Best Price on Parmigiano Reggiano in Brooklyn (or any outer borough)

[yuriwebboy]

Where do people buy their Parmigiano Reggiano? And what price do you pay? Just the regular 22 month aged . . .not some fancy Vaca Rosa or 5-year-old.

[jaingmaster]

I usually get cheeses from Fairway in Red Hook. I don't remember exact price, but I want to say somewhere in the $18/lb range for Parmigiano Reggiano.

I don't go there as often, but Cheese of the World on Austin St in Forest Hills, Queens has some really good stuff. I think they're a bit more expensive, but again don't remember exactly.

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Cheese of the World
71-48 Austin St, Queens, NY 11375

[dhs]

try calling a few places. It is a favorite sale item for many italian shops, here is possible list to try:

Collucio [phone]
Pastosa [phone] (multiple locations)
Meats Supreme 718-372-4555 (multiple locations)
Bari Pork Store [phone] (multiple locations)

Fairway is a great suggestion as well

and there are plenty of others

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Bari Pork Store
158 Ave U, Brooklyn, NY 11223

[jinx]

I usually get it at Fairway--its nowhere near $18/lb (or I wouldn't buy it there!)--its about $12.99 and sometimes on sale its less. Collucio is another good choice, probably less expensive there.

[yuriwebboy]

Oh, I should have said, this isn't a call for recommendations, but a survey of the area. I'm more curious than needing a place to buy Parm. The Park Slope Food Coop sells it for $9/Lb and I wanted to know how cheap that was.

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Park Slope Food Coop
782 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[yussdov]

teitel bros. up on arthur ave in the bronx. amazing italian supply store. i think the reg parm goes for about $10-12 a pound. but they've got everything you could want and the prices are incredibly good.

[Steve R]

Fairway is where we usually go but Sahadi has it cheaper pretty regularly.

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Sahadi's
187 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11201

[jen kalb]

Costco sells plastic-wrapped parmigiano reggiano

[janie]

price isn't too great nor quality at costco...trader joe has it, but price isn't a bargain either and quality can be mixed--have gotten very good chunks at Iavorrone Bros in Lake Sucess--usually pay between 12-14 so $9 is excellent price.

[2slices]

Reggiano is PDO (protected origin) how much variation is there in quality? I thought the main difference is aging. There's not much fluctuation in production methods or raw materials. Price is one thing but I think there's a stigma attached to those stores affecting your perception. Unless it's shredded or they've not stored it well.

[janie]

Yeah, I thought it weird too..know there's not supposed to be such variance, but I noticed something..and it was twice, so don't think it was isolated....Was at iavorone in Lake Success last night and they had beautiful huge chunks NOT REFRIGERATEd at $11.99 a lb I believe--and Stop and Shop had Grana Padano on sale for $9.99 a lb....Still confused about the need to refrigerate or not--I've always refrigerated, and wrapped well, and get a few weeks use--however...don't understand why the stores have it sitting out on tables, and then sometimes later refrigerate...I've heard that once a wheel is cracked open and cheese cut, and put into saran that it should be refrigerated to maintain proper moisture of the cheese--and best if kept at 50 degrees and not 32-40 like a reg fridge...now while many stores are air conditioned, and to varying degrees--I question the storage of many of them...In fact, Stop and Shop leaves their grana Pandano out on table from early morn to closing at night and refrigerates overnight in the back, and has a certain amount that are in the refrig cases---they have pieces that were cut over a week ago, sitting on a table--I can understand daily pieces cut and placed on table, and then put into refrigerater later that day if not sold, but a week of being refrigerated, not being refrigerated...that I don't like...I think cut it, wrap it, leave it out for a day..it doesn't sell, refrigerate it....Trader Joe's has theirs refrigerated,,,but their price is $14 I believe a pound...

[jen kalb]

Costco's reggiano was $10-11 a pound today, the grana padano a little cheaper.
There are differences in the aging time of the cheeses, and it must make some difference if a cheese is fresh cut from the wheel vs. sealed in plastic or how its been stored and kept during its life.. Despite the quality guaranties and testing, there may well be quality differences in different cheeses different makers different seasons - it is an artisanal product and can only be standardized up to a point. We visited one dairy operation near Parma which fed the cows the same mix of grains all year around to avoid the difference in milk flavor that would come from pasturing them and could spoil the cheese. . But generally it will taste and flake like reggiano parmigiano wherever you get it. Given that my hunks can "age" for months in the frig before I use them up these days, the quality differences between the different stores may not matter that much. It does dry out eventually in the frig so it wont be as good flaked in salads etc.

[2slices]

My parents go thru tons of reggiano. If you leave it in the fridge just in paper wrapping it will dry up very noticeably. My mom keeps the rings and uses them for soup, and after a month the little remaining cheese above the rind is rock hard.

[jen kalb]

thats when you put it in soup (it will soften up again)
When we were going through parmesan regularly I would buy it say, at Alleva on Grand Street or Coluccio) in very large pieces and wrap in foil and then plastic. It would keep pretty well that way without molding or drying too much. I throw the rinds into a bag in the freezer for future use.

[Roxy9]

Coluccio - it's the best (they also have grana padano, but that's a different variety). There's a significant difference in quality between theirs and Fairway imho. Coluccio also has other great (and fresh) Italian cheeses. Try their piave and taleggio. I'm not a big Fairway fan for cheese, but I'm in the minority on that one... I think about $9/lb for parm at Coluccio. Russo in Park Slope and even Union Market are better quality than Fairway, albeit, more $.

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Union Market
754 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[jen kalb]

I also like the Cheeses at Coluccio - the cheese guys are gentlemen and offer tastes freely if you ask. They have two piaves - Im not sure, but think I like the younger one better. Their smoked scamorza is excellent for frying.

I have bought some very good cheeses at Fairway, but you are running a risk if you dont taste first - some of the packaged items, particularly the soft cheeses can be disappointing. havent tried their Reggiano Parmigiano. I bought my last big piece at Coluccio but I dont remember $9 a lb.

[bob96]

Coluccio is superb for its range of well-maintained pecorinos, from young to sharp and aged,and for quality provolone, caciocavallo, pepato, scamorza, ricotta, and other traditional southern Italian favorites, sold in fast moving quantities. They also have a wide range of own- label olive oil (actually, from Sicily's Barbera), canned tomatoes, and sott'olii and other condiments, many based on hot red peppers, and reflecting the owners' (and many of their customers') Calabrese roots.

[jinx]

We were in Coluccio this weekend--its now $10.95 a lb.

[deepo]

Don't forget Frank and Sal's in Bensonhurst - good cheese counter.

[michaelmas]

a little off topic here, but I always found great deals on another hard cheese, Pecorino Romano, at Circus Fruits (Fort Hamilton/59th street). Frequently (probably at least once a month) on sale for $4.99/lb.

I prefer pecorino to parmesan any day, so this was always my go-to place.
It's somewhat a circus, as the name implies, but they have a real deli there, so the cheese is surprisingly good.

[Aces]

Frank and Sal's is my regular spot for Italian cured meats and Italian cheeses. The folks behind the counter are very helpful. I've been by Circus Fruits but never inside next time I am walking by I will go inside. Love the sign!

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Circus Fruits
5915 Fort Hamilton Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11219

[coopcop]

Perhaps you should speak with the cheese buyer at the PSFC who could probably tell you the comparison prices off the top of his head. Also, Blue Apron is just up the block and I am sure they would welcome a visit.

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Blue Apron Foods
814 Union St, Brooklyn, NY 11215

[bobjbkln]

$8.99/lb this week (7/16-7/22) at Red Hook Fairway