We're excited to have Mr. Creminielli in our store. It is very hard to get him away from his shop and he is a true Old World artisan. Meet him on Thursday, May 21st from noon until 6pm. He'll be in our Deli & Cheese area sharing samples of his incredible creations.
Cristiano Creminelli was born in Biella, Italy into a family of meat artisans, or salumieri. There was never any real question in his mind that he would carry on the family’s artisan tradition. The Creminelli connection to meat production goes back to the 1600s according to family tradition. The most famous of the Creminelli’s in Italian culinary history was Cristiano’s grandfather, Ugo Creminelli, who was one of Italy’s top chefs, serving as the personal chef for the Italian head of state for several years after World War II.
Cristiano learned the family craft starting from his childhood and he began to take on some responsibilities in the family factory as an apprentice in his early teenage years. He quickly developed a passion for the art of meat curing and steadily moved through his apprenticeship that would prepare him to take over the family company including responsibility for the many specialized details of crafting the over one hundred traditional artisan products prepared by the family.
As Cristiano matured, he took quickly to his profession helping his family’s company reach many important milestones such as approval to be the sole producer of Lardo della Duja while also stretching his personal horizons as a guest instructor for the regional culinary institute on meat curing. By 2006, Cristiano had accomplished his longtime goal of being awarded the “Artisan of Excellence” award, recognizing him and his company as one of an elite group of specialists in his field.
Along with his passion for producing artisan meats and his love for his family Cristiano harbors a great love of America. In 2007, when an opportunity presented itself to start an Italian-style artisan production facility in the U.S. he took it, leaving the company management to his brother. Since coming the U.S. Cristiano has won two sofi Awards for Outstanding New Product in 2008 and Outstanding Meat, Paté or Seafood in 2009. The greatest satisfaction he has received since coming to the United States, however, is the same one he thrived on in Italy, that of pleasing his customers and fans with the very best artisan meats.
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