Parmigiano Reggiano has been around for centuries, establishing itself as a piece of history and culinary culture on our peninsula. Refined and flavorful, it has won the hearts (and palates) of famous personalities far beyond our borders.
Giovanni Boccaccio and the "mountain of Parmesan"
While the plague of 1348 ravaged Europe, the protagonists of Boccaccio's Decameron tell each other stories to pass the time while waiting to return to the city.
Among the ten novellas, one tells, through the character of Maso, of the mythical city of Bengodi. Here, a river of wine flows and a mountain made of grated Parmesan rises, where people do nothing but cook ravioli in capon broth.
Bengodi, unfortunately, does not exist, and is only a joke to make fun of the painter Calandrino, but the novella demonstrates how renowned and considered a delicacy Parmigiano Reggiano already was in the 14th century.
Casanova: don't give flowers, give Parmesan
We remember the legendary Giacomo Casanova for his daring adventures and his talent for seduction. In short, the Venetian was a lover of earthly pleasures, and among these, food certainly could not be missing!
Casanova mentions our cheese several times in his memoirs and states that a piece of Parmesan is much more effective than a bouquet of flowers in winning a woman's heart.
From Napoleon to Taylor Swift
Thanks to the origins of his second wife, the Duchess of Parma Marie Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte also became a big fan of Parmesan.
It is said that his favorite dish was green beans with a sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano. Simple but tasty.
Among other historical figures from beyond the Alps who appreciated Parmesan, Alexandre Dumas (father), the author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, included it in his Grand Dictionary of Cuisine.
But the passion for Parmigiano Reggiano is not just relegated to history; today's celebrities also go wild for our cheese. Taylor Swift has stated that Parmesan is never missing from her fridge!
