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WELCOME TO THE FERRAGOSTO CURDBOX!
Each year on August 15th, Ferragosto marks a cherished pause in the Italian calendar as an enduring summer holiday that vibrantly reflects tradition, leisure, and regional pride. Over the centuries, Ferragosto has become the heart of the Italian summer, celebrated with family gatherings, festive escapes to the coast or countryside, and a joyful break from work and routine. This celebration is inseparable from the foods that bring people together—with Italian cheeses often taking center stage. From the bold, aged wheels of the north to the creamy, sun-kissed varieties of the south, these cheeses are more than just accompaniments—they are cultural symbols, shaped by landscape, season, and heritage. Whether enjoyed in the cool shade of the mountains or along the sparkling coastline, they embody the essence of Ferragosto: a pause to savor the spirit of la dolce vita.
So, let’s take a look at what we have for you, in this month‘s box...
Italian Fontal by Mitica
Italian Fontal by Mitica carries a story as layered as its smooth, ivory paste. Born from a centuries-old culinary dialogue between France and Italy, it traces its lineage to the French reinterpretation of Italy’s own celebrated Fontina. This Italian-made Fontal represents a full-circle moment—Italy reclaiming and refining the French homage to its original creation. With a semi-soft body that shares Fontina’s supple pliancy yet diverges in character, it offers a milder, more delicate profile shaped by its shorter aging process and distinct production methods. Its golden-hued rind encases a creamy interior with a subtle sheen, speaking to the craftsmanship that balances tradition and reinvention. In this way, Mitica’s Italian Fontal stands as both a nod to shared European cheesemaking heritage and a distinct expression of Italian artistry.
The Italian Fontal by Mitica and the Chunky Breadsticks w/ Onion by I Bibanesi
Montasio by Mitica
Mitica’s Montasio is a cheese steeped in history, its story beginning in the 13th century within the quiet stone walls of a convent in the Giulia Alps of Friuli, Italy. Named for the mountainous region that shaped its character, Montasio emerges with a pale yellow hue and a flavor that is at once mellow and deeply savory, carrying a subtle brothiness that lingers into a full-flavored finish. Its paste, semihard and elastic in youth, starts as a creamy ivory dotted with delicate eyes, gradually deepening to a warm straw tone as it matures. Over months, it transforms—its supple body drying and hardening, its texture growing crumbly, and its taste evolving from mild and creamy to boldly savory with a piquant, spicy edge. Central to its identity is the use of thermized milk, gently heated to 55–60°C, a process that stands between raw and pasteurized. This method, rooted in tradition, preserves the intricate flavor-producing enzymes and microbes often lost to pasteurization, while ensuring safety in a way that honors the cheese’s rustic origins. In every wheel, Montasio reflects both the rugged alpine landscape and the enduring craftsmanship of generations of Italian cheesemakers.
Montasio from Mitica with the Calabrian Chili & Orange Spread from Divina
Grana Padano by Dalla Bona
Crafted by Dalla Bona in the lush expanse of Italy’s Po River Valley, Grana Padano is a time-honored hard cheese whose origins stretch back to the 12th century, when Cistercian monks first devised it as a means to preserve excess milk. Belonging to the family of “grana”-style cheeses named for their signature grainy, flaked texture—it carries in its very title the hallmark of its identity. While it shares kinship with Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano distinguishes itself with a softer approach: its younger wheels are less brittle, subtly sweet, and approachable, making it gentler on the palate. Beneath its firm yet yielding bite lies a savory, nutty character, lightly brushed with salt, which deepens over time into a more layered and complex profile, revealing delicate notes of hay and fruit. In Dalla Bona’s hands, this celebrated cheese embodies the rich dairy heritage of northern Italy, marrying pastoral tradition with meticulous artistry.
Dalla Bona's Grana Padano and the Italian Marinated Mushrooms from Divina
And here are the pairing items that go along with these amazing cheeses…
Chunky Breadsticks with Onion by I Bibanesi
From the heart of Treviso, Italy, I Bibanesi’s “Chunky Breadsticks with Onion” embody a craft that blends patience, tradition, and individuality. Named after Bibano, the small village where this specialty was born, “Bibanesi” are not just breadsticks—they are hand-rolled works of artisanal baking, each one slightly different in form, a testament to the human touch in every stage of their creation. Their journey begins with a slow, natural leavening process lasting at least twenty-four hours, a method that nurtures both texture and flavor, and they are made entirely without food additives. Enriched with the richness of extra virgin olive oil, these chunky breadsticks take on a golden hue and a delicate crispness, while the gentle sweetness of onion infuses the dough with a warm, aromatic depth. A final flourish of chives across their surface adds a fresh, herbal whisper that lifts their fragrance even further. More fragrant and flavorful than ordinary breadsticks, Bibanesi stand apart. Rustic yet refined, and rooted in local heritage, yet universally enticing.
Italian Marinated Mushrooms by Divina
Divina’s Italian Marinated Mushrooms bring together the richness of Italian-inspired flavors with the renowned quality of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, which is celebrated as the “Mushroom Capital of the World.” Carefully cultivated in this fertile region, each mushroom is harvested at peak freshness, then hand-selected for its firm texture and earthy aroma. Once chosen, they are immersed in a vibrant marinade of garlic, fragrant herbs, and a lively splash of vinegar, a combination that both preserves their natural succulence and infuses them with a savory brightness. The result is a harmonious medley where the mushrooms’ deep, woodsy undertones meet the zesty, aromatic lift of the marinade—a union that speaks to both quality and a passion for authentic Italian culinary tradition.
Calabrian Chili & Orange Spread by Divina
Divina’s Calabrian Chili & Orange Spread is a vibrant fusion of southern Italian warmth and citrus brightness, crafted to strike a perfect balance between sweet, spicy, and tangy. At its heart are sun-ripened Calabrian chili peppers, celebrated for their moderate, lingering heat—pleasantly warm yet never overpowering—blended with the zesty, aromatic essence of fresh oranges. A whisper of salt rounds out the profile, enhancing its sweet-fruity core and lending depth to its tart, citrusy edge. The result is a condiment with layers of flavor: bright and lively at first, then unfolding into a gentle, slow-building warmth that lingers on the palate. Both distinctive and versatile, it reflects Divina’s commitment to crafting bold and unique pairings that elevate the simple into the memorable.
We‘ll see you next time.
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