That's Amore Cheese - Una storia italiana
Over the years I followed the success story of Giorgio Linguanti, and kept eating his products. When Segmento asked me to attend the That’s Amore Cheese’s anniversary event, it felt like attending an old friend's party.
I still remember with pleasure and surprise when I had just arrived in Australia and stumbled upon Giorgio Linguanti’s handmade mozzarella in Carlton. It was the early days, and like many others who had recently moved to Melbourne, I began to feel eternally grateful to those who made us feel at home by producing authentic mozzarella, irresistible burrata, and many other delicious Italian cheeses.
Giorgio Linguanti’s love for cheese began in the picturesque countryside of Sicily, where he spent his formative years. Growing up with the scents of freshly crafted mozzarella and the sights of bubbling vats of ricotta ignited Giorgio’s passion for cheese. He was destined to bring the rich tradition of Italian cheesemaking to the Australian culinary scene. In 2008 he founded That’s Amore Cheese, which, for 15 years, has retained a loyal customer base that includes top restaurants.
Giorgio welcomed us with a warm smile at the event to celebrate the company’s fifteenth anniversary. The spacious hall in Collingwood was packed with guests, and the live music from Bella Ciao, an Italian musical trio made up of Vincenzo Ruberto (bass), Salvatore Greco (accordion), and Enio Pozzebon (piano and vocals), added to the festive atmosphere.
In a spacious open kitchen at the back, frenetic chefs and sous-chefs were bustling about. I caught a glimpse of Guy Grossi busy in the kitchen, it looked promising...
The delectable four-course dinner was masterminded by a team of three celebrity guest chefs: Guy Grossi, Adam D’Sylva, and Darren Purchese. The wine selection, curated by Vinea Marson, perfectly complemented the culinary delights.
Guy Grossi is chef of Grossi Florentino (Florentino, Grill, and Cellar Bar), Ombra, Arlechin, Garum Perth, and Settimo Brisbane. He is one of Australia’s leading Italian chefs, a media personality, and a trusted author of multiple cookbooks, including Recipes from My Mother’s Kitchen, Cellar Bar, and Love Italy.
Adam D’Sylva is the founder of Coda & Tonka and co-owner of Boca Gelato. Adam won The Age Good Food Guide’s Young Chef of the Year in 2008 and has appeared on major Australian television cooking shows such as Masterchef, Everyday Gourmet, and Ready Steady Cook. Adam is currently working on opening a new venue which we can’t wait to see.
Darren Purchese, chef, author, and television host, is a proud ambassador for That’s Amore Cheese and is the new judge on Foxtel’s The Great Australian Bake Off. He created and operated the popular Burch & Purchese Sweet Studio for 12 years before moving on to his new venture Studio Kitchen. Darren is a regular guest chef on Masterchef Australia and the author of five cookbooks.
Vinea Marson is the Marson family’s slice of Italy in rural Victoria. From humble beginnings in Mario’s father Giuseppe’s suburban backyard vineyard, the father-daughter winemaking duo Mario and Madeleine Marson continue a winemaking tradition that goes back at least five generations in Friuli. The family’s vineyards were established in 2000 with a focus on Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and Barbera before expanding to a heritage range of north-Italian white wines, including the Grazia, a complex blend named in honor of Mario’s mother.
Chatting with Giorgio Linguanti after dinner, he emphasized the importance of loving what you do, working hard, and having meaningful encounters. Promoting high-quality traditional products, education, and passion encapsulate the philosophy of the brand’s creator. Plans to expand the brand, new ideas, and a project in America are in store for the future. “Every day is a new adventure,” says Giorgio Linguanti.
Notable guests included the Italian Consul Hanna Pappalardo and the Italian Chamber of Commerce Secretary-General, Veronica Misciatelli.
Cover photo: Giorgio Linguanti
Photography by Silvia Zanon
