Cheese CONNOISSEUR - Feature

The Possibilities of Prosciutto di Parma

Why this prized meat has become a charcuterie board staple. There are few foods that need no help to bring out their full flavor. No spreading of mayonnaise or smearing of mustard on top. No herbs or spices as cozy companions. Or dressings of hollandaise or simmering marinara to raise

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The Magic of AFFINAGE

The method of ripening cheese to perfection. The best things take time. This certainly applies to the art and science of aging cheese, called affinage. In French, the word “affinage” means “to refine” (the term comes from the Latin word “ad finis”, meaning “towards the limit.’). Affineurs are responsible for

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CHEESE CULTURES 101

Learn about the unsung hero of cheese. What are cheese cultures? They’re the unsung heroes of the cheesemaking process. A starter culture is “friendly” bacteria with a job to do— to start the transformation of milk into cheese. These cultures are used in the making of the vast majority of

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All Things Cheddar

Find out why the British version of this cheese is coveted. Cheddar, a cheese which has almost become synonymous with the word ‘cheese’ across the globe is, undoubtedly, the most famous cheese variety there is. But what variety is that? There are so many different versions of this same cheese,

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The Many Uses of Mexican Cheese

As diverse as they are flavorful, these varieties provide a bevy of options Gooey enchiladas… quesadillas dripping with stretchy, stringy goodness… creamy queso fundido dotted with spicy chorizo… Mexican cuisine is a cheese-lover’s dream. It’s hard to think of a dish that isn’t packed with rich, savory flavor.

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Pining Over Paneer

Learn about this ancient and ubiquitous fresh cheese of South Asia. From the more than 1,800 cheeses that exist in the world, the oldest and most versatile is arguably the fresh cheese, paneer, that is ubiquitous in Indian cooking. Supposedly mentioned in the Vedas, the ancient Sanskrit scriptures that go

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Olive Estates of South Africa

An exceptional and unexpected culinary journey. Cheese, wine, charcuterie, bread and olive oil, the essentials of a satisfying culinary experience enjoyed with friends—even if the pleasure is shared virtually like it has been for so many this year. Whether it is delivered from a favorite restaurant or house-made, the satisfaction

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An Eye On the Environment

Sustainable Swiss dairies produce exceptional cheese. Swiss artisans have been making cheese since the Middle Ages. Isolated in secluded hamlets on mountains and in valleys, they developed cheese unique to their region. This tradition continues to this day. I’m passionate about cheese, so when I heard that Switzerland produced around

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A Perfect Pairing

Combining savory cheese with sweet chocolate results in unique flavor sensations. Autumn excites chocolate lovers. The summer heat that melts the sweet stuff in our hands also coats a silky, dark brown bar, left to sit, in a bloom of white dust. But let the cooler weather set in, and

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When The Work Is Worth It

Creating Portuguese cheese is labor-intensive, but the results make it worth the effort. Portugal’s most famous consumable may be Port, but everybody knows that few foods pair better with wine than cheese. So it should come as no surprise that this small country on the Iberian Peninsula produces outstanding cheeses—some

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The Cheese CSA

Sustainably staying afloat through community. Farms and creameries around the country are diversifying their marketing and sales strategies to try to set themselves apart. Some are ushering product into neighborhoods at farmer’s markets or in grocery stores, and others are meeting customers exactly where they are by offering Community Supported

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Salute Grana Padano

A healthy Italian cheese with gusto. Beloved in its Italian homeland and throughout Europe, Grana Padano cheese was a familiar sight on the dinner table when chef Danilo Cortellini was growing up in the Abruzzo region. Now Cortellini is passing that tradition on to his own family, and to visitors

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