Cheese cracking has centuries of history and traditions

It has been said that breaking into a wheel of aged Parmigiano Reggiano is like cracking open happiness, but it is also a centuries old tradition that requires five different types of knives and a unique skill to be able to cut the wheel in half and still retain its crystalline and crumbly texture.

Parmigiano-Reggiano, more commonly known in English as parmesan, comes from the parma region of Italy and has a history and traditions dating back hundreds of years. Parmigiano-Reggiano has been considered for centuries as the “king of cheese” with its amazing taste and crystalline texture.

Shoppers at more than 300 Loblaws stores across Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Quebec, including all four Atlantic Superstores on P.E.I., had an opportunity Saturday to witness the cracking of 88 pound wheels of aged cheese in an attempt to break the Guinness World Records title for the most Parmigiano-Reggiano wheels cracked simultaneously. The store on University Avenue in Charlottetown cracked two wheels and the current record is176 wheels set in 2008. The cracking began at 1 p.m. ADT at every location in the country. It is not known yet if the record was broken.

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To ensure accuracy and fairness in the world record attempt each store is required to submit photographs and witness statements to Loblaws head office in Toronto where a Guinness judge will review all submissions and a decision will be rendered.

Why cheese cracking?

“As a business we thought it would be fun get our employees engaged together as a Loblaw team to break this world record,” said Charlottetown Superstore manager Terry Kyle.

Using special knives the cheese wheel is scored down the middle of the top and down the sides. Then another knife is inserted into the exact center of the top of the wheel. Two wedge knives are then inserted into both sides of the wheel. The cracking has begun. The three knives are removed and the wheel is flipped and the bottom scored. The knives are inserted once again on both sides and centre and the cheese wheel should split in half. Depending on the expertise of the cracker it should take no longer than five minutes to halve the wheel, said Shelley Doyle, the store’s deli manager. She and Cathy MacKinnon, assistant store manager, were the official crackers for the world record attempt.

Only royalty could eat the centre of the cheese wheel
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“The judges want to make sure it is cracked exactly in half and as long as it is cracked in half we have accomplished what we set out to do,” Doyle said.

She said that one of the more interesting stories association with cheese cracking is that it is believed the best part of the cheese is near the centre of the wheel and that was always reserved for royalty while the non-royals got the outer portion of cheese.

Cheese with Bill & Sheila
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