No problem, I’m happy to be the first to admit it: I used to snack on Nutella with a big spoon straight from the jar. Those days are over now. Not because I’ve somehow developed better self-control… no, I’ve simply found a better alternative! It comes in the form of roasted hazelnuts from Piedmont, which are also the base of the famous brown spread. The variety predominantly grown in Piedmont is called Tonda gentile trilobata, which means something like the round, gentle, three-lobed one. A lovely name, isn’t it? And so meaningful… When you open the package of roasted hazelnuts for the first time, an incredibly enticing nougat aroma wafts out, making your nostrils tremble gently with anticipation. And then that first bite: crunchy, aromatic, sweet, nutty… Each one of these plump little balls tastes like a hint of all the delicious treats that can be made from them: nut cake, chocolate cream, hazelnut ice cream… But nothing beats pure indulgence, so I prefer to simply eat the nuts just like that. One after the other. After all, you can’t treat yourself enough! They also taste great with cheese, especially goat cheese, blue Stilton or rich mountain cheese, and are generally a fantastic addition to any cheese platter! For a quick energy boost between meals, we’ve come up with a trio of super-indulgent delights: a piece of savory mountain cheese (Abondance, Beaufort, Gruyère or Mängisch are ideal), topped with a pat of raw milk butter and a roasted hazelnut—something like the cherry on top! It sends your blood sugar levels soaring instantly, giving you plenty of energy for whatever else the day may bring. Another creation is this decadence, which our team calls a “luxury sandwich”: a slice of toasted bread from the Bread Station, topped with mildly salted raw milk butter and a thick layer of pure Piedmontese hazelnut paste. When your teeth bite through these three layers and everything blends into a creamy layer of bliss between your tongue and palate… sooooo good! Pure hazelnut paste sounds so innocent, but it’s up to no good: Unlike Nutella, it contains no sugar or chocolate, but we are dealing with almost pure nut fat here. The fat it contains is, however, of the very best kind: 60 percent of the fat content consists of so-called unsaturated fatty acids. The key word is “brain food.” So here we go! So when your nerves are frayed once again: treat yourself to a hazelnut or a luxury sandwich! Of course, you’ll find everything you need with us.

The Cheese in Bra trade fair, organized by Slow Food Italia, is for professional gourmets and cheese lovers of every stripe, what Mecca is for a good Muslim: the holy pilgrimage city that one must visit at least once in a lifetime. This year, we two sisters were also there and felt like we were in cheese heaven. A short trip report.

Autumn is here, and our dear Theresa has also just returned from Piedmont, where she visited the local cheese fair in the small town of Bra. Accordingly, this Friday we are starting our autumn tastings with the "Souvenirs from Piedmont": In addition to cheeses from Italy, England, and France, you will have the opportunity on this day to once again taste the freshly roasted hazelnuts from Azienda Papa dei Boschi, which grow on the surrounding hills. You will be surprised how well they pair with cheese!

Our autumn events program is ready, and we have selected four wonderful themed occasions for which we would like to cordially invite you to join us at Emser Straße 42. We’ll kick things off on Friday, September 25, with “Treats from Piedmont”:In September, one of the finest international cheese fairs takes place in the small town of Bra. In addition to cheeses from Italy, England, and France, we will also offer freshly roasted hazelnuts from the surrounding hills, produced by Azienda Papa dei Boschi. Come by—we look forward to seeing you!