🧀🍷 MAURI CAVE-AGED GORGONZOLA DOP PICCANTE 150g
⭐ Authentic Italian Intensity: The Sharp, Creamy Blue Cheese for Connoisseurs
Welcome to the world of genuine Italian blue cheese! This is the Gorgonzola DOP Piccante (Protected Designation of Origin, Sharp/Spicy type) from the historic Mauri company, founded in 1920.
Unlike the milder Dolce style, this Piccante is characterized by a denser web of blue-green mold and a longer aging process, traditionally done in Mauri’s natural caves (Grotta). The result is a bold, sharp, and intensely savory flavor with a delightfully firm yet spreadable texture—a truly complex experience for serious cheese lovers.
🌟 Why the Piccante is a Gourmet Essential
1. Cave-Aged Perfection
The unique environment of Mauri's natural caves provides the perfect humidity and temperature for aging, which is crucial for developing the cheese’s intense, pungent flavor and semi-firm texture.
2. Size and Handling
Size: The 150g block is an ideal size for serving on a cheese board or incorporating into multiple recipes.
Serving Hack: Always bring the cheese to room temperature (30 minutes) before serving. This softens the texture and allows the full, pungent aroma to blossom.
Note: The brown rind is formed during aging and is typically not edible.
🥂 Perfect Pairings & Culinary Hacks
Wine & Drink Pairings
The powerful flavor of Gorgonzola Piccante demands a pairing that can stand up to its intensity, usually something sweet to balance the salt and spice:
Sweet Wine: The classic pairing is a Dessert Wine like Port Wine (Ruby or Tawny) or a rich, late-harvest white wine (Vin Santo, Sauternes).
Beer: Try a strong, dark Stout or a robust Belgian Tripel.
Spirits: Single Malt Scotch or aged Brandy.
Food Pairings
Honey & Fruit: Drizzle with chestnut honey or acacia honey and serve with walnuts, figs, or thinly sliced pears.
Bread: Best served with strong, rustic bread like rye bread or a simple baguette.
🍽️ Creative Hacks: Cooking with Gorgonzola
Sauce Upgrade: Melt a small amount into warm heavy cream for an instant, incredibly rich pasta sauce (fantastic with gnocchi or penne).
Pizza: Crumble sparingly over a simple pizza base (like a white pizza with onions) right before baking.
Leftover Hack: Blend small pieces with a neutral cream cheese or mascarpone and a splash of white wine to create a pungent, creamy dip.
🇮🇹 Chef's Tip: Translation of the Italian Omelet Recipe (from the package)
If you're feeling adventurous, here is the translation of the Gorgonzola Piccante Omelette recipe suggested on the package:
| Italian Name |
OMELETTE AL GORGONZOLA PICCANTE |
| Ingredients (for 4 people): |
160g Mauri Bontàzola Piccante, 8 whole eggs, 50g butter, 10 shelled walnuts, 5 tablespoons milk, honey, salt and pepper to taste. |
| Preparation: |
Cut the Gorgonzola Piccante into small cubes and roughly chop the walnuts. After cracking the eggs, add the milk, a pinch of salt and pepper, and whisk the mixture with a fork until homogeneous. |
🌐 Overseas Reviews Highlight
"Mauri's Piccante is the real deal. It has that unmistakable sharp bite that separates it from the milder Dolce variety. If you love blue cheese, this is your champion."
"I use this melted in cream sauces—it transforms a simple meal into something gourmet. The flavor is strong enough that a little goes a long way."
"The pairing with honey and figs is sublime. It's too strong for my daily snacking, but for a wine night, it's the perfect centerpiece cheese."
