New York City Business Spotlight: Alleva Dairy
Alleva Dairy (188 Grand St) in Little Italy is the oldest Italian cheese shop in the United States. They make their cheese the same way they did over 100 years ago and it has been family owned all these years. Bob Alleva is the 4th generation to run this store and his son John helps out on weekends. The Allevas are truly masters of their craft. Take a step in the shop and you will see that the old school look, feel and service all add to the charm of the place. It is a sad reality that a neighborhood gem like Alleva Dairy is becoming a rare commodity.
If it is your first time at Alleva Dairy, we can’t recommend their signature handmade mozzarella enough. It is truly one that has stood the test of time. It is milky, creamy and pairs perfectly with prosciutto to give it a bit of saltiness. We also love their fresh mozzarella with a slice of tomato and a little olive oil. Try it and trust us it will be love at first bite!
In addition to their mozzarella, they have a wide range of tradition Italian food products and snacks. One of our favorites is their prosciutto and ricotta balls. Alleva Dairy takes their homemade ricotta and uses a special machine to cut up bits of prosciutto and blends both the prosciutto and ricotta with herbs and then they lightly fry the ball of deliciousness– it is insanely tasty. It is great as both a snack or as an appetizer. Best of all they are quite cheap.
You can learn more about Alleva Dairy, meet the Allevas and taste some of their mozzarella paired with prosciutto on our NYC tour of Little Italy and Chinatown.
