Ramona Casas Prepares Traditional Quesillos for Pope Leo XIV
A 74-year-old artisan from Cordoba carries on family traditions for a papal lunch.
1Artisan Culinary Preparation
Ramona Casas, a 74-year-old resident of Villa del Totoral, is preparing traditional quesillos for a special lunch honoring Pope Leo XIV. The event will take place next Tuesday at the Archbishopric of Cordoba. Casas is tasked with producing approximately four kilograms of this artisanal cheese for the high-profile religious visitor.
2Generational Family Tradition
The craft of making quesillos was passed down to Ramona from her mother and grandmother. This culinary heritage defines her work, which she resumed after a long hiatus due to difficulties in sourcing high-quality milk. The process remains deeply rooted in the rural traditions of the northern Cordoba region of Argentina.
3Complex Production Process
Creating the cheese involves cooking a mixture of milk until it reaches a ricotta-like consistency. The mass is then kneaded by hand under hot water to achieve a smooth, elastic texture. Finally, the product is stretched over a cane to air-dry before being rolled and wrapped for preservation and transport.
4Environmental Sensitivity
The quality of the quesillo is highly dependent on external factors like temperature and humidity. Any slight variation in the climate can prevent the mixture from setting properly, often forcing the artisan to discard the entire batch. This requires significant patience and decades of experience to ensure a consistent, firm final product.
5Sourcing Raw Materials
Securing high-quality milk proved to be a major logistical challenge for the production. The milk will be sourced from a dairy farm located in La Puerta, approximately 100 kilometers away from Villa del Totoral. Ramona expressed concern regarding the quality of the raw material, emphasizing her commitment to maintaining traditional standards.
6Papal Menu Context
The quesillos will be part of a curated menu prepared by Claudia Ferrer of Creadores de Eventos. The meal features Patagonian trout with roasted sunflower seeds, humita, and Argentine loin with pine mushrooms from Calamuchita. The dessert course will conclude with a traditional dulce de leche volcano for the visiting pontiff.
7Historical Regional Significance
Villa del Totoral is a historic town located on the Camino Real, a route that once connected Buenos Aires to Alto Perú. The area is famous for its 19th-century rural architecture, such as La Canchona. Historically, the region served as a strategic passage for military figures like San Martin and various caudillos.
8Personal Faith and Legacy
For Ramona, this commission is deeply connected to her Catholic faith, which has helped her navigate past hardships. Her daughter, Magdalena, highlights that this opportunity represents a unique intersection of family tradition and global significance. The event marks a new chapter in the history of the town and the artisan's life.
Original article: La Nación — Ramona Casas Prepares Traditional Quesillos for Pope Leo XIV