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Telegraph
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Celebrating the very best of Parmigiano Reggiano at the Casello d'Oro Awards
London's British Museum proved a perfect setting for the Casello d'Oro Awards, with its fitting sense of grandeur. Where else could those dedicated to preserving timeless practices – following in the footsteps of previous generations who have kept age-old traditions alive – be celebrated other than in a magnificent building that honours history? Here, the off-white crumbling slabs of fine Parmigiano Reggiano found their likeness in the museum's collection of ancient artefacts from Greece and Rome, carved from the finest marble. For 12 years, annual competitions – Palio del Parmigiano Reggiano – have been held throughout Parmigiano Reggiano's Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) area which includes the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Mantua to the right of the Po river, and Bologna to the left of the Reno River. Each dairy in the PDO registers a sample of 24 to 26-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano, which is evaluated by a jury composed of certified tasters from the APR – Associazione Assaggiatori Parmigiano Reggiano. This year's Casello d'Oro Awards honoured the 13 winning dairies of the 2024 Palio del Parmigiano Reggiano, with an international jury also presenting two Honourable Mentions to the Parmigiano Reggiano deemed to have the best structure and best aromatic profile. Both of these went to 4 Madonne Caseificio dell'Emilia dairy in Varana di Serramazzoni, with its cheesemaker brought on stage to great acclaim. The Italian ambassador to the UK, Inigo Lambertini, was in attendance, and the evening was hosted by Valentina Harris, one of Britain's best-known experts on Italian cuisine. The British and Italian press mingled with the guests, many of whom were visiting from Italy for the first time, and exuded understated refinement and elegance. The Honourable Mentions were awarded in a blind tasting by an international jury of cheese experts composed of Gennaro Contaldo, TV personality and one of the UK's best-loved chefs, Maddalena Fossati Dondero, Bronwen Percival, Cornelia Poletto, Cathy Strange and Carlos Yescas. Contaldo touched on a recurring theme in his speech, that Parmigiano Reggiano has the ability to transport expats with a sense of home wherever they are in the world. He described coming to England as a teenager and being unable to find ingredients to cook Italian food, but when he found proper Parmigiano Reggiano in a London deli he was instantly transported home and all was well with the world. The UK is now Parmigiano Reggiano's fourth largest foreign market, with more than 6,500 tonnes imported per year, with sales in 2024 increasing by 17 per cent. Other notable attendees were Ronan Currie, assistant blender at The GlenAllachie Distillery, and George Wills, UK sales and marketing manager at Kilchoman Distillery, two of Scotland's most esteemed craft distilleries. That Scotch whisky pairs so perfectly with Parmigiano Reggiano is down to the many affinities they share, from the fundamental importance of their raw materials – water and raw milk – and their areas of origin, to the subtle workings of aging and time. While whisky is aged and cheese is matured, they share the same path – a slow, inexorable evolution and distillation of flavours and aromas, as well as their versatility when it comes to pairings, and their eminence as standard-bearers of national excellence across the world. The whiskies were also the main ingredients of the two signature cocktails created for the occasion by renowned mixologist Giorgio Bargiani. The first cocktail, Pomo d'Oro, saw Kilchoman Whisky Machir mixed with vermouth bianco, a tomato liqueur and a few drops of Tonka bitters, garnished with a caper and paired with 24-month Parmigiano Reggiano. The second, named Salt Fat Acid Heat, was GlenAllachie 11 Years Old Marsala Wood Finish blended with Amontillado sherry, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and the lemon soda drink cedrata, garnished with a wedge of Chinese mandarin. Paired with 40-month Parmigiano Reggiano, it illustrated to perfection how the PDO has reconfirmed itself not only as a product of extreme versatility and distinctiveness, but also as an indispensable element that's centrals to any convivial gathering – and that includes a grand mixology tasting with friends. 'I'm particularly pleased that the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium has chosen London as the setting to celebrate such an important event as the Casello d'Oro Awards,' said Inigo Lambertini. 'For Parmigiano Reggiano DOP, the UK is historically a market of primary importance, where it continues to enjoy great success and remains a symbol of Italian excellence, tradition and know-how, handed down over the centuries by generations of breeders, farmers and cheesemakers. In the UK it has become an indispensable ingredient, strengthening the gastronomic and cultural ties between the two countries.' 'We're proud to have celebrated the second edition of the Casello d'Oro Awards,' said Nicola Bertinelli, president of the Consortium, who awarded the prizes to the 13 dairies that won the Palio del Parmigiano Reggiano in 2024. 'For our PDO, which aims to become an iconic global brand, it's not only essential to export the product, but also the product culture. Events such as this represent important occasions to celebrate the marriage between Parmigiano Reggiano and foreign markets and to continue to chart the course to bring out the distinctiveness of our PDO, raising awareness among consumers around the world.' His attitude was echoed among judges and guests alike, showcasing a national pride in Parmigiano Reggiano, which makes an event like this so much more than an ordinary business convention. All the dairies work 365 days a year to ensure exceptional cheese, and share a universal pride and passion in producing the very best – which was delivered in full at the Casello d'Oro Awards' night at the museum.
