Our cheeses this week were made with love. It’s our way of saying, “Brie My Valentine.” Put one (or more) into the center of your Valentine’s Day cheeseboard and serve with thin slices of baguette along with mounds of fresh strawberries and raspberries, or use dried cranberries or red cherries along with slices of apples and pears. Any of these cheeses would be the perfect gift for your turophilic (cheese-loving) Valentine. Won’t you Brie my Valentine?
White Stilton Strawberries and CreamThe perfect dessert cheese for Valentine’s Day, this gorgeous white Stilton is dotted with dried red strawberries. It is the young cousin of England’s famous blue Stilton, but creamier and tangier.
Like all Stilton, it is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheese and can only be made in one of three counties in England (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Leicestershire) from locally produced milk.
The taste is light, almost yogurt like, but the tang is tempered by the sweetness of the berries. And the addition of fruit and cream provide a delicious complement to the cheese, but it is not too sweet.
It’s a beautiful cheese to add to your cheeseboard.
Origin: England (Nottinghamshire)
Producer: Thistle Hill
Milk: Pasteurized cow
Rennet type: Vegetarian
Rind: Natural
Age: 4 weeks
Look: White, laced with strawberries
Feel: Crumbly
Smell: Milky
Taste: Light, almost yogurt-like taste, with sweetness from the berries
Tastes good with: Fruits, nuts, fruit bread
Pairs well with: Fruity whites like Viognier; light reds
Coeur du BerryCoeur du Berry is a beautiful heart-shaped cheese made with rich goat’s milk, and its tangy, mellow taste and shape are highly prized. There is nothing like French goat’s milk cheese! The rich creaminess will bowl you over.
This baby was made for your cheese board! It derives its shape from the name of a nearby French village: St. Valentin. Coeur du Berry (coeur in French means heart) boasts bold earthy flavors that grow increasingly complex as it ages.
This cheese begs to be paired with a light fruity wine (Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc) and berries or grapes.
Origin: Loire-Valley, France
Producer: Fromagerie Jacquin & Fil
Milk: Pasteurized goat
Rennet type: Traditional
Rind: None
Age: Fresh
Look: Soft, heart shaped cheese
Feel: Creamy, firm
Smell: Lightly pungent
Taste: Tangy, bold, hints of hazelnut
Tastes good with: Fruit, strawberry jam (Eat This Yum has one that pairs perfectly!)
Pairs well with: Sancerre, Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay BellaVitanoSoaked in Chardonnay wine, this cheese has a bright, creamy taste with a nice buttery, oaky finish from the wine. The taste of wine is subtle but enhances the sweet, creamy, and salty taste of the cheese.
It’s made from a combination of award-winning Wisconsin Cheddar and Parmesan, giving it a creamy texture with a slight crunch.
You can enjoy this stunning wine-soaked cheese all by itself, or add some crusty bread, dried apricots, and pistachios and you’ve got the perfect small plate to share with your Valentine. Produced by Sartori, this premium Chardonnay BellaVitano cheese takes its place in our cheese case along with the ever-popular Balsamic BellaVitano.
Origin: Plymouth, Wisconsin
Producer: Sartori
Milk: Pasteurized cow
Rennet type: Vegetarian
Rind: Natural
Age: 6+ months
Look: Pale yellow paste
Feel: Firm, crumbly
Smell: Like sharp Cheddar
Taste: Bright, buttery
Tastes good with: Dried apricots, crusty baguette
Pairs well with: Chardonnay, India Pale Ale, Belgian White
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