Fall snack boards often start at the deli case, with a pack of prosciutto in one hand and a wedge of Italian cheese in the other. While you’re there, look at the upper left corner of the prosciutto package, because a gold crown on a black triangle means the ham came from Parma, Italy.
That crown belongs to Prosciutto di Parma, and Grana Padano cheese has its own telltale logos. Producers have made both for centuries in specific parts of Italy, and both carry PDO certification to set them apart from imitators. Other prosciutto isn’t fake, by the way, but only ham from Parma can carry that name.
What That PDO Logo Actually Means
PDO stands for Protected Designation of Origin, the European Union’s certification system. The Italian acronym is DOP.
The logo guarantees clear geographic boundaries for both the product and its raw materials. Accredited bodies also certify its quality and authenticity.
Each product’s consortium controls every step of production, too.
How to Spot Real Grana Padano
Grana Padano comes from the Po River Valley in northern Italy and starts with raw, semi-skimmed cow’s milk. Each wheel goes through a check after nine months of aging. Only the best earn the fire-branded logo.
Buying a pre-packaged wedge? Look for the red and yellow PDO logo plus the yellow Grana Padano logo. Without both, it isn’t Grana Padano PDO cheese.
The producers also describe it as naturally lactose free because of how they make and age it.
How to Spot Real Prosciutto di Parma
Prosciutto di Parma can only come from Parma, Italy. Its producers call it a 100% natural product, with no nitrites, nitrates or hormones.
Flavors run from mild and nutty to mature and full-flavored, thanks to its natural aging.
On pre-sliced packs, look for the gold Parma Crown on a black triangle in the upper left corner, along with the PDO logo. No crown and no PDO logo means it isn’t Prosciutto di Parma.
Easy Ways to Put Them Out
Borrow a page from European aperitivo culture and turn snack time into a chance to slow down.
Pair chunks of Grana Padano with ribbons of prosciutto, plus grapes or apple slices. Cantaloupe works, too.
You can also layer prosciutto and shaved Grana Padano on crackers or toasted sourdough. Or thread both onto small skewers with fresh fruit.
Feeding a group? Set out a board with both, plus fresh veggies and breadsticks, and let everyone build their own bites.
Next time you’re at the deli case, give the package a second look before it goes in your cart. Then grab some fruit and a box of crackers on your way out. That’s most of your fall board right there.