Fresh Mozzarella, Burrata, Ricotta – Handmade at Jungle Jim’s

​Making fresh mozzarella is a vital process. It’s quick, based as much on learned and practiced skill as it is tried and true methodology. We like to think of it as a labor of love. A member of the pasta filata family of cheeses (which includes provolone, as well), mozzarella is a hand-stretched, hand-rolled cheese best eaten fresh.

Subtle in flavor, soft in texture, with a little saltiness and a lot of personality. On it’s own, it’s not meant to be a show stopper, though it’s light, milky taste is a nice compliment to lightly flavored partners like tomatoes and basil, or to help tone down and balance super flavorful players like pizza.

Authentic Italian Burrata

In Italian, Burrata means “buttered.” The outer shell of a burrata is solid mozzarella, while the inside contains both mozzarella and cream, or as it is known in Italy, ritagli ( rags) and thickened panna (cream). First made around 1920, Burrata is a typical product of Murgia in Southern Italy, but has origins dating back to about 1900. It was produced as a means to use all the parts of the fresh mozzarella, including the ritagli, which would ensure that none of the mozzarella was being wasted.

Our hand-rolled mozzarella is filled with ritagli and panna, then gently stretched at the top and tied into a knot. It’s everything you love about mozzarella, wrapped up into a unique, tangy treat.

Fresh, Housemade Ricotta

Did you know that ricotta, while made from some of the same elements of cheese, is technically not a cheese? Lacking a starter, or one of the key elements of cheesemaking, rennet, ricotta is traditionally a dairy product made from the whey. At Jungle Jim’s, we utilize a different method, using whole milk, whole buttermilk, cream, and fresh lemon juice.

When freshly made, ricotta is soft, slightly grainy, and a little sweet. The essence of milk is prominent, and there’s a subtle nuttiness. We think fresh is the best way to experience ricotta’s  interesting flavor and texture.

Handcrafted, Signature Mozzarollups

​In addition to these traditional preparations, we gladly offer our signature Mozzarollups, as well as house-smoked, fresh mozzarella. 

Mozzarollups take fresh, hand-rolled mozzarella and add adventurous elements like spicy Italian meats, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh herbs. Rolled up (hence the name) and wrapped, they make for a perfect snack, or a clever addition to established dishes.