This Fall, Parmigiano Reggiano collaborated with Airbnb Experiences across Manhattan and Brooklyn to host a Grazing Board Class with Chef Andrea Belfiore.
After a successful launch in Paris earlier this year, Parmigiano Reggiano brings authentic Italian culture to New York’s diverse food scene through chef-led dining and even tailgating.
With Tribeca’s Evento, this Fall, Chef Belfiore hosted a “Get Day Ready with Parmigiano Reggiano” in the Jets football season! This bespoke event curates America’s classic game-day food ritual with an elevated take on game-day food, featuring diverse pairings of Parmigiano Reggiano grazing cheese boards and homemade pasta! The flagship was hosted by Italian chef Andrea Belfiore and creator Ella Kahan (ChewYorkCity), blending Italian culture in a modern New York society.
It starts with Parmigiano Reggiano
When building a tagliere, Chef Belfiore starts with a strong and impactful “anchor,” which is often Parmigiano Reggiano, he says. Made with three simple ingredients–salt, rennet, and cow’s milk—Parmigiano Reggiano is a PDO product that is made exclusively in the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna, to the left of the Reno River, and Mantua, to the right of the Po River.
The cheese is aged for a minimum of 12 months, but can also be aged for up to 10 years and beyond. From there, it’s all about pairing and gradually building flavors.
“It should be a journey, it’s not just for you to create, but it’s also for you to get a piece: a Parmigiano and a grape, Parmigiano and a fig, a pairing,” Belfiore said.
The whole experience should be a way of tasting while guiding them through “canvas” with harmony, Belfiore says. There is one Parmigiano Reggiano, but it comes in various ages. As the cheese ages, so does the taste.
A young, 12-month-old Parmigiano Reggiano is smoother and softer, with notes of fresh milk and yogurt. By 24 months, the cheese is crumbly and grainy, with the beginning of white tyrosine crystals. The flavor profile shifts to nuts and fresh fruit.
After 30-36 months of maturation, the cheese typically becomes crumbly and grainy, with notes of spices and nuts.
“I usually tend to like 36 months. It’s very rich in its flavor, and it’s great for a tasty tagliolino burro and Parmigiano Reggiano, or to be savored as it is paired with a Mostarda Mantovana,” Belfiore said. “It is an ideal ingredient for field and baked pasta or to be tasted at the end of the meals, paired with fruit and honey.”
After more than 40 months, the cheese is quite dry and crumbly, with an abundance of tyrosine crystals and notes of spices, nutmeg, and dried fruits.
It is best eaten on its own, in shards perhaps with a few drops of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, Belfiore mentions.
Airbnb has teamed up with Parmigiano Reggiano to host experiences for guests.Photo by Bridgette Leahy
The perfect pairing
When creating a grazing board, Belfiore doesn’t believe in overlooking certain ingredients; he focuses on the quality of the ingredients others choose to include.
Pairing the cheese comes down to a simple concept of balance. Cooking is all about balancing those flavors.
“Having a few elements of different profiles will help to balance everything,” he said. “A great prosciutto and some toasted nuts will help with a savory/salty kick; some fresh and dried fruit will help with their sweet and acidic profiles.”
For Chef Belfiore, guests were able to taste the impressively high quality of Parmigiano Reggiano itself rather than just making a specific pairing, and learn the importance of how Parmigiano Reggiano is formed, matured, and tasted.
“Sharing the history of Parmigiano Reggiano will make the experience of eating the cheese even more special,” he said.
Belfiore hopes guests will look closely at the quality of the ingredients and packaging for Parmigiano Reggiano next time they shop at the grocery store.
Make sure to look for the signature dotted rind on the black-and-gold packaging.
Airbnb has teamed up with Parmigiano Reggiano to host experiences for guests.
Parmigiano Reggiano x Airbnb Experiences
For Airbnb users, five public editions of “Get Game Day Ready” will be available to book exclusively through Airbnb Experiences over the coming weeks.
In addition to the flagship workshops, Parmigiano Reggiano will integrate into a curated collection of existing, highly rated New York Airbnb Experiences, including:
Rusty Supper Club: A lively, Brooklyn dinner party where Parmigiano Reggiano will take stage, revealing a new side of the seasonal and innovative pairings.
Golden Cat: A Michelin-trained private chef, Nicholas Tran, will host an exclusive 8-seat session exploring how complex cheeses mature and their contemporary culinary
applications.
The Parmigiano Reggiano New York experiences will run from September through November and will be available to book via Airbnb Experiences at airbnb.com/e/parmigianoreggiano. Experiences will also launch across London in the Fall.