Where do you buy your block Parmesan cheese?

brazilianwax

missbargain wrote: »

I think that for decent quality that is about the right price.

Incidentally, my husband bought our first Asda parmesan a few days ago (usually we buy it in our local Sainsbury's or Tesco), and it was DELICIOUS! It was Grana Padano (spelling?) in a kind of brownish packaging.
I actually commented to him as we were eating it that it was the nicest supermarket parmesan of all that I have tried (just my personal taste, of course).

Grand Padano isn't parmesan - it's similar, but not parmesan

MrsE_2

brazilianwax wrote: »

Grand Padano isn't parmesan - it's similar, but not parmesan

I did actually say that, in my first post:D Feeling very clever:cool:

How is it different though?

Is it like Champagne & sparkling wine? A region or area thing?

Thank you.

frogglet

They are made in a similar way but Padano is aged for less time, therefore is cheaper and tastes milder.
I usually buy my Parmesan in Aldi , but that has slowly been creeping up in price and I think some brands in Tesco and Asda work out about the same.

ThinkingOfLinking

The officially recognised parmesan will be labelled as Parmiggiano Reggiano or something along those lines (I'm hungover and too tired to google it!)

I've had, for example, ready meals with Panado, and it's very similar, just not as rich, mature and nutty in flavour. I use it for cooking as it's cheaper, eg in risottos, but for toppings and for salads, etc, it has to be the real thing!!

missbargain

It kind of is Parmesan and it is not

Technically, only cheese that is produced in certain areas of Italy (Parma, Reggio, etc) can be called Parmesan, the famous "Parmagiano Reggiano".

However, Grand Padano is the same type of cheese, just produced in a different region of Italy. But Parmesan is more aged, while Grana is more "nuovo" cheese. So, it is kind of like buying the same wine (say still a champagne) but produced in a different region (so different soil, climate etc) and different maturity.

G. Padano is the most widely used substitute for Parmesan in cooking. In my opinion G. Padano is actually a bit richer, creamier in taste than Parmesan and softer, while Parmesan is subtler and a bit sharper in taste and also harder. Both delicious.
I also use Grana P. in cooking and Parmesan in salads and on top of Pasta dishes, but in reallity, I would enjoy my pasta as much with Grana Padano as much as I do with Parmesan. I think that Parmesan adds slightly sharper taste to dishes, while Grana is slightly creamier. But yes, Parmesan is traditionally used in Pasta, it is more authentic, I guess.

The taste is essentially along the same lines, that's why G. Padano is the most widely used substitute for Parmesan when cooking. However, Parmesan is considered superior to Grand Padano, but I don't know, I think they are both really really good.

And G. Padano is a bit cheaper, so it is all about the region (and its trademark name in case of Parmesan) and age (maturity), rather than it being altogether different type of cheese.

P.S.
Perhaps the comparable analogy would be: Cristal and Taittinger Champagne. Still the same drink, still both very good, but different vintage, richness, subtlety/intensity, refinement and.....price.

brazilianwax

missbargain wrote: »

P.S.
Perhaps the comparable analogy would be: Cristal and Taittinger Champagne. Still the same drink, still both very good, but different vintage, richness, subtlety/intensity, refinement and.....price.

Not as good as you might think. European laws allow them to buy champagne from other producers and call it theirs.

ethansmum

After reading this thread i went to Costco and bought a huge chunk of Virgilio Grana Panano. It was £7.49 a kg - and aged for a minimum of 20 months- and its simply divine. So thanks to all those who reccommended this cheese!

missbargain

You are welcome, really glad you liked it, it is a very nice cheese.
We have to thank MrsE for starting this thread in the first place


Brazilian Wax -

Thank you, I didn't know about this law. But really, what, in short I wanted to say in my too long a post, is that Parmesan and Grand (Grana) Padano are actually the same type of cheese, albeit with the subtle difference in taste/maturity/price. It is just that Parmesan is from Parma-Reggio region and Grana P. is not.

cybermum

We usually get it from a local deli and buy a huge wedge thus getting a discount from the owner.
Because we buy it regularly from him he doesn't mind knocking a bit of cash off.

We eat tons of it as we are Italian and the prices in the supermarkets for a bit is crazy.