Welcome ladies and gentleman to the main event of the week! In the category of Culinary Boxing here at Chef’s Mandala, we have weighing in at 83 pounds from the Italy, please welcome Parmesan Reggiano! His opponent, weighing in at 15 pounds from the Argentina, please welcome Reggianito!
LET’S GET READY TO RRRRR…….HAVE A SPIRITED DEBATE ON FOOD!!!
In the Red Corner – REGGIANO
The reigning heavyweight champion of our Italian cheese category, meet Parmesan Reggiano! However his fame is only matched by a sometimes notorious reputation. Accusations have dogged the champ for years about the quality of his foreign or “export” grade bouts. Regardless, this cheese is a justified legend. Not only stunning on his own, Parm. Regg. also highlights the beautiy of the Italian foods that go with it (pasta)! To buy this Italian classic click here!
In the Blue Corner – REGGIANITO
This little known contender comes to us all the way from Argentina! After the devastation of World War I, many Italians immigrated to South America. And they brought with them a thirst for formaggio from back home. Only a fraction of the size of the champ, Reggianito has a much deeper golden hue. Unlike the skimmed milk that Parmesan Reggiano prefers, only full fat cow’s milk is used here. But don’t let the challenger’s smaller size and lack of a reputation fool you! Reggianito has in the past inspired fear in the champ! When Reggianito first started being exported some 70 years ago, Italy responded by immediately making the European version a P.D.O. (certified name controlled product). While this Spanish contender is only a fraction of the price and a bit more grainy, when he goes head to head against Parm. Regg. grated over pasta, who will win?
FIGHT!!!
- The Play-By-Play
Not since an irate Irishman unleashed the Kraken has one fighter so simply overwhelmed another! Reggianito tries to bob and weave, but he simply has no where to run in the face of the tsunami that is Reggiano’s marketing campaign! Other Italian fighters like Gorgonzola Piccante and Grana Padano are in the audience watching the fight. Furthermore they’re booing as the Argentine underdog struggles to lay a glove on this Italian behemoth! Wait, the referee is separating the fighters, the judges seem to be deep in discussion here…
AND THE WINNER IS….
OMG ladies and gentleman, I can’t believe it, yet ANOTHER doping scandal here at Chef’s Mandala Culinary Boxing tournament! Seriously, what’s up with all this “confusion” in food? It turns out that the Parmesan Reggiano that is served over pasta in many fine restaurants is often blended with Grana Padano cheese! While cheaper, it is still very similar in taste and so difficult to detect (when small amounts are used in the mix). By itself there is no contest, the Italian champion reigns supreme. But when more of Parmesan Reggiano is consumed in a shredded or grated form then as a table cheese…
