Kristine Jannuzzi knows her cheese. Her Instagram profile - you can find her at @nyccheesechick - is a luscious and impressive collection of cheeses. The endless succession of gorgonzola, asiago, parmigiano, mozzarella has brought her more than ten thousand followers and the title of “cheese influencer.”
While Kristine would never say no to a good slice of French or Dutch cheese, Italian cheese holds a special place in her heart and features prominently on her Instagram page. She comes from a family of old Italian immigrants and she recently got her Italian passport. “It took me almost three years! But I did it because it was so important to me, I just feel so Italian. It’s such a big part of my life,” she says, smiling over a plate of smooth, white stracciatella, piled on squares of focaccia and topped with preserved tomatoes. We’re meeting at Vini e Fritti, a cozy Italian bar in Midtown Manhattan, not far from her apartment.
“It’s not like I grew up eating tons of fancy cheese, or anything,” she explains when I ask her about the start of her cheese romance. But ever since she visited Italy for the first time, around twenty years ago, she’s been keen to learn about all things Italian, and after having lived in Italy for a while, she attended a panel about the evolution of Italian American food. Lou Di Palo, the owner of the famous cheese shop in Little Italy, was one of the speakers. Kristine was mesmerized. “I had never heard anyone talk about cheese like that,” she recounts, “he opened my mind to it.” After that conference, Kristine’s life and travels became all about cheese. And since her debut on Instagram it’s been a succession of followers, invites and networking opportunities. “It was the best decision I ever made,” she says.
To boost her cheese career, Kristine travels to Italy multiple times per year and she makes a point of visiting as many cheese producers as she can. When asked about her favorite cheese, she wavers - “there are so many! - but she goes for the “king of cheese”, Parmigiano Reggiano, she does it for the taste, but also for the experience she had visiting a parmigiano producer. “I went to Latteria Roncadella, in Emilia,” she says, “And it’s the only Parmigiano Reggiano producer with a woman cheesemaster. And she’s 71, and just so inspiring.”
In between her explorations, the New York City cheese chick organizes Italian cheese classes - the last one was called “A taste of La Dolce Vita”, and featured a selection of La Tur, Asiago Fresco, Marzolino al Vino Chianti, Grotta del Fiorini, and, of course, Parmigiano Reggiano - and she’s thinking about organizing cheese focused travels in Italy. “I know so many producers now,” she says. “And of course, I speak the language, which really helps establish a connection.” In just a few weeks, she will be one of the judges at the World Cheese Awards 2019, which will be held in Italy for the first time, in Bergamo.
After she’s given us her credentials as a top cheese expert, we’ve asked Kristine a couple of tips on where to buy the best cheese in New York City. You're welcome.
Di Palo’s Fine Foods - 200 Grand St, New York, NY 10013
“Every time I go in there, the atmosphere is touching. They take time to serve you, they tell you stories. Even if the store is full, it feels like you’re the only customer. There are people there who come from Connecticut just to buy cheese. There’s very little left in Little Italy, or even in New York City, that is so authentic and dedicates that kind of time to you.”
Eataly - 200 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010
“Maybe not the most original place, but they definitely have one of the best selection of Italian cheeses. An impressive selection. And it’s just nice to go to the store and see all the Italian products that remind you of shops back in Italy.”