Tome de Savoie, Cantal, St Marcelin, Brie, Goat Cheese, Roquefort
St Marcelin and Goat Cheeses"A meal without cheese is a beautiful woman with an eye missing" - Brillat-Savarin (La Philosophie du Gout)
Only when I go to France do I realize how much I miss eating cheese. With 400 cheeses, the selection is huge ! None of that pasteurized nonsense we see in the US. This is real cheese. Fresh and aging. From cows, sheeps, goats. Hard, semi-hard, soft, melting. Some are a veritable living ecosystem of various molds, imparting a strong taste and smell to the host. Ever tried Roquefort ? Or simply blue cheese ? Then you are ready for the old goat cheese with shades of green and brown molds. With a piece of fresh french bread and a glass of red wine. It's a smorgasbord of flavors, tannins and fermented milk mingling and dancing in your mouth.
Next time you are in the dairy aisle at the grocery store, take a chance and try out a French cheese. Whole Foods Market offers a good selection, some unpasteurized (!). Or look out for a cheese shop offering imported cheeses, and ask for a selection of French cheeses, from mild to strong. Make it an evening to remember, ask friends to bring bread and their favorite wines ! And if you even happen to be in France, skip the Eiffel Tower and pig out on cheese and bread for a true french experience !
Say cheese !
