Melt Forum

After Jeff Silver of Lioni Latticini, Inc. tasted the exquisite Mondragone bufala mozzarella from Italy, he got the idea of packing a ten-ounce portion in a pint-sized milk carton. The mozzarella ($6.99) has a fourteen day refrigerator shelf life. Mondragone is a fine cheese to use on eggplant parmigiana, pizza, veal scallopine, open-faced sandwiches and other foods requiring a melt. What's more, Mondragone won't toughen when it's cooled down. It's also good thinly sliced on a baguette with prosciutto and basil. Just be sure that some sleepy morning you don't reach for the wrong container.

Available at:
DI Palo Dairy, 206 Grand St. at Mott St. (212-226-1033)
Grace's Marketplace, 1237 Third Avenue at 71st St. (212-737-0600)
Zabars, 2245 Broadway, near 80th St. (212-787-2000)

- Barbara Costikyan
New York Magazine, Best Bets
February 3, 1992