781 Brick Oven Fresh Whole Milk Mozzarella..Maybe "Montena Taranto" or from Biaz

[norma427]

I had posted a picture of this fresh mozzarella cheese that Steve bought at Russo’s at  http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,14122.0.html fourth picture down.  It was called 781 Brick Oven Fresh Whole Milk Mozzarella Cheese.  The mozzarella cheese melted so nicely, in Steve’s WFO, and was the best mozzarella cheese Steve and I have tasted bought from a store.  I first looked on the web last week to see where it could be found, but couldn’t find anything about it.  I then called Russo’s and the lady told me it was called Montena fresh mozzarella cheese. She also said a whole block of the mozzarella cheese could be purchased if someone asked. I then searched on the web to find Montena fresh mozzarella and couldn’t find anything.  I was into finding more about this cheese.  I told Steve a whole block could be purchased and maybe the name of the cheese would be on the block, so we could find more information, where the cheese comes from. Steve went to Russo’s and purchased a whole block and told me the name on the block was  "Montena Taranto" Foods Inc., Ridgefield, N.J.  I then searched on the web about that company or who they were and couldn’t find a website.  All I found was a phone number and no email.  http://www.manta.com/c/mm0pzx1/montena-taranto-foods-inc  I tried to call  "Montena Taranto" Foods Inc. later Friday afternoon, but didn’t get any answer.  They might only be open certain hrs., so I will try to call again this week.  Not to be deterred from searching more, I kept searching to find who might produce this cheese.  I then found Biazzo’s http://www.biazzo.com/index.htm which is also in Ridgefield, NJ. (Biazzo Dairy Products
1145 Edgewater Ave Ridgefield, N.J. 07657 (201)941-6800) I looked at their website and found they do sell brick oven fresh mozzarella cheese number 40180 at http://www.biazzo.com/deli.htm  under fresh mozzarella.  The purpose of this thread and this post is I was wondering if anyone else on the forum has tried this fresh whole milk mozzarella or have heard of either company.  I am still going to keep investigating about this cheese, until I can find out more information.  I also will call the Biazzo cheese company this week.

John (JConk007), if you read this post, do you know anything about either of these companies since you are from NJ? 

Norma

[scott123]

Norma, I am 100% certain that the Russo purchased cheese is NOT Biazzo.  Biazzo is extremely white (one of the whitest) and incredibly wet.  It's also the most curdle prone cheese you can buy.  On a pizza, it's effect is like pouring a cup of water over the whole pie. It's probably okay for non melted applications, but the moment heat enters the equation, Biazzo just lays down and dies.

[norma427]

Norma, I am 100% certain that the Russo purchased cheese is NOT Biazzo.  Biazzo is extremely white (one of the whitest) and incredibly wet.  It's also the most curdle prone cheese you can buy.  On a pizza, it's effect is like pouring a cup of water over the whole pie. It's probably okay for non melted applications, but the moment heat enters the equation, Biazzo just lays down and dies.

Scott,

Thanks for telling me you are 100% certain that the cheese Steve purchase at Russo’s isn't from Biazzo.  I think Steve is going to bring me half of the block of the fresh mozzarella cheese to market on Tuesday.  I will see how it melts in my deck oven and tastes on a pie there.  Do you have any idea if  "Montena Taranto" Foods Inc., Ridgefield, N.J. is just a grocery store or a producer of cheese.  I saw when searching, that a man from Montena Taranto Foods Inc. won in the cheese category for Ricotta cheese in 2009.

The brick oven cheese Steve purchased from Russo’s wasn’t wet at all and even tasted wonderful when eaten plain or baked on a pie in his WFO.  I know I can purchase the fresh mozzarella at Russo’s, but am wondering where it is really made.

Norma

[scott123]

Norma, you're welcome. I can't tell you much about Montena Taranto, but I did google it and came up with this

http://www.powerprofiles.com/profile/0000839825411/TARANTO+FOODS+INC.-RIDGEFIELD-NJ

confirming that they're a manufacturer and not a retail store.

[Jackie Tran]

We have a small Italian deli here in Albuquerque that sells unlabeled fresh mozz.  They buy large quantities of it and split it up for resale.   I asked what brand it was and was told it is Biazzo fresh mozz.  It has been about 6 months since I tried it but was not impress with it.   I don't remember why I didn't like it but I have returned for more Biazzo cheese. 

Chau

[norma427]

Norma, you're welcome. I can't tell you much about Montena Taranto, but I did google it and came up with this

http://www.powerprofiles.com/profile/0000839825411/TARANTO+FOODS+INC.-RIDGEFIELD-NJ

confirming that they're a manufacturer and not a retail store.

Scott,

Thanks for doing more searching.   I know when I was searching I found so many things about Montena Taranto Foods, Inc. like this one. http://start.cortera.com/company/research/k3q3mrl6l/montena-taranto-foods-inc/ and this is also where I found out about Joe Taranto of Montena Taranto Foods, Inc. making the whole milk ricotta award winning cheese. http://www.uschampioncheese.org/_apps/contest_results/top_three.php?cal_info=34 and this http://www.saycheesemedia.com/article.php?id=37

It makes me wonder why a cheese manufacturer as large as Montena Taranto Foods, Inc doesn’t have a website.  That is why I was looking if maybe someone else helps to market their cheeses.

