Cheese!
kathrynt and I packed up the babies and went to the Seattle Cheese Festival on Saturday. We purchased a bunch of cheese, and I wanted to make some notes while it's in my memory.
WA cheeses:
River Valley Ranch absurdly fresh (goats were milked the previous day) chevre with apricots, honey, almonds. This is a fantastic breakfast cheese, and they're going to be at several of the local farmer's markets all summer, too.
Mount Townsend CreameryP -- Seastack. It's not quite like any cheese I'm familiar with, though closest to Brie. Probably should have let it aged another week or two before cutting into it, but lovely as is.
Monteillet Fromagerie -- seem to have let their domain lapse. Larzac, a semi-soft rindy goat cheese with a ribbon of ash. Not entirely sure what I think of this one, actually.
Jumpin' Good Goat Dairy -- I got the Billy Whiskers Bleu, a blue goat cheddar. Not super-blue, nicely sharp. Q got some chive chevre from these folks, I think.
OR cheeses:
Tumalo Farms -- I bought some of the Fenacho, with fenugreek. It's nutty, with a hint of sweetness. The Antigo (with cumin) was also fabulous. kightp, these folks are probably worth the trip from your place.
Willamette Valley Cheese -- a gouda soaked in Pinot Noir, I think they called it Pinot Crush.
Others:
Amaltheia Dairy, based in Montana. Organic goat's milk feta (wm LOVES this; it's very soft for feta, sort of the texture of firm silken tofu) and spiced pepper chevre. Supposedly available at TJs.
Cypress Grove -- Midnight Moon. Can't remember anything about this now, and I'm leaving the package sealed until some of the fresher cheeses are eaten. CA company but it looks like the cheese was made in Holland?
Prima Donna, very aged gouda. Parmesan-ish, and two bucks for a big slice. I'm not sure who makes this, it's from Holland, though. It was at the big distributor end of the concourse rather than the small family farm end. Q bought some saffron-infused honey that's really nice with this.
Fiscalini Cheese -- Q bought some of their horseradish cheddar spread, which is probably fantastic on a roast beef sandwich. We somehow failed to buy any of the 18 month aged cheddar, which was possibly the best cheese at the festival. Also CA.
Q also got some Point Reyes Blue and I believe something else I've forgotten.
The Perennial Tea Room also had a Teas for Cheese sampler, so we bought some lovely tea as well.
WA cheeses:
River Valley Ranch absurdly fresh (goats were milked the previous day) chevre with apricots, honey, almonds. This is a fantastic breakfast cheese, and they're going to be at several of the local farmer's markets all summer, too.
Mount Townsend CreameryP -- Seastack. It's not quite like any cheese I'm familiar with, though closest to Brie. Probably should have let it aged another week or two before cutting into it, but lovely as is.
Monteillet Fromagerie -- seem to have let their domain lapse. Larzac, a semi-soft rindy goat cheese with a ribbon of ash. Not entirely sure what I think of this one, actually.
Jumpin' Good Goat Dairy -- I got the Billy Whiskers Bleu, a blue goat cheddar. Not super-blue, nicely sharp. Q got some chive chevre from these folks, I think.
OR cheeses:
Tumalo Farms -- I bought some of the Fenacho, with fenugreek. It's nutty, with a hint of sweetness. The Antigo (with cumin) was also fabulous. kightp, these folks are probably worth the trip from your place.
Willamette Valley Cheese -- a gouda soaked in Pinot Noir, I think they called it Pinot Crush.
Others:
Amaltheia Dairy, based in Montana. Organic goat's milk feta (wm LOVES this; it's very soft for feta, sort of the texture of firm silken tofu) and spiced pepper chevre. Supposedly available at TJs.
Cypress Grove -- Midnight Moon. Can't remember anything about this now, and I'm leaving the package sealed until some of the fresher cheeses are eaten. CA company but it looks like the cheese was made in Holland?
Prima Donna, very aged gouda. Parmesan-ish, and two bucks for a big slice. I'm not sure who makes this, it's from Holland, though. It was at the big distributor end of the concourse rather than the small family farm end. Q bought some saffron-infused honey that's really nice with this.
Fiscalini Cheese -- Q bought some of their horseradish cheddar spread, which is probably fantastic on a roast beef sandwich. We somehow failed to buy any of the 18 month aged cheddar, which was possibly the best cheese at the festival. Also CA.
Q also got some Point Reyes Blue and I believe something else I've forgotten.
The Perennial Tea Room also had a Teas for Cheese sampler, so we bought some lovely tea as well.