Within the span of 10 years one man from humble beginnings, Giorgio Linguanti, with a true passion for cheese and experimentation, has created a team of 100 employees, a diverse product range which boasts upwards of 40 different cheeses, and two sister brands, Cannoleria by That’s Amore and That’s Amore Gelato.
That’s Amore Cheese specialises in Italian style cheese, handmade following only traditional recipes and using farm fresh milk sourced locally in Victoria.
No artificial colours and preservatives are used, and the company is proud to produce cheese in a strictly artisanal way using good old fashioned milk.
Wholesale is a large chunk of That’s Amore Cheese and currently supplies more than 500 restaurants in Melbourne.
The company is also very present within the greater Australian market and has recently become a player in the international export market.
Having just arrived in 2004 on the shore of Port Phillip Bay, this young Sicilian went from not speaking a word of English to opening his own cheese company, and winning his very first award at the Royal Melbourne Fine Food Show within the span of four years. Awards to which he has since become accustomed to having one countless others since.
Giorgio grew up in Italy and pursued a career in advertising before migrating to Australia.
During the two years prior to coming to Australia he worked in a small shop selling regional food products typical of the Aeolian Island (off the north-east coast of Sicily), which included organic capers, jams and tuna in oil.
This sparked his interest in food. It was August 2004 when Giorgio migrated to Melbourne and without a word of English, got a job in a cheese factory where his interest and passion for making cheese ignited. “It looked challenging” Giorgio confesses.
After his experience in two different cheese factories, Giorgio started his own business ‘That’s Amore Cheese’, in 2008.
He began with just one product –Bocconcini Leaf, which was a huge hit with Italian Restaurants, and before long he was also making Burrata and Smoked Scarmorza.
Chef’s admired his artisan skills in handmade cheeses and were very excited by his products and the future of his business.
As a result of this intrigue and energy Giorgio’s business grew rapidly and by 2010, That’s Amore Cheese had taken over Donnybrook’s cheese factory. Thanks to his passion and love, Giorgio’s business had experienced exceptional growth once again.
In April 2015, the company moved into a brand new and grander facility in Thomastown, which today is also home to the extremely popular That’s Amore retail outlet.
Since its inception the retail outlet has become the one-stop destination for all Italian produce people trust, both for local and international products alike.
It is the kind of place that constantly tantalises your taste buds and tempts you with fresh cheese samples, fine cured meats and local products.
The retail outlet is also home to the Café where you can enjoy seasonal mouth-watering Italian dishes, a set weekend brunch menu, Porchetta rolls to your hearts content and of course our scrumptious handmade Sicilian Cannoli to be enjoyed with your daily dose of coffee.
The That’s Amore Gelato corner was also recently opened and features our artisan gelato, which just like our cheese is made in house using local farm fresh milk and traditional Italian recipes and methods.
We have up to 16 different gelato flavours for you to try as well as various gelato cakes, tartufi and unique artistic mono-portion desserts available each and every day.
Both sister brands, Cannoleria by That’s Amore and That’s Amore Gelato were born from the same passion Giorgio had for cheese way back in 2008 when he first started That’s Amore Cheese, and is evident in the experimentation and envelope pushing both companies constantly part take in through their recipe development and special flavours of the week.
The harmonious combination of authenticity and experimentation is what drives That’s Amore Cheese at its core, and best encapsulates it’s past, present and future.