Grande Fumella might just deserve its own cheese category

By Felice Colucci, Culinary Manager

As a chef who spent most of my life in Italy, I can tell you I’m no stranger to smoked cheeses, as people in Italy have been smoking cheese for centuries.

Recently, Grande Cheese launched Fumella, a mozzarella that’s designed to be lightly smoked, but also, bring out and enhance other flavors. I was eager to taste and use it with a variety of other ingredients. Fumella did not disappoint.

A mozzarella-forward flavor with a hint of smoke afterwards

If you’ve been burned by harsher, smokier cheeses that leave a strong aftertaste, take heart. Fumella is so lightly smoked, you’ll taste it and first wonder where the smoke is. Then it hits you. And then you get it. This is a cheese that’s meant for more. Fumella has all the characteristics of Grande’s Part Skim Mozzarella. And because of that, it’s more universal while still remaining unique to itself. Simply put, Fumella opens doors to new ideas and new flavor creations.

Why Fumella works for nearly everything

Many chefs are hesitant, thinking a smoked mozzarella can only be paired with other smoked meats or savory dishes. And while Fumella does phenomenal there, it’s useful all across the menu. It doesn’t overpower pizzas, appetizers or main courses. Rather, it accentuates the flavors to create an entirely new experience. It’s almost as if Grande discovered a new cheese category. If you’re looking to differentiate your overall flavor from the competition, I can’t think of a better option.

“It’s almost as if Grande discovered a new cheese category.”

Bring out your garden varieties!

One big surprise for me was how well Fumella went with some of the less-used vegetables, such as pumpkin and eggplant, really enhancing their unique flavors. This would make Fumella ideal for gourmet veggie pizzas, salads or vegetable appetizers that are always on the rise for health-conscious customers.

Did you know? 50% of all consumers are making healthier eating a top priority¹

Here are some of Fumella’s most complementary ingredients that I would recommend trying.

• Zucchini
• Eggplant
• Pumpkin
• Cauliflower
• Artichokes
• Sausage
• Pepperoni
• Chicken
• Spec
• Prosciutto
• Ricotta

If you’re still on the fence about trying Fumella, I would urge you to set up a tasting with your Grande Sales Associate. Try it with a white or red sauce or a plain pie. Or top one of your specialties. It might just be the secret weapon you’ve been looking for.

Request a Fumella Tasting Today