Temat: Risotto with Gorgonzola and Fresh Pear Sauce

Chef's Tips

Gorgonzola is a blue cow’s milk cheese originally from the small town of Gorgonzola, located less than 15 miles northeast of Milan.
In this recipe, the spicy, piquant flavor of the gorgonzola is balanced by the sweetness of the fresh pear sauce.

Food History

Gorgonzola is one of the most famous Italian cheeses in the world. It is known for its blue veins and unique flavor, which is both sharp and sweet. This cheese gets its name from the small town of Gongonzola, located near Milan. The cheese has been produced for centuries and although we don’t know the exact date it was first produced, we know that it comes from around the high Middle Ages. A centuries-old legend has it that a young boy working as an apprentice in a dairy was given the important job to oversee the production of the cheese. Even though this job required serious attention, the youngster worked attentively until one evening, distracted by a surprise visit by his girlfriend, he forgot to finish making the cheese. When he returned to work the next morning, the boy immediately realized his mistake and found the milk curds covered with mold. Aware of the trouble that he would be in if his master discovered his mistake, the apprentice decided to mix the ruined curds with fresh milk in an attempt to dissolve the mold. The blue-green veins did not go away, however the boy quickly realized that he had invented a creamy cheese that tasted good: without intending to, he created Gorgonzola.