Cheese

Since before the Romans, cheese making was the only way to preserve highly nutritious milk before refrigeration. Because of this, Italy has a tremendous number of tasty cheeses and cheesy dishes.

Italian cheeses have come to play an important role in International & Mediterranean cuisine for a number of reasons. From pizza to pasta, the world relies heavily on the artisan cheeses produced and imported from Italy. Most of us are familiar with some of Italy's everyday cheeses, but there are other varieties of Italian cheese with an abundance of culinary possibilities: they enhance the flavor of many dishes, make creamy sauces for pasta, fuse perfectly with the other ingredients in lasagna.

Futhermore, good cheese enriches any first course with a healthy dose of protein, creating a balanced one-course meal.