New York’s Staten Island. Borough dwellers may choose to appreciate the little pleasures in life, such as the deliciousness of a warm ball of fresh mozzarella, during this Christmas season. And at the New Dorp ShopRite, a brand-new company called Stretch the Mozz offers precisely that.
Giacomo Cunsolo and Anthony Agostino cut the symbolic ribbon at the cheese shop’s grand opening last weekend, which in this case was a large piece of curd that was cut in half. The two cheesemongers were honored by Tim Mannix of the Mannix Family Markets.
Stretch the Mozz is a retail store and showroom that is situated near the entrance and floral section. These are the men who are preparing the cheese. (Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
Every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Stretch the Mozz hosts their culinary display at a stand close to the store’s main entrance and exit. The final product consists of mozzarella in the form of logs and balls, as well as tiny or medium-sized bocconcini that are packed in oil or water and spiced to taste. Plain cheese logs or those seasoned with Calabrese hot pepper or basil-pignoli nut pesto are currently popular varieties.
There are three varieties of Logs of Mozz: plain, pesto, and Calabrese pepper. (Pamela Silvestri/Staten Island Advance) Silvestri
Warning: There is actual cheese-making in the show. And it goes like this: Curd shreds are put in a huge dish. A craftsman covers the white mass with hot water. Melting occurs in the curd. After that, it is manually stretched and formed. Depending on the mozz-maker’s magic, the rest may surprise you with their size and shape.
Although the Stretch the Mozz product is available for purchase at the ShopRite cashier around-the-clock, the cheese business itself makes its products every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
The Stretch the Mozz product will make its debut at the New Dorp ShopRite before progressively making its way to the Charleston site. Currently, a staff person is on duty at the East Shore Stretch the Mozz booth, which is open everyday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Every product is rung up at the register, and ShopRite is open twenty-four hours a day.
Salads and charcuterie are examples of prepared foods. (Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
During the pandemic, Stetch the Mozz became the main attraction at home gatherings. The product was made by the guests themselves. However, it was the stretching procedure itself that gave Cunsolo and Agostino their viral moments. To create a huge rope that could span several rooms of a house, they would stretch out a ton of curd between them.
USDA has certified the facility.(Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
As their celebrity grew, they appeared on several shows, including Good Morning America and Good Day New York. Their participation in the San Gennaro feast increased their notoriety.
Every day of the week, the stall is open for business. (Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
However, Cunsolo and Agostino’s daily tasks involve commercial manufacturing from their Tottenville distribution factory and event space located at 153 Main St. They make reservations for block parties, wedding drink stations, and other catered events. Currently, the product is exclusively available for purchase at the USDA-inspected ShopRite stand.
The cheesemonger also sells pasta such as ravioli and sauce. (Pamela Silvestri/Staten Island Advance) Silvestri
You can contact Cunsolo and Agostino via their website, StretchtheMozz.com, or by phone at 917-836-2936 or 917-753-6512.
Pamela Silvestri is the cuisine editor for Advance/SILive.com. Her email address is [email protected].
On their first day, the Stretch the Mozz crew is beaming, a sign of the abundance of antipasto platters that will be served during the Christmas season. (Silvestri, Pamela; Staten Island Advance)Silvestri
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