Many years ago while living in Boston I discovered a shop called “Formaggio Kitchen”. It was here that I learned that the word formaggio was Italian for cheese. It was also where I learned what it meant to buy cheese from different countries, worlds apart from what I had been buying in the grocery store.

Time has passed and thankfully it is much easier to find cheese from the world over. There’s been quite an artisanal cheese movement here in the US and I love sampling them and finding new favorites. My dream is to someday really learn the art of cheese making and starting a little operation myself. Maybe I should concentrate on making enough for family and friends.

There’s nothing like going to the local mercato all’aperto (outdoor market) at any town in Italy and buying the local cheese. Just looking at these photos makes me anxious for my Spring in Tuscany tour coming up at the end of April. You can bet they’ll be a round of pecorino toscano gracing our table along side some crusty bread and a platter of salumi. Are you surprised to heart belongs to the formaggio of Italy?

**Spring In Tuscany-Cook With Panini Girl In Lucca-two spots left-join us for the fun and lots of food!**