Tag: mozzarella

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And The Nomi-Cheese Are…

So begins this year’s award season. We’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about our favorites, both in television, film, and cheese. If we were handing out the awards on Sunday, this is who we would choose to award those Golden (Cheese) Globes. In preparation, be sure to pair these cheeses with your Golden Globe viewing party. 

Best Drama

Manchego By The Sea

If you’re looking for a cheese to pair with this seaside film, we have to recommend an aged Manchego. Its salty, crumbly paste is going to pair great with the sea salted air (or your salty tears). While we can’t promise that this cheese will bring your family closer together, or solve your failed marriage, we can promise that it’s delicious.

Best Musical or Comedy

La La Tur

Much like this highly fanciful modern-day musical, La Tur is simply decadent. While Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone are busy balancing chasing their dreams and falling in love, we ask – why not have both? This creamy, fluffy cheese is like a dream come true with the kind of champagne they’re serving at those parties in Hollywood, and you better believe we’re in love.

Best Animated Film

MoAnnelies

Annelies may come from the Alps, not by the sea, but these two have more in common than you’d think. Much like Moana was chosen by the sea to travel across the oceans, Annelies has traveled over mountains and across the sea to get to Murray’s caves. The result is an inspiring flavor that has a flavor that tastes distinctly where it comes from (hazelnuts, alpine grasses, butterscotch). It’s a taste that you’ll be thanking us for. And as Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson says, You’re Welcome.

Best Television Drama

West(Loop)world

We might not know what is real and what isn’t when it comes to Westworld, but we do know one thing: West Loop Salumi is the real deal. With the rustic and traditional style that would have made it right at home in Westworld, Chicago’s Salumiere is as masterful in charcuterie as Anthony Hopkins is as making lifelike robots. We also think their savory, porky sticks are just about as addictive as this winning show.

Best Television Musical or Comedy

Mozzarella in the Jungle

We’ve seen this show win before, and Mozzarella is no different. Everyone loves these two – they go well with everything (comedy, drama, pizza) and pretty much everyone loves them. Whether you’re a free young spirit like Rodrigo, or a veteran traditionalist like Thomas, you can style mozzarella any way that you like – it’s a flexible, versatile cheese that can be snacked on, melted, or smoked. 

Best Limited Series

The Bite Of

The Night Of kept us guessing for nine episodes, and it still doesn’t seem like enough. Was Naz innocent? What really happened that night? We could have been satisfied watching this series all year – but limited series means limited. But you know what does keep us satisfied all year long? Our monthly clubs; delivering exciting new cheeses, meats, and pairings each month, it’s like a new episode dropping. I mean, we have to channel our anticipation somehow.

 

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Salad Days of Summer: Ripe Tomatoes & Fresh Mozzarella

 

There’s nothing like a ripe, still-warm tomato plucked from the garden, sprinkled with a pinch of coarse sea salt. We’re all for this method of consumption, and highly recommend it. But if you want to kick the experience up a notch and create something that you can share with friends on a Sunday afternoon, add layers of fresh mozz and basil for a classic Caprese salad. We’re into a variation on this classic that’s a little more chunky and rustic.

Supreme Summer Tomato Salad with Mozzarella (or Burrata)

2-3 lbs of garden fresh/ heirloom tomatoes
sea salt and ground pepper
pinch of dried oregano
red wine or balsamic vinegar
1 grated clove of garlic
1/3 cup basil, sliced thin
pinch of red pepper flakes

  1. Slice tomatoes into bite-sized chunks and wedges. Place in a colander and sprinkle toms with a few pinches of coarse salt, which will help draw some of the moisture out, and will bring out that bright, acidic tomato flavor.
  2. Toss and sprinkle and let the colander drain into a bowl or the sink for 10-ish minutes.
  3. While they drain, blend dressing ingredients together: oil, vinegar, oregano, red pepper and garlic.
  4. In a separate bowl, coat tomatoes in dressing and add ribbons of basil.
  5. Slice up a 1lb ball of Mozzarella or Mozzarella di Bufala, and cut the round pieces into smaller, bite-sized morsels that can be placed on a plate beside the salad, or scattered on top and mixed in.
  6. Option 2: pour salad around a ball or two of Burrata, that can be opened and dipped into with pieces of fresh, crusty bread.

 

Recommended sides: assorted olives, prosciutto, salami

Dig in!

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Summertime: Make the Most of Your Mozz!

Sean Kelly is our all-star monger who will be competing at the Cheesemonger Invitational this Saturday! Don’t forget to VOTE FOR HIM on Facebook!

At Murray’s when we think of summer cheese we think FRESH! While we always love our stinky, nutty, firm and aged cheese friends, fresh cheeses go with warm weather picnics and sunlight like an oyster stout pairs with a strong washed rind. (Hint: that is an awesome pairing) But who is the undisputed king of the fresh cheeses? The noble mozzarella, of course.

Mozzarella is a proud member of the pasta filata, or “stretched curd”, family of cheeses, meaning that the curds are kneaded together, stretched, and re-kneaded repeatedly until the desired texture is achieved. It’s this process that is responsible for mozzarella’s stringy consistency and lively, bouncy texture. The stretched curd family of cheeses branches out into several other groups as well, and includes provolone and caciocavallo. But mozzarella will always be the cornerstone of the style, and now that summer is finally here mozzarella season is in full swing.

What better time to better know your mozz? Here are a few of our favorites for the season.

Maple Brook Burrata:

Meaning “buttered” in Italian, burrata is comprised of a thin sheet of mozzarella filled with fresh curds and cream. Burrata originated as a way for cheesemakers to utilize the leftover curds from the cheesemaking process and, like many foods with exceedingly practical origins, it has become one of the best options out there. Maple Brook Farm, who makes rich, fresh and traditional burrata, learned their technique from an Italian cheesemaker from Puglia, in the heart of mozzarella country. If you think the idea of a cream and curd-filled mozzarella pocket bears a striking resemblance to some sort of criminally decadent dessert, you’re not alone. We love serving these bundles of delight with a drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar for a savory sundae.

Buffalo Mozzaralla:

A far cry from the behemoths you may have seen on the back of a nickel, the Italian water buffalo is a dairy animal known for producing incredibly rich and flavorful milk perfect for cheesemaking. Buffalo milk is the traditional milk used for Italian mozzarella making, and Torre Lupara farm has been doing it since 1946 with a herd of 2,000 buffalo. Buffalo mozzarella provides an extra savory kick, tang and depth of flavor that makes it perfect for adding a layer of richness and moisture to just about anything. We love it in a BLT (a BBLT, if you will) instead of mayo. Or, if you have no sense of shame and love delicious things, just eat it whole, like an apple!

Lioni Mozzarella:

The classic standby for cooking and snacking, cow’s milk mozzarella has a very special place in America’s culinary heart, particularly here in New York City. Made fresh in Brooklyn by Lioni Latticini from whole cows’ milk, this mozzarella embodies traditional Italian flavor while maintaining a commitment to locally sourced ingredients and careful attention to detail. This cheese absolutely begs to be toasted atop a meatball hero or paired with paper thin prosciutto for a smooth and salty snack. If you’re tired of the same old-same old tomato/basil/mozzarella combo, try this fruity variation: mango/mint/mozzarella.

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