Parmesan Reggiano - gold or cheese?

[Jenise]

Paul, no, you're not alone. The number of foods I used to roundly (not just mildly) detest that I now adore is fairly long, and most just seemed to take the right setting/version to appreciate. Once upon a time I there was nothing I thought more revolting than blue cheese (and not without experience, I'd been forced to try it on many occasions as a child), but which one won me over? One of the sweeter, milder, creamier versions? No, the bad boy--Stilton. But I had to be in England and at the home of someone whose foodie instincts I found intriguing to be open-minded enough to want to learn to like it. And like your fish sauce progression (which I suffered identically), it took some time.

Btw, I still try not to smell the fish sauce when I use it for fear I'll revert to old issues.

[Robin Garr]

I used to be able to buy this from a large wheel, any size I wanted. Raley's deli folks tell me that can't cut cheese anymore (?) so they brought in the Grassi brand of Parmesan which I did not like. Went to Safeway today, they had the real stuff, cut into wedges for 20.00 a pound. The wedges ran around $10+ to $11 +. What is it selling for in your area?
At this price, I may have use it less. I will have to check at Costco.

I finally got a chance to check one local supplier and found block Parmigiano Reggiano at $14.99 at Whole Foods (where they apparently raised prices on many items this week coincident with the announcement that our local Wild Oats will now close).

I'll report back later with a price check at Lotsa Pasta, a great locally owned and operated specialty-food shop.

So far, it looks like Trader Joe has the best price for Parmigiano Reggiano: $10.99/lb, which I think is pretty reasonable.

Raising prices. Who woulda thought?

After Raley's closed here and Albertson's bought them, you should have heard my cousin complain about the new, sharply increased prices. She swore she'd never go back there.

I certainly noticed raised prices, too. For example, Romaine lettuce jumped from $1.29 to $1.69. Isn't competition (or lack thereof) grand?

We saw the same jump here, despite Raley's still being open (and still sucking big-time). I suspect it has more to do with costs at the source because of weather conditions than anything else since I saw the same price rise at Safeway, but I honestly don't know.

It's amazing how the same chain can be so different in different venues. The two nearest Raley's to me here in Albuquerque were genuinely upscale and first class in all respects, including the friendly staff.

With Albertson's taking over the NM Raley's locations, that may change.

About 15.00 / lb for good stuff down here. We use a brand called Il Villagio. I've never noticed a "pukey" or off smell to it. In fact, the cheese has almost a "pineapple" like musk to it. I think it smells wonderful.

Richard

With Albertson's taking over the NM Raley's locations, that may change.

It already has.