I will try to call them tomorrow to see if they do distribute their own cheeses.

Norma

[dmcavanagh]

I've seen Biazzo cheeses advertised in the flyers from Shop-Rite food stores, aa rather large chain based in NJ in believe, but that's all I have to contribute. Never bought it.

[norma427]

We have a small Italian deli here in Albuquerque that sells unlabeled fresh mozz.  They buy large quantities of it and split it up for resale.   I asked what brand it was and was told it is Biazzo fresh mozz.  It has been about 6 months since I tried it but was not impress with it.   I don't remember why I didn't like it but I have returned for more Biazzo cheese. 

Chau

Chau,

Thanks you for posting that you did try Biazzo’s fresh mozarella cheese and didn’t like it.  I know all of our tastes are different, but as soon as Steve gave me a piece of that cheese and then baked it in his WFO, it really reminded me of the time I went to Keste’s and ate the pie that had the burrata cheese.  I really loved that cheese.  That is another reason I am searching for really what kind of cheese the 781 Brick Oven Fresh Mozzarella is and maybe other places it might be purchased. If you look at some of the pictures of Steve’s bake in his WFO at Reply http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,14129.0.html  it can be seen how nice that cheese melted.

Norma

[norma427]

I've seen Biazzo cheeses advertised in the flyers from Shop-Rite food stores, aa rather large chain based in NJ in believe, but that's all I have to contribute. Never bought it.

dmcavanagh,

Thanks for posting that you saw Biazzo cheeses advertised in flyer from Shop-Rite food stores. I only thought since Montena Taranto Foods, Inc. didn’t have a website maybe Biazzo was distributing their cheese. I probably was wrong.  I will keep searching and see if somehow the 781 Brick Oven Fresh Whole Mozzarella is labeled under another name.

Norma

[norma427]

If anyone is interested I did called Montena/Taranto Foods, Inc. this morning and talked to a sales rep.  She said the kind of fresh whole milk mozzarella Steve purchased is a curd mozzarella.  I told her it was so creamy and she also told me that fresh milk mozzarella is very creamy and can be used for curd to make fresh mozzarella. https://directorypub.com/SRCH/compdetail.php?aid=99531&pub_id=6000080
When I searched for Montena Taranto I found at La Rosa Food Distributors in 52 Wolcott Rd.
Levittown, NY 11746   http://www.larosafoods.com/index.php?searchword=Montena+Taranto&ordering=&searchphrase=all&option=com_search they must also carry the same cheese.

Montena/Taranto cheeses are also listed on this link at page 13 http://www.accardifoods.com/documents/CheeseCatalog.pdf  and http://www.accardifoods.com/  

The Taranto mozzarella cheese is also listed at http://www.peppinofood.com/linked/product%20list.pdf on page 12.

The sales rep. also told me maybe Bova Foods might carry the same mozzarella, but when I called them this morning they don't carry the same fresh whole milk mozzarella.

Norma

[norma427]

If anyone is interested, Steve brought me a half of a block of the fresh mozzarella from Montena/Foods, Inc. on Tuesday, that he bought at Russo's.

The first picture is half of the block, the second picture is the fresh mozzarella cut, the third picture is of a pizza that had some of the fresh mozzarella on it with some other cheeses and the fourth picture is of a slice with the cheese.  The Montena/Food, Inc. fresh mozzarella did melt well on the pizza in my deck oven and did taste good.

Norma

[vinzig]

I am right now working at Montena/ Taranto mozzarella factory doing a remodel for them. They are a small company that produces alot of mozzarella chese and curd. If you would like i could get a list of venders that they supply.

[norma427]

I am right now working at Montena/ Taranto mozzarella factory doing a remodel for them. They are a small company that produces alot of mozzarella chese and curd. If you would like i could get a list of venders that they supply.

Vinzig,

Interesting you are right now working at the Montena/Taranto mozzarella factory.  I think Steve (Ev) and I would be interested in knowing any vendors that are near us.  We live near Lancaster, Pa.  Steve and I thought their mozzarella was excellent.  Did you get to taste any of the fresh mozzarella?

Thanks for your help, and welcome to the forum!  

Norma

[vinzig]

I have a job meeting on friday, We are installing new equipment for them and i will ask for a list of venders. Plus you have me thinking about trying their cheese too

[norma427]

I have a job meeting on friday, We are installing new equipment for them and i will ask for a list of venders. Plus you have me thinking about trying their cheese too

vinzig,

Thanks so much for offering to ask for a list of vendors.  You should try their fresh mozzarella.  Steve and I really liked how it tasted and melted.  I also wonder how their curd would work for making mozzarella.  I have only tried raw milk in trying to make my own mozzarella.  Would be interesting to have some curd to try.

Norma