We have sampled a few new cheeses as well. In particular, the Snow White Goat Cheddar from Wisconsin's Carr Valley Cheese company was a great find. This cheddar made from goat milk is cloth-bound and cave-aged for six months, resulting in full and complex flavor. It is milky white and creamy but firm in texture. The taste is quite mild, with a hint of sweetness, and just a little bit of smokiness from the rind. This spectacular cheese has won the first place Best of Show at the 2008 American Cheese Society Competition.
Snow White Goat Cheddar
We also tried a new Gouda cheese, the Vintage Special Edition from Wegmans. This Dutch cheese is made from cow milk and aged for three years. It had a rich nutty flavor with a little bit of sweetness and hints of butterscotch. We loved the creamy texture and the occasional crunchy bites of this cheese.
Vintage Special Edition Gouda
Another new cheese we tasted was a White Stilton from Cropwell Bishop Creamery. This family-owned creamery is located in the Vale of Belvoir, near Nottingham, England, and it specializes in producing some of the best, award-winning Stilton cheeses. The creamery has quite a selection of white stiltons, paired with various fruits. The White Stilton we tried was blended with dates and orange. This cheese was soft and creamy, with a fruity and sweet taste with tangy notes from the orange. It was quite rich and perhaps a little bit too sweet, but I thought it was excellent as a dessert cheese.
White Stilton with Dates and Orange
Our cheese tastings will now be more regular, and I hope to report on some interesting new cheeses as we discover them, with a cheese tasting post at least once a month. In two weeks, we will have an opportunity to try a very special cheddar made for the 100th Anniversary of Tillamook Cheese. Meanwhile, don't forget to check out the Tillamook Macaroni and Cheese Recipe Contest.
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I would like to thank Rebecca from Chow and Chatter for the I Love Your Blog award!
