31 replies to this topic

[jaybee]

I recently enjoyed a serving of creamy ricotta cheese drizzled with wild flower honey at Lupa. This reminded me of how good this cheese can be. Especially for somone sliding into a low carb diet. I've tried the supermarket brands and there are no standoouts. Has anyone found a source in New York City for great ricotta? Is there a packaged brand that you'd recommend?

[Suvir Saran]

Thanks for starting this thread.
I am not much of a fan of Ricotta. And that lunch at Lupa changed me.
I loved the fact that their Ricotta did not have much liquid.
And the honey was superb.

Like you, I am at a loss for a source for good Ricotta.

[Robert Schonfeld]

That guy on Arthur Avenue, Jaybee. Ask the FG or Ellen Shapiro. They should have the name.

[stefanyb]

Has anyone found a source in New York City for great ricotta?

No surprise, Murray's on Bleecker and DiPalos.

[wingding]

DePalos',on Grand St. has some good ricotta.They serve buffalo ricotta with the cheese plate at Esca-it is my favorite type of ricotta by far,and I've never seen it for sale anywhere retail,but it is imported bt the same company that brings most buffalo mozzerella into N.Y. from Italy

[Suvir Saran]

DePalos',on Grand St. has some good ricotta.They serve buffalo ricotta with the cheese plate at Esca-it is my favorite type of ricotta by far,and I've never seen it for sale anywhere retail,but it is imported bt the same company that brings most buffalo mozzerella into N.Y. from Italy

I have had what is sold at Murrays and DePalos. Not the same at all to what was served to us at Lupa. The Ricotta they sell is responsible for me not being much of a ricotta fan. But what we were served at Lupa, had me wanting more. It was not runny at all and was not even faintly sweet. That is what I loved about it.

Wingding, do you know if the one at Esca is the same as the one in Murrays and DePalos, or am I to read what you right on face value? If that is the case, you are agreeing that what could be eaten at Esca or Lupa could be superior to what can be bought at those shops.

What can we do? How can we get the same Ricotta???

[jaybee]

What can we do? How can we get the same Ricotta???

Can Jason hip us to his source?

[Suvir Saran]

What can we do? How can we get the same Ricotta???

Can Jason hip us to his source?

Will JB give me a lifelong supply of Tarte Tatin?

[jaybee]

I've gotten several PMs with promising sources. It's time for a field trip to Arthur Avenue. Some salami, a little wine, a little cheese....do we have Arthur Avenue congnoscenti among us?

[Suvir Saran]

I've gotten several PMs with promising sources.  It's time for a field trip to Arthur Avenue.  Some salami, a little wine, a little cheese....do we have Arthur Avenue congnoscenti among us?

Last time I checked, FG was still here... and also, I am sure Ed Schoenfeld would love to be a part of this hunt.
But what about the TT?

[nightscotsman]

Since the request was for sources only and specifically in New York City, shouldn't this thread have been posted in the New York City & State board and not in General Food Topics board? I don't mean to be inflamatory, but if the discussion is city or region specific then it would help to know so that others may choose to skim over it.

[jaybee]

Since the request was for sources only and specifically in New York City, shouldn't this thread have been posted in the New York City & State board and not in General Food Topics board? I don't mean to be inflamatory, but if the discussion is city or region specific then it would help to know so that others may choose to skim over it.

You are correct. Rachel/Jason, please transfer the whole thread to the NY board where I should have put it from the start.

[rat]

joe's dairy on sullivan street

http://www.splendora...omage/87633.htm

[Jonathan Day]

I have no idea where to get good ricotta in New York. But could the success of the Lupa dish have something to do with the way the ricotta was prepared? I have seen recipes where the ricotta is "drained" before use -- it is placed in a fine sieve, and some of the whey allowed to drip out over a period of a few hours. This changes the texture considerably. I believe that "ricotta salata" is prepared this way: the ricotta is lightly salted, pressed, and aged.

In fact, is it possible that the ricotta served at Lupa was ricotta salata? I have seen this cheese, and cheeses like it, served with honey in Sardinia and Sicily, as a dessert.

[Suvir Saran]

It could have been that JD(London).
Thanks!

[Rachel Perlow]

Moved.

Was the ricotta you had at all salty? was it firm or soft in texture?

[jaybee]

Was the ricotta you had at all salty? was it firm or soft in texture?

Not at all salty, soft in texture. Needed a spoon.

[Toby]

Getting good fresh ricotta cheese in New York isn't that hard -- Di Palo's has two types of fresh ricotta cheese -- one is a little firmer than the other. The Italian store in Chelsea Market sometimes has buffalo ricotta. Whole Foods has decent ricotta, as does Garden of Eden. Balducchi's used to have the most delicious ricotta cheese, but I haven't tried it since the store changed. Most recipes recommend letting excess liquid drain out through cheesecloth, particularly if you're baking it.

