Crottin de Chavignol cheese originates from Loire, Chavignol in France. It is produced from raw milk of the alpine goats which can be easily recognized by their brown thick coats.
It is one of those rarest cheeses that can be eaten at various stages of its maturity. It is often eaten clothed in fine herbs when fresh from the cheese vat. At this stage of maturing process, it has a creamy, nutty taste. After about six weeks, while its smell starts getting stronger, its pâté becomes dry and brittle. Moreover, a harder texture with a pronounced flavour starts to develop. Hereafter, the cheese continues to mature and the robust taste increases, but never gets sour. Its rind develops into a rough and hard layer over a period of time.

Crottin de Chavignol

Produced in the Auvergne region, Fourme d'Ambert (or simply Ambert) is one of France's oldest cheeses, dating back to the Roman occupation nearly 1,000 years ago. It is said that the Druids and the Gauls had developed the art of making this unique cheese. In 2002 it was separated from the Fourme de Montbrison, an identical cheese, to receive an individual AOC status.
The cheese is a traditional, farmhouse blue cheese that can be either co-operative or artisanal. Fourme d'Ambert is more supple and dense than most blues. Milk from cows grazing on either lower or higher mountain pastures is used to produce the cheese. Although, the cheese matures in 40 days, it is cave-aged for two-three months for optimum quality. During the aging time, it is injected with Vouvray moelleux, a sweet white wine. It is easily recognizable by its unusually tall cylindrical shape.
The pâté is cream coloured with prominent blue veining. The cheese is inoculated with Penicillium roqueforti spores for the growth of blue veins. Slightly tangy, savory flavour infused by the bacteria, beautiful complements the distinct notes of butter and cream.
Wine connoisseurs can enjoy the cheese with Sauternes and other dessert wines as well as full bodied reds such as Rhone’s, Pinot Noirs and Syrah. Similar cheeses include Fourme de Montbrison, Bleu de Montbrison, Bleu de Gex and Bleu de Septmoncel. Try the cheese as a snack with bread and fruit or crumble it on salads.

Fourme d'Ambert

Association of Cheese Auvergne PDO

Many artisanal cheeses are produced only in specific regions to ensure quality and standardization. Here in this case, Chabichou du Poitou is manufactured on a small area in the Poitou, Berry and Perigord regions of France. Made with whole fresh goat’s milk, the cheese won Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) in 1990 guaranteeing the authenticity of the produce. The cheese is produce only by a few farmsteads or cheese retailers and is sold locally.
The cheese comes in the shape of a truncated cylinder called "bonde", approximately 6 cm in height and 5 to 6 cm in diameter. After 10 days of maturing process, Chabichou contains a minimum 45% fat and comes coated with a thin layer of grey-blue islets. If the cheese is made by a farmstead, it is naturally allowed to develop the mould, whereas Penicillium is inserted into the cheese if made by a dairy. The cheese is sold at a minimum maturing age of 2 weeks but may be matured for five to six weeks to acquire an intense aroma and flavour.
Upon ageing, Chabichou develops a characteristic, edible wrinkled rind dotted with occasional gray patches. Cut the cheese and it reveals a firm, creamy “bright white” interior but not before unwinding a thin buttery layer. Even though it smells typically “goaty”, the flavours are sweet with a bit of salty and tangy edge at the end. As the cheese ages, it becomes savory,piquant and nutty. Balance the flavours of the cheese with light white wine, champagne, and pilsner beer.

Chabichou du Poitou

Tomme de Savoie

Jane and Louis Grubb have been making the Cashel Blue cheese on their farms since 1984. It is Ireland’s original, farmhouse blue cheese as till then there was no blue cheese made on Irish farms. Nearly 50% of the pasteurised milk used in the cheese comes from Grubb’s selected Holstein-Friesians cows while the remaining comes from local herds. The rennet used in making in this cheese makes it suitable for vegetarians.
Creative Commons/HighKingDepending on the age, Cashel Blue texture varies from chalky to soft yellow paste and a characteristic bluish green mould. Young cheeses taste & smell chalky, lactic and mildly blue while the older ones are rich & buttery with a well-formed blue colour. Over 18 weeks of maturing, the cheese takes on a robust flavour and is granular in texture. It is one of the finest blue cheeses that relies on it's balance in taste, texture and aroma.
Young Cashel Blue pairs well with Gewurztraminer while medium aged wheels favor Sauternes and New World Botrytis Semillion. The aged cheeses are good with LBV Port. Pick the scrumptious cheese to crumble onto salads or snack on with grapes.

Phil

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