Telegraph
29-01-2025
- Telegraph
Discover the cultured way to explore your holiday destination
'Travel leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller,' renowned medieval Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta once wrote. It takes a special type of storyteller to help you truly connect with some of the world's most unique destinations. And that's what Cox & Kings' specialist tours are all about. Designed for culture lovers, these escorted tours invite you to explore humanity's greatest achievements, escorted by a guest lecturer who can truly immerse you in the places you visit. From marvelling at masterful mosaics in Ravenna and the Arab-Norman splendour of Sicily to witnessing the legacy of Silk Road merchants and the Ottoman and Byzantine culture in Istanbul, you'll discover storied lands and mesmerising cultures. Often curated with a focus on a specific historical or cultural theme, Cox & Kings' specialist-led tours go beyond the guidebook, enriching your travels with insights from both specialists and local guides. The doors open to incredible sites for private visits and you can enjoy encounters with artisans and cultural custodians. Depending on where you travel, you'll hear from archaeologists or art historians, chefs, writers and even a curator at the Victoria & Albert Museum, who will regale you with stories during informal talks and at key sites. You'll be travelling in small groups, with an average of 14 like-minded travellers. You can travel your way, with time to fully explore each unique destination and the freedom to explore independently. You can even add pre- or post-tour extensions to delve further into different destinations. Inspired? Try one of these specialist tours... Piedmont with Valentina Harris Snuffle out the sensory treats of the Piedmont region with passionate Italian chef and author Valentina Harris as your expert lecturer on this tasty five-day tour with the city of Turin as your base. Along with unearthing and tasting prized truffles on truffle hunt demonstrations and a truffle-laced lunch at Alba, you'll visit food markets and delicatessens to taste an array of regional produce from cold cuts and cheeses to chocolate. During one (of many) memorable meals you'll be presented with dishes based on historical recipes from Piedmont's monasteries. This bountiful part of northern Italy is also known for its wines and you'll taste some exceptional barolo at a winery and visit Casa Martini for a tour and vermouth tasting. It's not all about the food and drink, however. A private guided walking tour will take you around the historic centre of Turin, including its palaces, galleries, churches and magnificent duomo, home to the famous shroud. The historic city of Turin will be your base for the five-day culinary tour of the Piedmont region with chef and author Valentina Harris Credit : Getty Uzbekistan: Golden Road to Samarkand Take a trip along the ancient Silk Road, guided by researcher and Islamic expert Diana Driscoll or Dr Taylor, who also specialises in the Islamic world and Orthodox churches. On this 12-day tour, you'll explore the medieval city of Bukhara, which offers an array of wonders, including the one-thousand-year-old tomb of Ismail Samani and the stunning Kalon Tower, both masterpieces of Muslim architecture. Spend some time in one the Silk Road's hidden gems, the city of Khiva, akin to a living museum with its well-preserved ancient streets, mosques and regal palaces, then visit one of Central Asia's oldest cities, Samarkand, founded by the infamous 14th-century Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur. Explore the ancient and storied city of Samarkand in Uzbekistan on the 12-day Silk Road tour Credit : Getty Sicily: Normans in the South The largest island in the Mediterranean has long been at the crossroads of civilisations, and on this six-day tour you'll explore its Norman and Islamic heritage. Guided by former Victoria & Albert Museum curator Andrew Spira and art historian and lecturer Dr Sally Dormer, you'll begin in the capital, Palermo, to explore the Norman Palace and cathedral, and see the Arabic architecture of the Zisa and Cuba Palaces. Take in the imposing cathedral of Monreale and visit Cefalà Diana, a rare example of an intact Arabic hammam, still fed by hot springs. Back in Palermo, admire the Byzantine mosaics at the wonderful 12th-century Church of the Martarano, then visit Cefalu's impressive cathedral. The six-day tour of Sicily, led by experts Andrew Spira and Dr Sally Dormer, begins in the fascinating city of Palermo Credit : Getty Istanbul: Byzantines and Ottomans Uniquely placed at the gateway between Europe and Asia, Istanbul is a tapestry of epic stories and ancient empires. With Dr Taylor or Rowena Loverance as your guides, you'll discover everything from magnificent mosques and opulent palaces to buzzing streets and ancient relics during this sensational seven-day tour. Peel back the layers of this city with visits to the former Constantinople circus site the Hippodrome, the bewitching Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, once the centre of Orthodox Christianity. You'll visit the oldest church in Istanbul and the former Greek district, visit the only Byzantine church that still belongs to the Greek Orthodox patriarchate and sail to the nine-island archipelago of Princes' Islands, dotted with a church, Greek Orthodox seminary and a monastery. Soak up the stunning scenery of the Princes' Islands on a Byzantines and Ottomans tour Credit : Shutterstock Find out more and book your specialist tour at or call 0333 060 3239
