Italian Bigonda Cheese with Herbs

"The Dolomite mountain range of Italy is a renowned destination for skiers, cyclists and even stair climbers— it’s home to the Calà del Sasso, the world’s longest staircase open to the public at 4,444 steps. The Dolomite mountain range is also renowned for its cheeses, and happens to be the home of Trader Joe’s Italian Bigonda Cheese with Herbs, which is returning to our Spotlight Cheese program for a third time this June and July. This cheese is made for us by a master cheese-making family in the Trentino province, with over 80 years of experience under their belts. The milk used in the making of this cheese comes from cattle that graze on the breathtaking mountain pastures of the Dolomites. The clean air and lush mountain grasses help the cows produce supremely fresh milk; it’s ideal for making this traditional style of Italian farmstead cheese, known as caciotta, that has a semi-soft texture with a creamy, firm consistency. While there are variations on the style (some cheese makers add black pepper or olive oil), our Bigonda Cheese is studded with laurel, thyme, parsley, organic chives, fennel and caraway seeds, juxtaposing fragrant Herbs with the slightly sweet, fresh milk notes of the cheese. The beauty of Bigonda is its versatility—you can melt it into an omelet or on a grilled cheese sandwich, or try it cut into cubes atop a green salad with extra virgin olive oil, garbanzo beans and thinly sliced red onion. Liven up a cheese plate with sliced Bigonda and a foil of sweet Fig Butter, crunchy Rosemary Marcona Almonds, and a crisp white wine."