For anyone who enjoys cooking and the joys of fine cuisine, there’s little more rewarding than to watch the smiles and hear the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ of satisfaction as family and guests savour the fruits of your labours.

That’s why quality ingredients matter. And that’s why Tre Stelle is Canada’s kitchen favourite when it comes to fine cheeses. For 50 years, Tre Stelle has brought Canadians only the finest cheeses, many made right here in Canada by master cheese makers, others created in Italy by craftsmen carrying on a centuries-old tradition of uncompromising quality.

Reggiano Parmesan, Grana Padano, Romano, Piave, Mascarpone, Montasio – the names roll off your tongue almost as pleasantly as they delight the palate.

Tre Stelle’s dozens of cheese varieties offer up endless options in the kitchen, and, as always, melt is here to help narrow down the choices with kitchen-tested recipes designed to make entertaining a pleasure, for both you and your guests.

We’ll begin our trip to Italy with Mascarpone, a rich, fresh triple-crème that is a relative of Ricotta, but made with cream rather than whole milk, for that extra smooth taste and mouth feel. Following are two recipes that will have your
guests swooning with delight.

Mascarpone Brûlée with Roasted Blueberries: Yes, it’s rich. Yes, it’s sinful. Any more questions? Roasting the blueberries concentrates the flavour, while the Mascarpone Cheese adds a smooth creamy texture along with whipping cream and egg yolks. Perfect for any kind of celebration.

Tiramisu: You used the egg yolks for the Brûlée…now use the whites for this classic coffee-flavoured Italian dessert. Layers of coffee-soaked Mascarpone ladyfingers and liqueur-flavoured Mascarpone Cheese make for a smooth and delicious end to a meal.

Ricotta is another fine Tre Stelle product that has won favour with Canadian cooks. Here’s a recipe that’s perfect for holiday entertaining:

Gourmet Layered Dip: Why use a boring store-bought dip? A base of Tre Stelle Ricotta fills a plate, then is topped with rings of pesto, Rosenborg Noble Blue Cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. A scattering of toasted pine nuts completes this attractive and flavour-packed dip.Intense and full-bodied, Piave is a delicious Italian hard cheese and Tre Stelle imports only the finest for its Canadian customers. Here’s a recipe that really shows off its flavour:

Piave Pesto Primavera: The key to this recipe is homemade pesto – don’t worry, it’s simple to make – and the wonderful taste of Piave. Combined with zucchini, potato, green beans and pasta, it’s a wholesome and delicious dish.
Originally a monastery-made cheese, Montasio is now produced in a specific region of Italy following well-defined traditional procedures to preserve its authenticity. Piquant and delicious, it works both as a table cheese and a grated cheese.

Radicchio Salad With Shaved Montasio: A simple dish that really shows off the flavour of Montasio, which combines beautifully with the mildly bitter radicchio.

Our next dish is a perfect party pleaser, and easy to make too. And who doesn’t like pizza? Quattro Formaggi Pizza: Fresh dough and four delicious cheeses make this the ultimate cheese-lover’s pizza. Asiago, Montasio, Mozzarella and Piave offer a savoury tour of Italian flavours, with olive oil and fresh herbs adding even more pleasure.

To wrap up this issue, we’re pleased to introduce you to one of the latest and greatest products from Tre Stelle – Ricotta Flavours. We’ve taken creamy smooth Ricotta and added four tasty flavourings – Strawberry, Blueberry, Tropical Fruit and Spinach & Garlic. They’re spreadable (kids love ‘em) and they also work well as recipe ingredients. Look for them in your favourite grocery store, and in the meantime, here are a couple of recipes to spark your creativity and help out with holiday entertaining.

Strawberry Almond Cookies: Two fabulous flavours combined in one delicious cookie.
Spinach and Garlic Dip: Simple but delicious, make extra so you’ll get some too!


From Italy, to Canada…to your table. When it comes to holiday entertaining – or anytime dining – make it right, make it with Tre Stelle.