For today's Patriotic cheese plate I decided to take inspiration in the specific words and/or phrases of our National Anthem combining the "broad stripes and bright stars" of our nation's red, white, and blue.
Did you know that the Star Spangled Banner was written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key and although adopted by the masses over the course of the following century, it was not until the 1917 World Series when the Star Spangled Banner was sung in honor of the troops of the Great War that it became a baseball tradition and has been ever since. However it was not until March 3, 1931, that Congress decreed the Star Spangled Banner America's National Anthem.
Starting off with "the rockets' red glare," our cheese plate begins with the Indiana native, Piper's Pyramide -- a surface ripened semi-soft goat's milk cheese that has been dusted with paprika in honor of the cheesemaker's red haired granddaughter. Milky and lactic with a grassy citrusy finish, it has the most fantastic mix of slightly sweet moments paired with the tart piquant rustic barnyardy-ness of the paprika. A perfect beginning when paired with off-dry white wines.
Moving along to "Oh, say can you see, by the dawn's early light" with the Long Island native, Mecox Sunrise -- a washed rind semi-firm cow's milk cheese aged two to four months. Round and buttery with tangy notes of the local terroir and a classic washed rind finish, this is a great cheese for medium bodied whites or a good cold beer.
And finishing with "Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam, in full glory reflected, now shines on the stream," with the Oregon native, Rogue River Blue. A natural rind, grape leaf wrapped raw cow's milk blue cheese aged for close to a year. This cheese is all about its terroir -- from the local vineyard's grape leaves to the cheese aging cave -- musty, dusty, farmsteady, and barnyardy with fantastically buttery creamy notes and an elegant spicy piquant finish. Great with a big beer or a glass of port, an excellent way to finish the evening while watching fireworks.
Happy Fourth!
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