Day 830 : New Cheese Discovery - Bossa

Location : Weston, Missouri. Green Dirt Farm to be specific.

Located in the Missouri River Valley, Green Dirt Farm is a big believer in community based farming practices providing the community with an opportunity to know where their cheeses and yogurts come from -- decreasing the distance your food has to travel between production and consumption. Green Dirt Farm strictly produces products with sheep's milk -- four aged cheeses, yogurt, fresh cheeses, and lamb.

My new cheese discovery is their Bossa cheese -- one of the only sheep's milk washed rind cheeses crafted in the US. Aged for approximately two months, this little briny roundelle has the classic washed rind orange-y hued exterior and a bright white ivory interior. Stinky, pungent, meaty, grassy and barnyardy yet creamy and alive, this cheese is definitely not for the faint of heart but boy is it amazing! Enjoy it with a nice Hefeweisen, I guarantee it will be a flavorful delight!

Image courtesy of www.greendirtfarm.com

Day 829 : My favorite warm weather salad

Summer certainly came upon us fast and furious here in NYC - the heat and humidity are hitting us with full force and in honor of that I thought I would suggest one of my favorite fabulously bright summer salads to enjoy to help break through the weather!

Simple to prepare and delish, I guarantee it is perfect for days like today!

What goes into it?

Burrata
Chives
EVOO
Aged Balsamic Vinegar
Grilled Peaches
Arugula
Pine Nuts
Sea Salt
Pepper
Crushed red pepper
A few basil leaves

The most time consuming part of assembling the salad is your grilled peaches which are pretty simple -- slice the peaches toss with some EVOO and chives and place on a stovetop grill for a few minutes to get a nice char on either side. While you're cooking your peaches toss together some arugula, pine nuts, and some chopped basil. Top with one ball of fresh burrata. Once the peaches are done spread them around your burrata and drizzle some EVOO and aged balsamic vinegar over the top, finish it off with some sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and a dollop of crushed red pepper for a nice spicy kick.

Enjoy with a glass of crisp mineral forward white wine such a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.

Here's to summer in the city folks.

Day 828 : A whirlwind of a weekend- a little less cheese and a little more reflection

Gosh this weekend flew by in a flurry of events celebrating two of my closest friends' marriage -- a bridal shower, a bachelorette, a reception and a post reception brunch all in the span of a few short days. Each event was completely distinct and truly was catered to the lives and passions of my two dear friends - a celebration of them. People came from near and far to be together and the outpouring of love and support for these two fabulous people was omnipresent. It surely made me stop and think about how lucky I am to have them in my life and in turn how lucky I am to be surrounded by such wonderful friends and family on a daily basis. So on this Memorial Day weekend, I encourage you not only to take the time to pay remembrance to those who have fallen while serving our country but also to pay thanks to those who make your life brighter and more special on a daily basis.

So thank you to all my friends and family for your constant love and support and congratulations once again to my friends on their marriage.


Stay tuned tomorrow for a return to things cheese-y and Fromagical's recommendations for what cheeses are best for cookouts and outdoor picnics!

Day 827: In honor of National Wine Day

Did you know that May 25th was National Wine Day?

What better way to ring in the holiday weekend than with a glass of wine in honor of National Wine Day and some cheese? I cannot think of anything better!

So in honor of the long weekend and National Wine Day - let's propose a Red, White, and Blue TGIF pairing!

Wine : Channing Daughters Rosati di Cabernet Sauvignon - Mudd Vineyard : Hailing from some of Long Island's oldest vines (1975), this medium bodied rose is full of earthy, herbaceous, fruity and floral notes with faint hints of red berries. It definitely packs a punch but doesn't weigh you down -- fanciful and fun, this is the ultimate summer time barbecue wine! In my mind, there is nothing that says summer more than a nice chilled glass of rose wine so this is the perfect choice for your Memorial Day weekend TGIF pairing.

Image courtesy of www.channingdaughters.com

Cheese : Rogue River Creamery's Smokey Blue - Following in our smoked footsteps of yesterday, the Smokey Blue was the first blue cheese that was ever smoked. Cold smoked for sixteen hours over Pacific Northwest hazelnut shells, this blue cheese is piquant and spicy yet round and creamy with caramelly, hazelnutty, earthy, rustic, and smokey notes. There's something about this marriage of flavors that just screams summertime to me. The jammy, fruity, floral characteristics of the wine will find their counterpart in the nutty, smokey notes of the cheese. An excellently summery TGIF pairing if you ask me!

 Image courtesy of www.roguecreamery.com

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Day 826 : On the Road Again

It's that time of year again or well the calendar says it is despite the weather in New York disagreeing -- the beginning of summertime! Memorial Day weekend for me marks the beginning of summertime -- lazy sunny afternoons spent by the pool with a book, barbecues and cookouts galore, beach campfires at sunset, road trips, and plenty of time spent outdoors. It's time to rediscover your youth, let your inhibitions go and have fun!

What best way to ring in the season than with some Rivers Edge Up in Smoke Chèvre? This Oregonian is all about summertime fun! Young roundelles of pasteurized goat's milk are twice smoked to impart the perfect mixture of bright, citrusy, chalky, tangy, goaty goodness and that smoky, rustic, woodsy, campfire goodness.

You might be wondering how is it twice smoked? Before the cheese is wrapped in the local maple leaves, the leaves themselves are smoked and then once wrapped, the cheese and maple leaves are smoked again to impart this fabulous flavor profile.

What to drink with it?

I recommend a bright and light white wine!

So go out and get yourself a roundelle at Murray's and a bottle of white wine and let's get this summer started my friends!

Day 825 : On my doorstep...

I came home this evening to find a package of Vermont cheese-y goodness courtesy of Vermont Creamery in celebration of springtime! Three fresh logs of goat's milk cheese - one plain chevre, one pepper chevre, and one herb chevre accompanied with dried apricots and Castleton Rutland Rye Crackers.

What a treat! And a perfect way to brighten this grey muggy day!

Why fresh chevre right now?

Because these fresh logs of creamy, milky, lactic, citrusy, chalky goodness are the perfect ode to springtime! I personally love to enjoy them either with a nice glass of bubbles, perhaps a Prosecco or Blanc de Blancs even a glass of crisp, mineral forward white wine would be nice.

Either way the clean bright flavors of this young goat's milk cheese are destined to bring a smile to your face.

Day 824 : Breaking Cheese News - 320 million dollars of cheese destroyed!

How?!?!

Sunday there was an earthquake that occured in Northern Italy in the region where Grana Padano and Parmesan are crafted and aged. The 6.0 earthquake damaged warehouses, cave aging cellars and more! The earthquake caused the 90 pound wheels of cheese to topple and roll away...

Check out some pics here: http://gizmodo.com/5911957/unspeakable-tragedy-320-million-of-cheese-destroyed-in-italian-earthquake