Bel Paese

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About Bel Paese
Wikipedia Article About Bel Paese on Wikipedia

Bel Paese [BELL pah-AY-zay] is a semi-soft Italian cheese. The cheese was invented in 1906 by Egidio Galbani who wanted to produce a mild and delicate cheese to sell mainly in Italy. The name Bel Paese comes from the title of a book written by Antonio Stoppani. It is Italian for "Beautiful Country."

Originally produced in Melzo, a small town near Milan in the Lombardy region, it is now made in both Italy and the United States. It has a mild, buttery flavor for which it has been popularly eaten with fruity wines. It is favored by many as a snack or dessert cheese and melts easily for use on pizzas or in casseroles. It is often used as a substitute for mozzarella cheese.

Bel Paese is a cow's milk cheese. It matures for six to eight weeks, and has a creamy and light milky aroma. The color is a pale, creamy yellow. It is made in small discs, and is very similar to the French St. Paulin cheese.

Genuine bel paese cheese can be determined by the wrapping. Cheese made in Italy has an image of a priest with a map of Italy, while cheese made in the United States has a map of the Americas.