Cheese of the week: Parrano Originale

Name: Parrano Originale

Place of Purchase: HyVee Foods West in Ames, Iowa

Country of Origin: Holland imported by Best Cheese Corporation

Price in Iowa: $12.99/lb.

Milk: cow (pasteurized)

Processing: It's a Gouda, so the whey is boiled away, the curd is washed, and the soaked in brine.

Texture: semi-firm

Color: golden

Rind: Wax

Aroma: woody and nutty

Taste: Salty, sweet and very savory (umami). 1/3 Gouda and 2/3 Parmesan

Mouth feel: Full-bodied and somewhat dry

Notes:This cheese choice made up for the Gejtost last week. Everyone loved this cheese. It's savory, nutty flavor made it a big hit. It's not as sweet as gouda, but it makes up for that with a nutty, meaty/umami flavor. We just ate it as is, but I could see this adding a new twist to a number of Italian dishes; chicken parrano, perhaps?