The Puglia cheese story ......
"My husband (Davide Ostuni) and I used to come to SA on holiday often throughout the past 16 years, and we realised that despite South Africas love of Made in Italy, few South Africans had experienced or had ever been presented with anything truly authentic Italian. That is unless it had been imported, but even then, Italian pizza and pasta dishes were adapted to suit a South African market, introducing pizza with pineapple and pasta dishes such as the ever popular Macaroni and cheese.
South Africans had been tricked into believing that Pasta Alfredo could be ordered in an Italian piazza in Rome, when in truth the only true Italian pasta in South Africa was the imported dried pasta.
As difficult as it was to find authentic ingredients when shopping for our everyday meals, most (at the cost of an arm) could be found, but one ingredient always eluded us, and that was fabulously fresh mozzarella used in almost every starter, pasta, pizza and risotto dish in an Italian kitchen. Back in September 2009 we brought our friend and future partner Fabio Fatelli to have a 'second opinion'.. our future in South Africa was decided there and then. Puglia cheese was born in June 2010.
......Puglia cheese today produces not just the most authentic mozzarella in SA, but does so by hand; as done centuries ago producing cheese such as Burrata (a filled mozzarella ball, oozing with ripped mozzarella soaked in double cream), a customary stretched mozzarella, the knot-shaped Nodini and a more traditional mozzarella ball, the Fior di latte roughly translated as the 'Flower of the milk.
Awards and Accolades
2010
EAT-IN Produce Awards (4 months after our first production)
~ Puglia Cheese has been nominated for an award for the BEST NEW BUSINESS and the BEST NEW PRODUCT 2010 ~
The Eat In South African Produce Awards aims to recognise outstanding SA producers for their contribution to our food culture. It celebrates the small, independent producers, whose care for the environment, passion and innovation are putting SA on the international food map. No matter how good the produce is, an outlet is vital to connect the producers with the public, which is why the awards also acknowledge the stores, shops and markets for the vital role they play in this process.
We are proud to be nominated already only 4 months after our first production and thank all our customers for the confidence and dedication to us. We aim in the years to come to continue providing you with only our best.
2011
AGRI EXPO SOUTH AFRICAN DAIRY AWARDS
At the SA DIARY CHAMPIONSHIPS on the 27th of April 2011 in Stellenbosch, PUGLIA CHEESE was awarded with 2 SA CHEESE Championships winners, 1 runner-up and 1 Outstanding Product QUALITE award. (Qualite given only to the top 14 Cheese Makers) .
And Again on the 25th of April 2012 Puglia Cheese was awarded SA Championship and Outstanding Qualite' Award.
In November 2011 Puglia Cheese is awarded with a Bronze Medal at the World Cheese Award
2012
Puglia Cheese has been nominated for an award for the BEST NEW PRODUCT 2012 ~
At the SA DIARY CHAMPIONSHIPS on the 25th of April 2012 in Stellenbosch, PUGLIA CHEESE was awarded with 1 SA CHEESE Championships winners, 1 runner-up and 1 Outstanding Product QUALITE award. (Qualite given only to the top 14 Cheese Makers) .
2013
AGRI EXPO SOUTH AFRICAN DAIRY AWARDS
At the 2013 SA DIARY CHAMPIONSHIPS, PUGLIA CHEESE was awarded with 2 SA CHEESE Championships.
We would like to share this success with all that support us and have played their part in our success up to date. This appreciation extends to our family, friends, our dogs, our cats, our Team at Puglia cheese, our suppliers, our much valued Customers and our goldfish.
We'd also like to thank Kobus Mulder for inviting us to participate in the Championship allowing us to enjoy the enthusiasm and support of all those within the Dairy Trade - A heartfelt thanks to all those at the awards that shared the moment with us.
2017
AGRI EXPO SOUTH AFRICAN DAIRY AWARDS
At the 2017 SA DIARY CHAMPIONSHIPS, PUGLIA CHEESE was awarded with 3 SA CHEESE Championships.
2018
AGRI EXPO SOUTH AFRICAN DAIRY AWARDS
At the 2018 SA DIARY CHAMPIONSHIPS, PUGLIA CHEESE was awarded with 1 SA CHEESE Championships.
2019
AGRI EXPO SOUTH AFRICAN DAIRY AWARDS
At the 2019 SA DIARY CHAMPIONSHIPS, PUGLIA CHEESE was awarded with 2 SA CHEESE Championships.
AGRI EXPO French Students Exchange
A fabulous group of France's cheese makers of the future, came to us to see from our Master Cheese maker, how mozzarella is made! The students from Burgundy managed to get their hands into our award winning mozzarella dough, to see if they could put a few shapes together. Fun was had all round. We wish them a safe trip home. Au revoir !
This exchange programme is made possible through Agro Expo's Kobus Mulder; the dairy manager at Agri-Expo and South Africa’s only international cheese judge who has previously adjudicated at various world cheese competitions in France, the UK and America.
Thank you to Kobus for giving us the opportunity to play a part in this wonderfully ambitious initiative. We look forward to seeing you in the future years to come.
UA-82406576-1
This exchange programme is made possible through Agro Expo's Kobus Mulder; the dairy manager at Agri-Expo and South Africa’s only international cheese judge who has previously adjudicated at various world cheese competitions in France, the UK and America.
Thank you to Kobus for giving us the opportunity to play a part in this wonderfully ambitious initiative. We look forward to seeing you in the future years to come.
UA-82406576-1