Scoppolato di Pedona

Recently revived sheep cheese, invented according to legend in the 18th century by a shepherd named Tristano 'Pedona' (the 'big footed'), who tended a flock of sheep for a minor nobleman in Lucca. Tristano constantly cheated his master by mixing less expensive (and flavourful) cow's milk into the cheeses, and just bowing and taking off his cap (coppola) whenever his master complained that his cheeses were blah.

Then one day his master found a grotto, where Tristano was secretly ageing his own, far more delicious cheeses...and Scoppolato, the 'un-capped' sheep's milk cheese was born. It has a mild, fresh milk taste and once again is produced in limited quantities by Gabriele Ghirlanda in Camaiore, in the province of Lucca.