Tuning in at 2:30 today to see whether the favored Spain will actually clinch the game? Or do you want the Netherlands to go all the way, the underdogs surprising us all? Well folks, I won't reveal to you who I'm rooting for but I will pit a Dutch cheese against a Spainsh cheese today in our world cup of cheese and tomorrow, I will announce my own personal winner, whether or not it is in line with today's game! I decided to stick with the classics for our World Cup of Cheese, cheeses that we all know and love and represent to me each country
When you think Dutch cheese what do you think? Gouda? I do!
Gouda comes in all shapes and sizes -- aged, not aged, with cumin, with cow's milk or goat's milk, you name it, gouda lends its name and its flavor profile to all sorts of variations. As the cheese is aged longer, you loose its sweetness somewhat and it becomes drier, crumbly, saltier, and more caramelly -- truly two totally different cheeses, young vs old gouda.
For our purposes here, I'd like to suggest Goat Gouda as the Netherlands cheese representative for today's world cup, young, creamy, lactic, grassy, and a full out lovely mouth feel, it's hard to go wrong here! Smooth yet firm and milky and luscious, this cheese is great alone or with a nice crisp white wine or a cold beer. Great as a melting cheese in a grilled cheese or even grated and placed over a salad, it is very versatile.
Interestingly enough, there are way fewer Dutch cheese imported to America than Spanish cheeses, if the World Cup of Cheese was based on that fact alone -- who imports more cheese, well then Spain would definitely win, but who knows that may not be the case!
And now onto our Spanish competition, I thought we would put up a nice aged Manchego, the classic Spanish sheep's milk cheese also sold at varying ages from young to middle aged and older! As Manchego gets older, just as with Gouda, it's flavors deepen and its texture hardens. To me aged Manchego has that certain je ne sais quoi. Nutty, barnyardy, farmy, and fantastically crumbly, this cheese pairs lovely with medium bodied whites and red wines.
So folks, that wraps it up! Will it be our Youngster Goat Gouda who wins out or our aged Manchego taking the crown? Check back tomorrow to find out!
Enjoy today's game.
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