MADISON, Wisconsin – It’s no wonder that pizza has its own holiday when it is consistently named one of America’s favorite foods. This Sunday marks an entire day dedicated to the cheesy treat that can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere. From meat lovers and margherita to deep dish and stuffed crust, there is a pizza for everyone. In a world of infinite dining options, consumer trends show that pizza has seen the largest increase in eating occasions over any other food in the past decade (NPD, 2020).
“When you have a pizza, you have an instant party,” says Suzanne Fanning, chief marketing officer for Wisconsin Cheese and senior vice president at Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. “Don’t be held to tradition—you can create a culinary masterpiece when you mix, match and grate artisan cheese on your pizza. Chefs and consumers all over the country know the many delicious cheeses from Wisconsin can take an ordinary pizza to new levels. Try adding truffle gouda, feta, alpine, gorgonzola—the possibilities are endless.”
If you need inspiration to create the ultimate pizza party at home, including entertaining tips and mouthwatering recipes, check out the latest issue of Grate.Pair.Share. online magazine. The top three tips to elevate your pizza party are to prep ingredients in advance, shred your own cheese and create a custom cheese blend. The best pizza cheese blends include at least one cheese for meltability combined with one or more full-flavored cheeses.
To impress guests with an epic cheese pull, use an excellent melting cheese such as whole milk or part-skim mozzarella, Monterey jack or fontina. While mozzarella tends to reign supreme as the people’s choice for pizza toppings, and for good reason, it isn’t your only option. From creamy muenster to soft, fresh ricotta, and even full-bodied brick, there are so many different cheeses you can use to craft a killer pizza.
