Grana Padano is my favorite cheese. In addition to its almost bitter bite, its grainy texture is a delight. Until recently, I had been eating ever more of it. Whenever I could, I would get a good chunk of it from Italy, but it could also be found all around Istria. I would eat it together with pickled olives, dark bread, and olive oil, into which I would dip the bread. So, what happened? Why did I drop Grana Padano from my diet? To begin with, I got pretty annoyed with its price in Croatia. It can get as many as ten times more expensive here than in Italy, which goes beyond my comprehension. How is it possible that no-one is jumping into the breach with better prices? More important, though, I realized that it made me constipated. The problem would vanish as soon as I would go to Zagreb, where my beloved and I would share a very different diet. On my return to Motovun, I would get constipated in just a few days. I realized what was going on four or five months ago, and I dropped Grana Padano from my diet for good. Constipation has been quickly forgotten. But I occasionally find myself craving its almost bitter bite, as well as its grainy texture. Yes, I got close to buying some this very morning. I could already feel it under my teeth…