Greater Huntington coverage is funded in part by The Farm Italy — a striking neighborhood restaurant and cocktail bar that brings the simplicity, beauty and seasonal freshness of local Italian dining to Huntington.
Some businesses might celebrate National Cheese Day with a discounted quesadilla.
At Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace, they celebrate by cracking open 90-pound wheels of Italian cheese in front of crowds.
Curious shoppers gathered at nine Uncle Giuseppe’s locations across Long Island, Westchester and New Jersey on Thursday to watch cheese specialists crack open giant wheels of Grana Padano during the grocer’s annual National Cheese Day celebration.
“You give us any excuse to celebrate what we do, we’re gonna do it,” regional cheese specialist Franklin Fernandez said.
Fernandez spent the afternoon at the Melville location, where fellow cheese specialist Michael Roselle demonstrated the centuries-old process of opening a 30-month-aged wheel of Grana Padano using a specialized set of tools.
More than just parmesan
For many Italian-American families on Long Island, Sunday dinner isn’t complete without a bowl of pasta and a generous helping of grated cheese.
While Parmigiano-Reggiano is often the household favorite, Roselle said Grana Padano serves a similar role throughout much of Italy.
“Grana dates back even farther than Parmigiano-Reggiano,” Roselle told shoppers. “It’s not aged as long, so it’s a little bit creamier, a little bit sweeter.”
Its milder flavor makes it ideal for grating over pasta, serving alongside bread or pairing with high-quality balsamic vinegar.
Fernandez said one of his favorite ways to enjoy it is simply cubed and dipped into balsamic.
The art of cracking cheese
As Roselle carefully worked around the wheel, he explained why premium cheeses like Grana Padano are cracked rather than sliced.
The process helps preserve the cheese’s natural crystalline texture while releasing more aroma and flavor.
“The grana that we get here is sourced just for us,” Roselle said, pointing to markings indicating the cheese’s Designation of Protected Origin (DOP) status.
The certification ensures the cheese is produced according to strict standards in its designated region of Italy.
Samples for the crowd
After the demonstration, shoppers were invited to sample pieces of the freshly cracked cheese atop bread with strawberry preserves.
Fernandez also introduced guests to Leonardi Giovanni Saba, a rich, sweet balsamic that paired especially well with the nutty, slightly sharp cheese.
The combination offered a simple reminder of why products like Grana Padano remain staples on Italian tables centuries after they were first produced.
More events on the way
The Great Grana Crack took place at Uncle Giuseppe’s locations in Melville, Port Jefferson, North Babylon, Smithtown, Bohemia, Yorktown, Tinton Falls and Morris Plains.
The event is part of the company’s broader effort to create experiences around Italian food through tastings, demonstrations and specialty products sourced from around the world.
Shoppers can expect additional events throughout the summer, including live music at select locations.
Top: Uncle Giuseppe’s cheese specialist partakes in the Great Grana Crack at the company’s Melville location Thursday. (Credit: courtesy/Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace
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