10 foot pole while my son needs an intervention program. 😆
Right? I remember feeling the same! And I didn't know as much about the wonder food as I do now. So funny that your daughter won't touch it now! Does she like other cheeses? My 13 year old is the same! He nearly ate a whole block yesterday. How old is your son, Jessica?
She will eat mozzarella and robiola. They are both great eaters and passionate about their food but my son is just next level. He started grabbing handfuls of pasta from our plates when he was about 5 months old! 😅
Haha! Such a great visual. Love a kid with a good appetite! Her tastes still might change. My son used to HATE hate hate Nutella. Yes, Nutella. He would only eat dark chocolate until he turned 10; now he hates dark chocolate and eats Nutella from the jar with a spoon. He also recently shocked me by a new love for tuna and farro. I can't wait to see what happens as she grows into a teen!
I went to do the same tasting in Parma! I was amazed how they stick to tradition in the process! Hand mixing the cheese ??? Insane.
Also funny, and aligns with what you have written here about the cultural importance: as we were leaving I asked our tour guide about how much I should buy given I live in a household of 2 people (eg how long it would last). He was so visibly shaken, he said he eats it every day, with ever meal, or often by itself as a snack and suggested I stock up 😂😂😂 I had no idea I was prodding the bear with that question.
Mine would not eat cheese of any kind! He would literally gag 😂 and he was an adventurous eater, just not cheese. School lunchtime was a nightmare for him
It's everything. My 4 grandparents all immigrated from Provincia di Parma to Manhattan. When I was a kid growing up in midtown on the east side ( the northern Italian ghetto), there was a small deli called Mario's. That's where we got our Reggiano and there was always a little piece for us kids. There was never much money but there was always - always- Reggiano. Thank you for this.
Love this post! And the topic too. A few years ago I read some Italian banks actually use Parmesan Reggiano as a form of collateral when dealing with Italian cheese producers in securing loans! It blew my mind! How cool!!
The one and true holy divinity all Italians subscribe to! Definitely can confirm I had parmigiano since I was very small. It’s always present in diets and weaning programs. I suffer low BP and I’ll still grab a bite of it with some honey on top if I feel like I’m about to go pale!
Thanks for your comment and insight into your childhood and experience as an Italian, Valentina! I love hearing this and I was so happy to include PR as part of my son's weaning, although I didn't know as much about this wonder food when I was a new mamma. Topping it with honey is such a brilliant tip. Now I'm hungry....!!
Oh you should. I also love strong cheeses paired with orange marmalade, or the special compotes Italians make to go specifically with parmigiano, like tomato ginger compote. Stuff to try!
Oooh Valentina! You're reading my mind! We picked up 3 to try specifically with PR in Emilia-Romagna! Just waiting for my son to come back from holidays with his dad and we'll do a tasting. Composta di prugne e lambrusco mantovano, composta di fragole all aceto balsamico di modena, e senapata di pere. I have never seen ginger tomato but will look for it!
I can get behind this. I find myself reaching for a bite of parm when I'm hungry...didn't even know it was a thing in Italy, but my husband calls me Nonna because I'm completely Italian at heart even though my genetics say otherwise! 😉
I know it’s nuts but that is how much parmigiano reggiano is beloved and part of the culture here. No one in Italy would ever make fun of Giorgia Villa or any of the ambassadors for doing these ads. Everybody wants this job! Including me! 😝❤️
Hee hee! I suspect a lot of Italians would say those cheese sticks aren’t real cheese! My son refuses to eat them when we’re in the US😳 Thanks for the great comparison, Krista! Love it! 😊
Super post and I am a huge PR fan for uses other than grating on pasta! Two of our latterie here sell PR of varying ages plus (when available) the fabulous vacca rossa variety. I didn’t know about the use in weaning but I do know that my doctor is a great believer that menopausal women should have a good chunk of it every day. Am happy to oblige!
Ciao Jan! I can't wait sit down and read all your cheese articles! Love the vacca rossa and the vacca bruna milk PRs too! I'll have an article soon about the weaning, which I'm so passionate about. I love this insight on your doctor's recommendation! Is that your doc here in Italy?? x
No we are from the USA unfortunately. But I wish I did live in Italy. Ive only visited italy once about 20 or so years ago. I can barely wait to visit italy again!! And we were raised on Parmesan but its probably better there! ❤️
Yes parmigiano reggiano is definitely more complex and flavorful than Parmesan. You’ll have a cheese-fest here! 💛 it sounds like you come from an amazing food family either parents from Naples and Sicily. Some of the best food!! 🥰🥰🥰
Oh Diana! I am going to need to hear this full story soon soon soon!!! Can’t wait!!! ❤️❤️
She is amazing and if I ever leave Turin she will be one of my big regrets.
I remember being so surprised when my daughter’s pediatrician wrote down Parmigiano as part of her weaning plan! For many of the reasons listed above, I used to give her pecorino as well. 10 years later she won’t touch either with a 10 foot pole while my son needs an intervention program. 😆
Right? I remember feeling the same! And I didn't know as much about the wonder food as I do now. So funny that your daughter won't touch it now! Does she like other cheeses? My 13 year old is the same! He nearly ate a whole block yesterday. How old is your son, Jessica?
Hi Lolly, my son is 8 and my daughter is 10.
