DavidW wrote:
> I bought some parmesan cheese at a delicatessen and got them to grate
> it just to save me the trouble, but their machine grates it too
> finely IMO. I don't think grated parmesan should be the consistency
> of talcum powder (okay, slight exaggeration, but it's very fine). I
> could get a coarser result myself with a hand grater, but I was
> wondering if anyone knows of an electrical kitchen device, or an
> attachment for a food processor, that would do a similar job.

Okay, so I got myself a plane grater, something roughly like this:
http://p.globalsources.com/IMAGES/PD...ese-grater.jpg

I grated some Zanetti Reggiano with it. It works okay. It produces short, tiny
filaments rather than grains. Not ideal, but better than talcum powder from the
deli. It takes 4-5 minutes' grating per serve (about 20g), which is too long
really. I'm accustomed to throwing boiled pasta in a bowl, adding some
heated-up sauce and sprinkling cheese over the top. Very quick and easy (not
counting making the sauce, which takes hours but is 7-10 serves and is all done
in one hit and doesn't require much elbow grease). Now grating the cheese
requires three times the work of the rest of the meal, which is out of
proportion. One of the more complicated hand devices suggested or a machine
attachment looks more attractive.