MyTastr

Best Pecorino Romano, according to chefs

Two picks, each tied to a named taster and a public source — from Rolando Beramendi, Craig LaBan and Katie Parla. Recommendations come from splendidtable.org, inquirer.com, thedailymeal.com and cookbooks.katieparla.com and 1 other sources.

Dairy & Cold · The ranking

  1. 1
    Top pick

    Fulvi Pecorino Romano (Lazio)

    Chosen by
    Also chosen by
    For cacio e pepe, use “the strongest, most pungent pecorino you can find (my favorite is Sini Fulvi, a Roman producer).” Critic Craig LaBan calls it the best he’d tasted recently: made from whole sheep’s milk near Rome, so it’s moister and less salty than others, “simultaneously powdery and creamy.” The Panella family’s Antica Pesa, a Trastevere institution since 1922, uses Fulvi in its cacio e pepe and amatriciana in Brooklyn. Katie Parla’s Rome pantry guide: “Look for Fulvi brand, one of the few producers still based in Rome.”
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: splendidtable.org ↗
  2. 2

    Locatelli Pecorino Romano

    Chosen by
    • America’s Test Kitchen tasting panel
    Recommended in America’s Test Kitchen’s blind tasting, plain and in cacio e pepe: “full-flavored, complex, crystalline… Robust! Salty! Addictive!” with a “lovely sheepy, briny flavor.” DOP sheep’s-milk cheese from Sardinia, sold in most supermarkets.
    Where to buy · Amazon ↗Instacart ↗Source: americastestkitchen.com ↗

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Questions, answered

What is the best Pecorino Romano, according to chefs?
MyTastr’s top pick is Fulvi Pecorino Romano (Lazio), chosen by Rolando Beramendi (cookbook author, Autentico). For cacio e pepe, use “the strongest, most pungent pecorino you can find (my favorite is Sini Fulvi, a Roman producer).” Critic Craig LaBan calls it the best he’d tasted recently: made from whole sheep’s milk near Rome, so it’s moister and less salty than others, “simultaneously powdery and creamy.” The Panella family’s Antica Pesa, a Trastevere institution since 1922, uses Fulvi in its cacio e pepe and amatriciana in Brooklyn. Katie Parla’s Rome pantry guide: “Look for Fulvi brand, one of the few producers still based in Rome.” Source: splendidtable.org ↗
What are the other top picks for Pecorino Romano?
No. 2 is Locatelli Pecorino Romano, chosen by America’s Test Kitchen tasting panel. Only two picks cleared the bar so far. Each card above links to the original source.
How does MyTastr choose these picks?
Every pick is tied to a named chef, cookbook author or food expert and links to the public interview, panel or article it came from. We survey dozens, often hundreds, of top chefs, food writers and critics, and order reflects how often and how strongly a brand is recommended. Only organic recommendations count — paid endorsements don’t — and brands can’t buy a spot. Read how we pick.

The tasters behind this ranking

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