She will eat mozzarella and robiola. They are both great eaters and passionate about their food but my son is just next level. He started grabbing handfuls of pasta from our plates when he was about 5 months old! 😅
Haha! Such a great visual. Love a kid with a good appetite! Her tastes still might change. My son used to HATE hate hate Nutella. Yes, Nutella. He would only eat dark chocolate until he turned 10; now he hates dark chocolate and eats Nutella from the jar with a spoon. He also recently shocked me by a new love for tuna and farro. I can't wait to see what happens as she grows into a teen!
Enjoyed this-especially since I just cracked into a wheel of Parm!
Thank you for reading and commenting, Rachel! Did you seriously crack into a whole wheel? That’s a dream!! 🥰
I went to do the same tasting in Parma! I was amazed how they stick to tradition in the process! Hand mixing the cheese ??? Insane.
Also funny, and aligns with what you have written here about the cultural importance: as we were leaving I asked our tour guide about how much I should buy given I live in a household of 2 people (eg how long it would last). He was so visibly shaken, he said he eats it every day, with ever meal, or often by itself as a snack and suggested I stock up 😂😂😂 I had no idea I was prodding the bear with that question.
I love this! Did you buy an entire wheel then and buy a separate luggage to take it home? ;-)
Mine would not eat cheese of any kind! He would literally gag 😂 and he was an adventurous eater, just not cheese. School lunchtime was a nightmare for him
I LOVE THIS PODCAST POST SO MUCH.
It's everything. My 4 grandparents all immigrated from Provincia di Parma to Manhattan. When I was a kid growing up in midtown on the east side ( the northern Italian ghetto), there was a small deli called Mario's. That's where we got our Reggiano and there was always a little piece for us kids. There was never much money but there was always - always- Reggiano. Thank you for this.
Love this post! And the topic too. A few years ago I read some Italian banks actually use Parmesan Reggiano as a form of collateral when dealing with Italian cheese producers in securing loans! It blew my mind! How cool!!
The one and true holy divinity all Italians subscribe to! Definitely can confirm I had parmigiano since I was very small. It’s always present in diets and weaning programs. I suffer low BP and I’ll still grab a bite of it with some honey on top if I feel like I’m about to go pale!
Thanks for your comment and insight into your childhood and experience as an Italian, Valentina! I love hearing this and I was so happy to include PR as part of my son's weaning, although I didn't know as much about this wonder food when I was a new mamma. Topping it with honey is such a brilliant tip. Now I'm hungry....!!
Oh you should. I also love strong cheeses paired with orange marmalade, or the special compotes Italians make to go specifically with parmigiano, like tomato ginger compote. Stuff to try!
Oooh Valentina! You're reading my mind! We picked up 3 to try specifically with PR in Emilia-Romagna! Just waiting for my son to come back from holidays with his dad and we'll do a tasting. Composta di prugne e lambrusco mantovano, composta di fragole all aceto balsamico di modena, e senapata di pere. I have never seen ginger tomato but will look for it!
I can get behind this. I find myself reaching for a bite of parm when I'm hungry...didn't even know it was a thing in Italy, but my husband calls me Nonna because I'm completely Italian at heart even though my genetics say otherwise! 😉
Dear Nonna Christi, Your husband is jealous that you are an Italian genius at heart! I am going to have to call you this from now on. love it!! :-)
Yes. It was my dream as well…and I finally did it a couple of weeks ago.💕 I wrote a post about it!
I have no battery in my phone and I’m traveling! I can’t wait to read your post tomorrow when I have my charger!! ❤️
What a great read Lolly!
Thanks so much, Sheryl! 🥰
This is hysterical. I cannot imagine a U.S. Olympic Ad campaign showing gymnasts gathered around a round of parmesan. And that's really soo bad.
I know it’s nuts but that is how much parmigiano reggiano is beloved and part of the culture here. No one in Italy would ever make fun of Giorgia Villa or any of the ambassadors for doing these ads. Everybody wants this job! Including me! 😝❤️
Yummmm! So much tastier than the standard part skim mozzarella string cheese!
Hee hee! I suspect a lot of Italians would say those cheese sticks aren’t real cheese! My son refuses to eat them when we’re in the US😳 Thanks for the great comparison, Krista! Love it! 😊
Super post and I am a huge PR fan for uses other than grating on pasta! Two of our latterie here sell PR of varying ages plus (when available) the fabulous vacca rossa variety. I didn’t know about the use in weaning but I do know that my doctor is a great believer that menopausal women should have a good chunk of it every day. Am happy to oblige!
Ciao Jan! I can't wait sit down and read all your cheese articles! Love the vacca rossa and the vacca bruna milk PRs too! I'll have an article soon about the weaning, which I'm so passionate about. I love this insight on your doctor's recommendation! Is that your doc here in Italy?? x
Yes, my doctor here in Turin. She is a terrific doctor for both me and my husband - I think Edoardo might be a little bit in love with her!
With advice like that, I think I might be a little bit in love with her too!!
So happy to have found you. Loved this and look forward to reading more.
No we are from the USA unfortunately. But I wish I did live in Italy. Ive only visited italy once about 20 or so years ago. I can barely wait to visit italy again!! And we were raised on Parmesan but its probably better there! ❤️
Yes parmigiano reggiano is definitely more complex and flavorful than Parmesan. You’ll have a cheese-fest here! 💛 it sounds like you come from an amazing food family either parents from Naples and Sicily. Some of the best food!! 🥰🥰🥰