Even More Wonderful Cheese

Today we got our last shipment of wonderful cheese via Zingerman's. This month the cheeses were American. Because of some FedEx mixuppery, we got them a few days late, so the bread was unfortunately past prime. We splooshed out into the cold rain to buy a new loaf and a jar of organic roasted red peppers, with which we rounded out our Dinner of Cheese. The varieties:

Vermont Shepherd: I'm afraid I don't know what makes a cheese a "farmhouse" cheese, but that's what this is--a firm aged sheep's milk cheese with a hard rind that slices beautifully into very thin, pliable sheets. It was simple and lovely, with a creamy start and a tangy finish, very nice just sliced on bread. I think it would make a great sandwich in a warm (not toasted) crusty roll with some toasted walnuts and a glass of apple cider.

Zingerman's Own Four-Year-Old Raw Milk Vermont Cheddar: A terrific and powerful cheddar unlike any I have known before. I don't really know how to describe it except to say that it was remarkably full of the essence of cheddarness. Good straight, in small doses, but I think it will be really great in cooking. I want to make something involving it, some pasta, and some carmelized onions all in a delicious pungent tangle.

Coach Farm Chèvre: Oh my golly. I know I've seen Coach Farms for sale somewhere before; if I had only realized how fabulously perfect it was I would have been a danger to myself and others. This is the fluffiest, cleanest-tasting, most delectable goat cheese I have ever had, and I am very proud of myself for not actually eating the whole medallion straight through without stopping. It was perfect with the red peppers and a little grind of black pepper. (You can order some of their high quality goat semen to breed up some good milking stock of your own, too!)

Finally, here is a little story I was reminded of by tonight's dinner. When we lived in Berkeley, Snark was once in our local Andronico's yuppiemart and saw a little girl, about eight years old, tugging on her mother's sleeve. "Mommmmmmmmmmmm," she said. "Mommmmmmmmm!" She tugged harder. "Mom! Mom!"

"Yes, dear?"

"Mom! What about the goat cheese?"

"Don't worry, I already got the goat cheese."

"Phew."

Posted by redfox at October 29, 2002 10:05 PM (dinner reports)

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