Gioia makes wonderful fresh Italian cheeses. Vito Girardi, owner, is a third-generation cheesemaker from the area Apulia in Italy where burrata comes from. His grandfather was one of the first makers of burrata. Burrata is a classic Italian "pasta filata" cheese that is made by enclosing a center of soft, silky curd in a small sac of mozzarella. The result is a decadent treat that fully showcases the flavor of the milk. The cheese is best eaten within a few days of production, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt and pepper. The name Gioia comes from the town - Gioia del Colle - in Apulia where Girardi's family comes from.