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Le Saint Morgon

Président's Saint Morgon is a cheese which mold layer is removed. During the ripening process, the cheese is turned over every day and washed with lukewarm salty water. Thanks to this procedures Le Saint Morgon has a beautiful light surface and its texture resembles the surface of an orange peel. It has a rich flavor and a very soft and creamy texture.Of course, I have eaten better cheeses but this one is not bad at all.

Parlick Fell (England, the Singleton's Dairy )

There's no better gift for Easter to me like a new cheese. Parlick Fell ("fell" is a word used in England and means "hill") comes from rural Lancashire in England, where a single flock of 400 Friesland ewes is cared for by 4th generation sheep farmers. They enjoy their life on grassy pastures and produce milk full of flavor. 

And cheese ... it may not blows my mind but it has very interesting flavor: sharp, tangy and salty.

As you can see in the photo below - Parlic Fell has crumbly and semi-soft texture and amazing brilliant-white color.

For sure, I will buy more of the cheese to fully recognize its unique qualities. The cheese is worth it . Parlick Fell won the “Prince of Wales Award for Specialty Cheese” at the Great Yorkshire Show in 2011 - a very prestigious agricultural event.

Gorgonzola (Italy)

I have tasted Gorgonzola a  long time ago and I was so disappointing experience that whenever I noticed it the store I omitted it.  Last week I decided to give it another chance. It taste like pudding to me. I mean a home made pudding made with yolks, milk, sugar and starch. I haven't notice any piquancy or distinctive flavor. I can only assume that the piece I bought was young (Gorgonzola dolce), aged for 2-3 months.

Saint Agur ( Monts du Velay)

I was so happy to notice St. Agur during my last shopping trip. I love blue cheeses so any new product is very welcome. Saint Agur has a quite short history, as it was created in 1988 in the volcanic region of Mont de Valey by Beauzac's master cheese makers. Their goal was to combine  a creamy texture with the subtle taste of a fruity blue.

St. Agur is matured for at least 80 days and final product in octagonal shape weights between 4-5 lb. Then the cheese is packaged in aluminum paper and it continues maturing  until we can enjoy it.

I like St. Agur. It has all of the characteristics which make the cheese tasty to me: it has strong, distinctive flavor coming from blue veins, it is salty, buttery and spreadable - perfect to enjoy on a slice of rye bread.

But still I enjoy more Blue Stilton or Roquefort.

Recipe: Crab Loaf with Saint Agur

Cahill's Vintage Irish Cheddar with Porter

It's impossible to overlook the cheese and don't buy it. When I first saw it  reminded me "Salceson" - a type of head cheese (which has nothing in common with dairy products) made in Poland.
It has bitter flavor, which is lees strong when cheese is melted. I don't drink beer but I really enjoy the taste of the cheddar. Unique and irresistible.

Especially for Cahill's Vintage Irish Cheddar with Porter I baked : sourdough rye with double chocolate stout.

Belletoile Triple Cream Brie (Henri Hutin) / Double Creme Brie Cheese (France)

I even don't remember when was  the last time I bought that cheese. Belletoile Triple Cream is a spreadable cheese that is buttery, luscious  rich and mellow in flavor. But when I'm thinking about brie my first choice is always Traditional French Brie. And when I crave for a triple creme cheese I choose between Saint Andre and  Le Delice de Bourgogne. Belletoile Triple Cream is  too salty to my taste and not as satisfying as I would expect from triple creme cheese.

Another brie which is little disappointing to my (spoiled) taste buds is Double Creme Brie Cheese. Just ordinary brie, plain and forgettable. 

Le Petit Crème (France)

I totally agree with the description from a label. Amazing cheese!

Époisses de Bourgogne (Burgundy)

I bought Époisses de Bourgogne only once. The cheese was very expensive and was available for a short period of time.
It is said that Napoleon Bonaparte loved it. It's hard to write a review of the cheese if you haven't tasted it a few times. Sometimes my sense of taste cant't appreciate such a complex cheese. I hope I will be given a second chance to recognize how really good is Époisses de Bourgogne.


There are a few factors which tells me that I should love the cheese. It is artisanal made in France from a pungent unpasteurized cow's milk. The cheese mature in cellar for at least six weeks. During the process,  is rinsed up to 3-5 times per week in a mixture of water and marc de Bourgogne (local pomace brandy). Each cheese is also brushed by hand to spread the bacteria evenly over the surface.The intensive orange-red exterior is the result of yeast fermentation. The stinky rind covers meaty,salty, pudding-like interior.

Époisses - I'm waiting for you!

