Cheese-mass: It's the best time of the year!

It’s finnnnalllly the holiday season! Most normal people’s thoughts probably hop to Mariah Carey christmas music, sugar cookies, and lights; NOT me! My mind goes straight to the 12 days of CHEESE-mass (yes, you heard me right!)! AKA the best excuse to acquire yummy cheeses for a booji charcuterie party at an irresistible discount! In my house, this means my Dad racing to whole foods at 6 am to grab the cheese of the day, 12 days in a row! If this doesn’t signify fatherly love, I don’t know what does…. Despite the absence of our usually christmas party crowd, my family and I did a two day taste testing and pairing of our own! Hope you enjoy it!

Klare Melk: Truffle Gouda ***fan fav

1. Type: Raw Milk (unpasturized) cow’s milk cheese

2. Place of Origin: Holland

3. Aging: 3 months (young Gouda)

4. Tastes: Earthy, creamy

5. Suggested pairing: Thin slice of green apple dipped in balsamic, blueberry

Source: https://604foodcritic.com/truffle-gouda-by-dutch-cheese-makers-corp/

Uplands Cheese Company: Pleasant Ridge Reserve *the famous one

1. Type: Grass fed milk in summer months

2. Place of Origin: Southwestern Wisconsin

3. Ageing: 2 years

4. Tastes: Sweetness, ranging from grassy to butterscotch and fruity

5. Awards? The ONLY cheese to win BEST in show at the American Cheese society three times (2001, 2005, 2010) & US cheese championship in 2003; modeled after French classic cheese Beaufort

6. Suggested pairing: strawberry or apple + candied walnut

Source: https://uplandscheese.com

Mitica: Cordobes *** BIG favorite

1. Type: semi-soft Spanish cheese made from Castellana and Merino sheep’s milk

2. Place of Origin: Spain

3. Ageing:

4. Tastes: dry texture, a buttery rich taste with some acidity and nutty finish (resembles Manchego in texture and appearance yet has a distinct tang of its own)

5. Fun facts: Mitica is one of the biggest importers of artisanal, gourmet cheeses in the United States

6. Suggested pairing: blue berry, or basil + balsamic, or strawberry

Source? https://curedandcultivated.com/products/cordobes

Cowgirl Creamery: Organic Hop along

1. Type: cider washed, semi firm, organic/single source/forage-based cow’s milk

2. Place of Origin: Straus Family Creamery (Tresch Farms) in San Fransisco with partnerships in Marin/Sonoma *founded by two college friends Sue & Peggy to highlight sustainable food production

3. Aging: minimum of 2 months

4. Taste: Springy texture with notes of Brioche, Yogurt, & Roasted Nuts

5. Pairings: Nut butters; Honey

Source: https://cowgirlcreamery.com/pages/hop-along

Caseificio dell’Alta Langa: La Tur ***fan fav with pairings

1. Type: young, delicate blend of sheep, cow, and goat’s milk

2. Place of Origin: Bosia, between Alba and Cortemilla in northern Italy, Caseficio dell’Alta Langa

3. Aging: curd is handled gently to retain high moisture level, after coagulation of milk, the curds are drained in small molds before being turned out and matured for 15 days before release for sale.

4. Texture: light, fluffy, mousse-like, extremely soft and creamy

5. Taste: light and delicate, tasting of creme fraiche, mushrooms and grass with a slight tang; an exceptionally balanced cheese: “Grassy and lemony and tangy like a goat cheese, mildly nutty like a sheep’s cheese, and rich and buttery like a cow’s cheese, La Tur has more texture and flavor variations than Mariah Carey has pink stilettos (INYIB)”

6. Fun facts: to protect the tender cheese, these products are encased in a cupcake-like wrapper and placed in a plastic, breathable container. The rind is a reflection of the Geotricum mold introduced during its production.

7. Pairings? Honey, candied walnut, honey + blue cheese, Thyme + balsamic

Resource: https://culturecheesemag.com/cheese-library/La-Tur

https://itsnotyouitsbrie.com/blog/la-tur-a-cheese-a-girl-and-a-spoon

Sweet Grass Dairy: Thomasville Tomme

1. Type: raw cow’s milk, natural rinded semi-soft cheese made in French farm to table style (french Pyrenees mountain style)

2. Place of Origin: Southern Georgia, town of Thomasville Tomme

3. Aging: at least 60 days for subtle yet earthy flavor and creamy texture

4. Taste: Earthy & grassy

5. Pairings? Higher acid, earthy red wines (Pinot Noir, Gamay), brew head (hoppy Pale Ale)

6. Awards: 1st place at American Cheese Society 2002

7. Fun fact: VERY versatile, perfect for baked mac-n-cheese! Great for shredding, melting, or nibbling

8. Pairing: strawberry, or pistachio

Source: https://sweetgrassdairy.com/products/thomasville-tomme

https://www.cheesemonthclub.com/sweet-grass-thomasville-tomme