I found your web site while searching for a cheese I had while staying in Lake Como last summer. Could you please tell me how I might be able to purchase some Saint Benoit Brie 60% Cheese? It doesn't appear that any United States stores I have shopped in carry it.

Our reader's question needs investigation. We believe the Brie cheese was simply imported from France rather than being a local version, but regions such as Valle d'Aosta and Piemonte with foreign borders have always been influenced by culinary ideas from outside.

A quick glance at a list of the traditional foods from Valle D'Aosta reveals such delights as 'fondue', a sweet called 'blanc manger' and 'jambon de Bosses', but no Brie unfortunately.

A new one to us is called 'Meculin'. It is a speciality of the town of Cogne.

It is a type of 'panettone' made from flour and lots and lots of butter, eggs and sultanas, along with a heavy dose of sugar.

The finished article is light but compact and was the typical Christmas cake of the area.

Fortunately for us 'Meculin' has been transformed into a cake which is accompanied with breakfast throughout the year. Try it at the Pasticceria Pernet, Cogne.

So, no Italian Brie, but Reblèque, Salignon and Seras are French sounding enough and can be found in the upper Valley.