Humbolt Fog An Iconic American Goat Cheese

Cypress Grove Creamery's Humbolt Fog is a soft pasteurized  mold ripened goat cheese produced in Arcata, Humbolt County, California and is named after the fog that rolls in from Humbolt Bay. This cheese has been around for awhile and I am sorry that I have not written about it sooner but other writers have written reviews and have made the case for trying this great cheese. In my travels I recently revisited this cheese and I decided that I will add my accolades for this great cheese to the ones already out there. So here it goes.

 Details: Humbolt Fog as stated above is an aged goat cheese, it has an edible bloomy white rind and an ash line going through the center. The cheese molds are filled half way then a layer of White Pine ash and salt is added then the molds are topped off with more of the curds. This procedure is a tip of the hat to the French cow's milk  cheese Morbier. The ash layer does not impart any flavor but it does make a distinctive and eye catching presentation when the cheese is cut. The ash is also used to coat the finished cheese before it begins forming the blooming white mold rind during the aging process. As the cheese ripens from the outer layer to its core the cheese will become a bit oozy. The top most layer will be runny and the inner core will stay somewhat compact. As the cheese ages the oozy layer near the rind will begin to thicken as the core gets softer so there is a continuous transformation of texture and flavor.

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Flavor:Speaking of flavor, Humbolt Fog does not let you down. It is not overly goaty and it has a buttery flavor but also has a subtle tang on the finish. The flavor will be stronger at the center but it is not overpowering. A perfectly aged Humbolt Fog will have a hint of the salt and will not have a mild soapy flavor at the core.

Serve Humbolt Fog at room temperature but beware the longer you leave it out the runnier it will become. However scooping up a puddle of heavenly cheese is not a task that you or your guests will frown upon.
With that said only take out a portion of the cheese that you think you will use at the time you will be serving it. As a nice mid-meal snack serve it with sliced apples and pears drizzled with honey, also try it paired with walnuts and cranberries.Cypress Grove's Humbolt Fog will pair well with earthy flavors such as mushrooms or potatoes.

This cheese needs to breathe so only wrap it in wax paper, never use plastic wrap and always rewrap it in a new sheet of wax paper.

Wine Parings: White wines from California, Chenin Blanc, Piont Grigio, Sancerre and Sauvignon Blanc,
     

Roncal Cheese A Distinctive Spanish Original

Roncal is produced in the Navarra province from the milk of the Latcha and Aragonesa breeds of sheep. Roncal gets it's name from the Roncal valley. The valley is in the Pyrenees mountains and home to seven villages that work cooperatively to make this cheese. The herdsmen from these villages allow their flocks to graze in the lush mountains during the spring and early summer. The milk that is produced is sweet and high in butterfat and creates an exceptionally wonderful cheese. In 1981 Roncal was honored by being the first Spanish cheese to receive the D.O. (Denominacion de Origen).

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Details:  Roncal is an uncooked sheep's milk cheese that has a pressed natural (inedible) rind. It is usually aged for a minimum of 4 months although, some are aged up to 8 months. The aging process yields cheeses with firm beige or reddish brown rinds that may have spots of gray mold on them. The interior paste is light yellow and will have small holes or what appear to be cracks. When cut and allowed to stand a bit of butterfat may weep out, this is not a sign of a cheese gone bad but is a sign of the richness of the cheese. The younger cheese will be moist with a smooth olive flavor, as it ages longer the paste will turn amber and will develop a more meaty flavor that is nutty and savory with a very slight tang. Roncal is available all year but if your cheese monger happens to get a fresh supply around October through December the cheese will have a wonderful aroma of cut hay. If you are getting bored with Manchego  Roncal is a perfect substitute, this is a great sheep milk cheese that will please your taste buds.

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When shopping for this cheese look for cheeses that are not discolored or dried out.  Please note that mold on the rind is perfectly OK but mold in the interior is a sign of a cheese that should not be purchased. You can find Roncal in both pasteurized and raw milk versions, we suggest purchasing the raw milk one because of its superior depth of flavor.

You can serve Roncal with fruit, raw vegetables and cured pork. It also works well as a grating cheese for soups, casseroles or pasta dishes.

Wine Pairing: Any Navarra reds, Rioja or Ribera del Duero for the aged cheese, and for the younger one a light Navarra , dry sherry, or a sparkling Cava.

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A quick Recipe For French Brie And Broccoli Soup

This Brie soup is warm and hearty and is perfect for the upcoming winter months. I think that this is a novel way to use Brie and it should open up  new directions for incorporating it into your meals. This soup can be served as a first course to a meal or as a meal by itself. 

Broccoli And Brie Soup

INGREDIENTS

  Serves 4

1 1/2 lbs of Broccoli florets

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

1  fresh small yellow onion, finely diced

1 clove of garlic, grated

2 tablespoons of unbleached all-purpose flour

2 1/4 cups of low sodium  organic chicken or vegetable broth

2 1/4 cups of whole milk

6 oz of Brie (use the best brand that you can find ie Rouzaire, Brie de Meaux, Isigny)

1/4 cup of heavy cream

COOKING

1) Finely chop all of the broccoli in a food processor. Then set the chopped broccoli aside

2) In a large soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and season lightly with salt. Sweat the onions over medium heat for 2 minutes or until they just turn soft.

3) Add the broccoli and grated garlic to the onions. Season the mixture with salt and black pepper to taste. Lower the heat to low and cook covered for 5 minutes.

4) Remove the lid from the pot and stir in the 2 tbs of flour until it is completely distributed, Cook and additional 2 minutes while stirring continuously.

5) Add the broth and the milk. Raise the heat to high until the liquid begins to boil. Immediately reduce the heat to low, cover the pot again and simmer for 15 minutes or until the broccoli is completely cooked but not mushy.

6) Cut the rind off the Brie and then cut it into small pieces. Add the cut up Brie and cream to the pot. Cover and cook over the lowest heat for 2 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted. Use a whisk to blend the melted cheese into the soup. Remove from the heat and serve immediately.

Serve with garlic baguettes

Wine Pairing:  Big reds like Bordeaux or Burgundy