Photo by star5112.

Dish of the Week: Burrata

Where: Bibiana, Dino, Obelisk, Red Rocks

There is cheese, and then there is cheese. Burrata firmly falls into the latter category. A type of fresh mozzarella, burrata has a mild, milky flavor. What really sets it apart from other cheeses is the texture: Burrata is luxuriously creamy and pillowy soft, a heavenly cloud of cheesey happiness.

From the outside, burrata looks like any old ball of mozzarella. But the center is gooey, fluffy and spreads like butter. Cheesemakers start out hand-kneading the burrata before forming it into a pouch and filling it with mozzarella scraps and fresh cream. Burrata can be difficult to locate, because it spoils very quickly — but a handful of restaurants in D.C. have it on the menu, and it is well worth trying if you get the opportunity. Delightful smeared on crusty bread, topped with fresh tomatoes, or drizzled with olive oil, it is a decadent way to start a meal.