Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1516167
BEGINNINGS 2024 culturecheesemag.com 23 CHEF'S DISH CHEF'S DISH market in Houston, Riccio met Andrea Cudin: a Friuli, Italy, native and founder of Lira Rossa Creamery. Since 2016, Cudin has been crafting authentic Italian-style cheeses with the freshest milk possible from the milk parlor next door, Four E Dairy. After trying Cudin's mozzarella, Riccio returned to the market repeatedly to taste Lira Rossa's other cheeses and chat with Cudin. Between visits to the farmers' market and the creamery (almost a two-hour drive away), the Rosie Cannonball team tested pizzas and perfected their recipes with Cudin's expertise. Cudin explained, "They were tweaking the dough and the amount of mozzarella that worked best together. And then they worked on a blend of cheese (mozzarella, latteria, and caciotta) that eventually turned into the Lira Rossa Three Cheese pizza." At Riccio's request, Lira Rossa began producing black pepper caciotta, a cheese that became one of Lira Rossa's bestsellers. Cudin said he also makes a black pepper latteria exclusively for Rosie Cannonball's Cacio e Pepe pizza base. A customer favorite is the Focaccia di Recco, a warm flatbread studded with mortadella and robiola. According to Cudin, the flatbread traditionally calls for stracchino, but Riccio felt it was too runny. Instead, the restaurant makes its version with robiola, a firmer cheese with a similar flavor. In addition to pizzas and four varieties of pasta, dishes range from cumin-spiced veggies to a protein-rich NY Strip Fiorentina entree. For those seeking indulgence, there is a caviar service with preserved lemon egg yolk, shallot caper relish, crème fraîche, and Rosie's pizza dough. The extensive wine list showcases global offerings but specializes in European varietals. Riccio says that a love of good hospitality is at the heart of Rosie Cannonball. "I love food. I love cooking, but it's more important to give people what they came for, whatever that is. It can be a glass of wine, a cocktail, or a specialty cheese pizza, anything. It's in the name: Goodnight Hospitality." c "I love food. I love cooking, but it's more important to give people what they came for, whatever that is. It can be a glass of wine, a cocktail, or a specialty cheese pizza, anything. It's in the name: Goodnight Hospitality."