New Culture’s animal-free mozzarella made its world debut yesterday, as leading chefs, culinary influencers and media gathered at Los Angeles’ acclaimed pizzeria Mozza to taste the revolutionary cheese. Hosted by award-winning chef Nancy Silverton, the event gives guests their first chance to experience the new culture’s “first-of-a-kind” mozzarella, made from precision fermentation instead of cows.
“New Culture has created an animal-free cheese that stands alone.”
Silverton and his team designed and prepared a four-course meal to showcase the versatility of the new cultured cheese. The menu included arancini, eggplant parmesan, and specialty pizzas with mozzarella sliced, sliced, and baked.
Major Milestones
According to New Culture, this event marks an important milestone as the company prepares for its official launch at Pizzeria Mozza in 2024.
“The evening was an incredible debut for our mozzarella!” says Matt Gibson co-founder and CEO of New Culture. “It is a privilege to partner with the legendary Nancy Silverton to introduce our cheese to the world for a new culture. This is a major step in our journey and a reflection of how far our team has come towards creating delicious, sustainable animal-free dairy that everyone can enjoy.”
One guest commented, “New Culture has created an animal-free cheese that stands alone. I can’t wait for it to be available on the menu – it’s exciting.”
In addition to the menu launch in 2024, New Culture and Pizzeria Mozza will host additional events this year in Los Angeles, New York City and San Francisco.
Groundbreaking cheese
Founded in 2018, New Culture combines fermentation technology with innovative food science to produce real cheese without cows. By replacing an essential protein in cheese with an animal-free version called casein, the startup was able to replicate the taste, texture and functionality of the original dairy product.
Because its cheese requires no animal inputs, New Culture says its products are free of lactose, cholesterol and antibiotics and hormones.
“Truly Unique”
“I’m so proud to be a part of this incredible debut and partnership with New Culture,” said Silverton. “The new culture has developed something truly unique. Because their animal-free cheese contains the same protein as conventional mozzarella, you’ll get the same experience—the gorgeous texture and the same meltiness. It made for a great evening surrounded by leaders in the LA culinary community.”
The tasting event included a culinary demonstration with Silverton using the cheese as well as a demonstration of the world’s first animal-free casein. According to New Culture, its mozzarella is the first animal-free cheese to meet Silverton’s exacting standards and the first to be offered on the menu at any of its restaurants.
“Nancy Silverton is renowned for an exceptional palette and high quality that creates unparalleled pizza,” said Inja Rudman, co-founder and CSO of New Culture. “After spending so much time developing our animal-free, dairy-free mozzarella, introducing it through our partnership with Nancy seemed like the perfect way to celebrate what we’ve accomplished as a company.”