my kids’ dessert last night… really

In lieu of their usual cookies, ice cream or sorbet, my kids have been requesting an unusual dessert the past two nights: parmeggiano-reggiano cheese curls with balsamic vinegar. It’s out there for a sweet treat, I know, but it is delicious and the protein present in the cheese is a great choice for growing appetites.

I recommend a really good quality balsamic for this type of straight drizzle; the best ones have an almost syrupy quality.

I asked Dane this morning why they’ve been on a cheese/balsamic kick lately and he said it’s because he misses the great eating we experience daily in Italy. To us, everything tastes better there (even items that are imported here).

We picked up this particular habit at a high-end shop in Florence called Convivium. The proprietor used parmeggiano-reggiano curls instead of bread when offering tastes of their aged balsamic vinegars. It became an instant classic for us.

If you haven’t tried it at our house, I highly encourage you to do so at yours. A vegetable peeler makes perfect curls and you only need a few drops of vinegar for each one. Mangia!