A company in San Francisco used to make goat's milk ricotta that was so great -- I used to make a crustless cheesecake with it -- the ricotta, eggs, sugar and scraped vanilla bean -- that had the creaminess of ricotta and the slight funkiness of goat cheese. Has anyone ever seen goat's milk ricotta here in New York?

[Kikujiro]

Ricotta salata is fairly hard. Like, you can grate it.

Ricotta wants to be incredibly fresh. You can make it at home. I've never tried to (I live right by the two oldest Italian delis in London); a quick search on Google brought back this method, for example; have no idea whether it's a good one.

Edited by Kikujiro, 15 December 2002 - 08:32 AM.

[wingding]

Coach Farms' goat curd is essentially ricotta,and can be used as such-I like the flavor,and have used it in sweet and savory dishes.The importer who brings a lot of Buffalo mozzerella to N.Y. restaurants[can't remember the name]brings in the ricotta in also-it has a short shelf life,and doesn't always make it through customs.Ask at Murrays' or DePalos'....maybe they can get it for you.

[jaybee]

Coach Farms' goat curd is essentially ricotta,and can be used as such-I like the flavor,and have used it in sweet and savory dishes.

I was told that Batali's wife's family are the owners of Coach Farms (and Coach Leather) so maybe that's where Lupa's ricotta came from.

[Jonathan Day]

Ricotta salata is fairly hard. Like, you can grate it.

Not always. It's never as soft and creamy as fresh ricotta, but I have seen it with the texture more like, say, a good roquefort. I've also seen it hard, like a parmesan. As with many goat cheeses, it depends on how long the ricotta has been aged and how much moisture has come out of it.

[La Niña]

Good ricotta salata (one of my favorites) should not be a grate-able texture. The roquefort comparison is about right.

[Kikujiro]

Good ricotta salata (one of my favorites) should not be a grate-able texture.  The roquefort comparison is about right.

Not sure about the 'should'. River Café Green has this:

'Ricotta Salata This is a dry, salty cows' and sheeps' milk cheese, made in Puglia, Sardinia and Sicily. White in colour, it has no rind and its condensed hard texture makes it easy to grate.'

(The 3 recipes in the book want it grated.)

Edit: I'm not saying like parmesan. Crumbly but grateable.

Edited by Kikujiro, 15 December 2002 - 10:43 AM.

[laura]

The ricotta at the italian market at Chelsea Market is the best I have had of the firm ,drained variety, I believe it is called roman style. And I think it is imported
from Italy. Di paolo makes a similar version but it is not as good as the one
at Chelsea Market.

[tigerwoman]

Corona Heights Pork Store near the Lemon Ice King off of 108th Street in Corona makes their own fabulous delicious sweet ricotta. Nothing like the stuff from the supermarket and fairly reasonable too. They also make fab cured and fresh sausages, incredible but slow to make chicken parm sandwiches, great mozzarella., etc. etc. They are nice people and hard working too. Tiny store. Also nearby is Parkside Restaurant and of course the famous Bocce Courts.

The ricotta makes a nice dessert with some fresh raspberries. - no enhancements needed, it is naturally sweet.

[jaybee]

I am lunching at Lupa today and I will give them the third degree about their ricotta.

And maybe, just maybe, Suvir, I'll tell you what they say.

[Suvir Saran]

I am lunching at Lupa today and I will give them the third degree about their ricotta. 

And maybe, just maybe, Suvir,  I'll tell you what they say.  

and???
Or did you mean today as in Tuesday?

[jaybee]

Or did you mean today as in Tuesday?

Yes.

[APPS411]

Jaybee,
If you would like a real soft, fresh ricotta to eat by itself, then I would suggest making your own.
It's really easy and is exceptional to eat simply, as you described w/ a drizzle of honey.
The resulting texture is silky smooth.

The method is simple. You add a small amount of acid (Lemon Juice) and salt to room temperature milk. Let the milk coagulate and pour into a strainer lined w/ cheesecloth. Place the strainer over a bowl in the frig for a few days and thats it.
For best results use a good quality whole milk from a local farm. Ultra pasturized does not yeild the a great texture. And be sure not to add too much salt. I made that mistake the first time I made it and once all the water drained out, the salt quantity was too high.

I don't have the exact recipe in front of me to tell you the exact amount of lemon juice to add per the quantity of milk. But a quick search online should give you some ideas.

Variations in the temperature of the milk at the time you add the acid and the quantity of acid added will yeild different textured results. Some recipes will tell you to squeeze out alot of the remaining liquid. But for a real smooth, creamy, silky end product, I would advise you to just let it drain in the frig w/ a quick stir every few hours.

Enjoy.