Hard Cheeses

In the past, we thought of hard cheeses as primarily for grating. Perhaps it was those many trips to Italy that changed our minds. Little bite-size pieces of sweet Parmigiano-Reggiano broken off a large wedge and eaten with ripe pears for dessert is one of the greatest treats we know. Shave these hard cheeses into tissue-thin slices to grace salads and enjoy the texture as well as the flavor.

These hard cheeses do not develop their great flavors until they have been aged for at least one year. As they age, the moisture evaporates and the taste intensifies. Buy a large piece because hard cheeses will keep for months if they are well wrapped in foil and stored in the lower part of the refrigerator.