Grana Padano: Proud Sponsor of the 2010 ING New York City Marathon

Italy's Favorite Cheese, a Healthy Treat for Marathoners and All New Yorkers, Augments Marathon Sponsorship with Retail Tastings, Eataly Event; Sponsorship Supported by Buonitalia SpA, Agency Dedicated to Promoting Italian Cuisine around the World. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) November 02, 2010 - The Consorzio per la Tutela del Formaggio Grana Padano is proud to announce its sponsorship of the annual premier event of the New York Road Runners: The ING New York City Marathon. Over the coming weeks, Grana Padano PDO - Italy's most popular cheese and an integral part of Italian gastronomic tradition for almost 1,000 years - will also have a number of retail tasting at many of New York's leading food stores and host a special press event at Eataly with Joe Bastianich.

Joe Bastianich ─ Marathon runner as well as one of the principals of Eataly and partner in Del Posto, Becco, Babbo and other leading Italian restaurants ─ created a special menu for the press event showcasing the nutritional as well as the taste benefits of Grana Padano.

Touted as "the best selling PDO cheese in the world," Grana Padano is also one of the best-kept health secrets, according to Lauren Antonucci, MS, RD, Board Certified Sports Nutritionist and Director of Nutrition Energy (www.nutritionenergy.com). Lactose-free and low in fat compared to other cheeses, Grana Padano's nutritional facts are as follows:

• 1 oz of Grana Padano contains more protein than 12oz of milk
• 1 oz of Grana Padano provides over 350mg of calcium (35% DV for adults 19-50yo, 27% DV for 9-18yo)
• Ounce for ounce, Grana Padano cheeses contains more protein than beef, chicken, fish or 1/2 cup of beans
• 1oz of Grana Padano cheese has only 120 calories
• Grana Padano provides much needed, easily digested, protein to accompany pasta, rice or other carbs
• Grana Padano is easier to digest than other meat-based proteins

Grana Padano is also a versatile cheese with a sweet, nutty taste that can be grated over pasta, served as an 'antipasto' or eaten as part of a nutritious and delicious meal. Aged from nine months to 24 and up, Grana Padano pairs well with a variety of cuisines and makes an ideal part of a healthy diet for active New Yorkers.

"We are thrilled to be a part of the ING New York City Marathon for the second time," says Elisabetta Serraiotto, who is responsible for Marketing and Communications at the Grana Padano Consortium. "We're proud to honor New York's many years of Italian-American heritage as well as provide our healthy, energy-boosting cheese to the dedicated athletes who run the Marathon. Last but not least, we're very pleased to be in town to support especially the Italian runners at the Marathon."

Details regarding the Grana Padano ING New York City Marathon retail tastings around Manhattan & the Bronx are as follows:

DiPalo's Fine Foods, 200 Grand Street: November 2-7 from 10am - 5pm

Murray's Cheese, 89 E 42nd St (Grand Central Station): November 3rd, 4th & 5th from 4-7pm

Murray's Cheese, 254 Bleecker Street: November 3rd, 4th & 5th from 4-7pm

Gourmet Garage, 1245 Park Ave (96th St): November 4-6 from 11am - 5pm

Gourmet Garage, 155 W 66th St (Broadway & Amsterdam): November 4-6 from 11am - 5pm

Salumeria Rosi, 283 Amsterdam Ave (73rd & 74th St): November 3-6 from 2-6pm

Agata & Valentina, 1505 1st Ave: November 3rd, 5th & 6th from 2-6pm

Grace's Market, 1237 3rd Ave (71st & 72nd): November 2nd, 3rd & 5th from 2-6pm

Eataly, 200 5th Ave (23rd St): November 3-6 from Noon - 3pm

Alta Cucina Showroom, 22 E 38th St: November 2-5 from 11am - 7pm

Teitel Brothers, 2372 Arthur Avenue: November 3-6 from 1 - 6pm

Grana Padano can be purchased at leading fine food retailers throughout the United States including A&Ps, Food Emporium, King's and Balducci's, and in New York at Grace's Market, Agata & Valentina, Di Palo's Fine Foods, Gourmet Garage and Murray's Cheese. Grana Padano can also be found online at www.dipaloselects.com and other ecommerce fine food websites.

About Grana Padano-www.granapadano.com:
Grana Padano has been part of Italy's gastronomic tradition and culture since 1135 when it was created by the monks in the Padana Valley in northern Italy. Based in Desenzano del Garda in the province of Brescia, Consorzio per la Tutela del Formaggio Grana Padano was founded in 1954 by a group of businessmen who shared one common goal-to produce a top-quality cheese based on the traditional recipe. Today this company encompasses more than 200 Grana Padano producers, maturers and retailers. "Grana" refers the grainy and crumby texture of the cheese and "Padano" refers to its origin on the Po River Valley in northern Italy. Grana Padano is a registered trademark around the world, and since 1996 is a PDO Protected Designation of Origin cheese, awarded the distinction by the European Community in Brussels.

ING New York City Marathon
The premier event of New York Road Runners, the ING New York City Marathon is one of the world's great road races, drawing nearly 120,000 applicants. The race attracts many world-class professional athletes, not only for the more than $600,000 in prize money, but also for the chance to excel in the media capital of the world before two million cheering spectators and more than 300 million worldwide television viewers. As any one of the 788,000 past participants will attest, crossing the finish line in Central Park is one of the great thrills of a lifetime. For more information visit www.ingnycmarathon.org.

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