Not from Piacenza, but Enna province in central Sicily, Piacentinu Ennese is a dense, raw sheep’s milk cheese flavoured with wild saffron and peppercorns. The fact that the sheep feed mainly wild vetch add to the unique flavour. Many prefer to eat it young, when the flavour is more delicate. It’s delicious with olives, roasted red peppers and a plate of salumeria.
They say the cheese was first made for King Roger, Sicily’s Norman king in the 12th century. He was depressed, and saffron being considered an anti-depressant, his wife, Queen Adelasia, invited the local cheese-makers to the palace and asked if they could invent a saffron infused pecorino to cheer him up. Although some say it was Adelasia who was depressed. Anyway it was a nice gesture.
Designated PDO.
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