Goat's Milk Cheddar/ La Buchette (Canada)

Two Canadian cheeses that have drown my attention. 
 I haven't notice any characteristic flavor of Goat's milk cheddar and I see no reason to eat it anymore. There are much better cheddar and more delicious goat cheeses to choose.
 I  used to buy it when I needed some cheese to use it in a casserole, because it grates and melts easily. I also liked it pale color.  Now I prefer chèvre, which flavor is more detectable.
Tuna Savoury with Goat's Milk Cheddar recipe.


 La Buchette not only has appealing look (after removing these ugly yellow sticks) but also fantastic flavor.

The cheese is a copy of  Bucheron - French goat milk's cheese derived from Loire Valley.  It is like a camembert cheese with delicate rind and chèvre in the center. Perfect pair - isn't it?

I WANT IT ALL! I WANT IT NOW!

Goat's milk cheese -chèvre

In my humble opinion, goat cheese made in USA is as good as  French original. I have a problem with American cheeses. I believe there are plenty great domestic cheeses, but are not available. It's much easier to buy famous European cheese than domestic high quality product.

 Chèvre flavor is not sophisticated, which makes it a perfect pair with other food. Rarely I eat chèvre with bread, but I use it very often to improve the taste of meats, salads, casseroles or desserts.

Recipe: Turkey Tenderloins with Wattle Seed Chevre.

Trader's Joe offers goat cheese logs flavored with fruit like cranberries or blueberries.



I have noticed  TJ's brand fresh goat cheeses with added honey or olives, but I have never bought them. I like neither honey nor olives.

Blueberry Vanilla Chevre

Chocolate Stout Cake with Blueberry Vanilla Chevre recipe (photo below):

My recipes with goat cheese.

Ile de France Bûchette, known for its mild, fresh curd, is made high in the Rhône Alps. I won this cheese in the Chef’s Weekly Basket Sweepstakes a year ago. Very tasty. They offer original and  flavored goat cheeses in two sizes: 10.5 oz and 4 oz. (Petite Bûche). 

La Bûchette with garlic and fresh herbs

I have also tried chèvre cheese medallions. The one with paprika powder didn't bring me to my knees.


 But pistachios and garlic chevre is my favorite combination.


I left the best chèvre cheese at the end. Montchevre’s fresh goat cheese Crottin is absolutely the most delicious fresh goat's cheese I have ever eaten. I wish I could try their other products (http://www.montchevre.com/). It is also  domestic made cheese, even if it looks like French product and the  founder and president of Montchevre has French roots (Arnaud Soland).

Montchevre Crottin Leeks recipe:

TINTERN -Welsh Cheddar with Chives and Shallots

Another creation of in Somerdale’s cheese makers and for me it was a love at a first sight / bite. It is a full-bodied cheese with perfectly assorted flavors: fresh chives and shallots from the gardens of Tintern Abbey. Smooth and creamy, taste even more delicious when melted. It seems like the shallots were fried and chives release all its aromas.

Red Dragon Cheddar with Wholegrain Mustard & Welsh Brown Ale (Somerdale)

Cheddar, wholegrain mustard seeds and Welsh brown ale constitute Y Fenni cheese. Red waxed bears
the name of the symbol taken from the Welsh flag. Another Y Fenni cheese have a yellow wax but similarly to Red Dragon it is labeled with a medieval artwork.



This Cheddar Cheese has more appealing name and look than flavor.
When I first tasted it, I was really disappointed that the cheese is not as hot as I would expected. There is plenty of mustard seeds in it, but they are soft and mild. Melting helps to release its tangy flavor.
The cheese is as the Cheddar should be: buttery and creamy.



I believe that the cheddar is worth giving it a try. I appreciate it original farmhouse character and attractive, deliberated design.





It also pairs very well with chicken or turkey breast.



Recipes
Omelet with Red Dragon Cheddar and Cubanelle Pepper
Veal stuffed with Red Dragon

Oak Smoked English Cheddar

I really hate artificially smoked cheese. But, thanks God, there are the people who can smoke traditionally. The cheese comes the Quicke's family in Devon in the United Kingdom.
Their 12-15-month mature well-flavored cheddar has been traditionally smoked for 3-4 hours over oak chips from the farm's woodland. No liquids are used to smoke and there are no artificial flavorings.  It gives the cheese a strong flavor of smoking and a slightly dry texture.

Thanks to this cheese I started discovering and enjoying cheddar cheese. I had a few unpleasant experiences with cheddar made in the USA and I hadn't expected that I would fall in love with the cheese.

Cheddar info

Chocolate English Cheddar

I don't care about chocolate at all. I can't live without it. But I'm a huge fan of English Cheddar, so without hesitation I bough a piece of this cheese. I was very happy to feel again well known flavor of the English Cheddar, not distracted by dark chocolate.  For sure I will buy more.