9

Therearefewbetterwaystomeltheartsthanwithstretchy,moreish

melted cheese. Now the hard part: pizza, fondue or risotto?

Melting cheese

FIVE OF A KIND

1

FONTINA VALLE

D’AOSTA DOP

It’s no surprise that the only

raw-milk cheese among these

five, and the one aged the

longest, also has the strongest

flavour. Aged for six months, this

semi-hard Fontina is firm, sticky

and quite meaty. If you’re not

up for fondue, melt it over

baked Brussels sprouts with

sage.Aosta Valley,

$14 for 250gm.^2

STRACCO DI CAPRA

The Italians aren’t huge on

making goat’s milk cheeses

• cow,bufalo and sheep are
  more common – but judging by
  this goat’s milk version of Taleggio,
  they should reevaluate that.
  Pale, fudgy and mildly floral,
  the challenge with this young
  cheese is to still have some left
  by the time you’ve turned on the
  heat. Lombardy, $17 for 250gm.

4

STELVIO DOP

With a fresh and milky

flavour, this semi-hard

Stelvio from the valleys of the

Dolomites has a texture that’s

ideal for melting. Try it folded

through polenta, contrast its

subtlety with something

meaty (bresaola, say), or go

just a little of-piste and

include it in a fondue.

Trentino Alto Adige,

$11 for 250gm.

5

LOU BERGIER PICHIN

This full-flavoured toma

cheese, made by artisanal

producer Fattorie Fiandino,

has plenty of character,

despite being aged for only

two months. Strong-smelling

yet subtle-tasting, it’s dewy,

herbal and nutty, with

a buttery note that cries

out for pasta al forno and

white wine.Piedmont,

$15 for 250gm.

3

TALEGGIO DOP

Sticky, smoky and yes, just

a little bit stinky, this earthy

Taleggio is what melty cheese

dreams are made of. As an

eating cheese, it’s quite mild and

milky, but melting it will elevate

the richness. Team it with thyme

and potato pizza today, and

porcini risotto tomorrow.

Lombardy, $14 for 250gm.

GOURMET TRAVELLER 73

Northern Italy

WORDS MAGGIE SCARDIFIELD. FORMAGGI OCELLO DELIVERS AUSTRALIA

-WIDE FOR A FLAT FEE OF $22 PER ORDER.

SHOP 16, 425 BOURKE ST, SURRY HILLS, NSW, (02) 9357 7878, OCELLO.COM.AU