The first of the other three new cheeses is this Smokey Blue Cheese from Rogue Creamery. They have a few varieties of Blues but this one struck us as interesting for its hazelnut smoked aroma. Oregon being the capital of hazelnuts for the U.S. it only makes sense to smoke with them. This cheese is smoke for SIXTEEN HOURS! My lamb legs aren't' even smoked that long. Whats surprising is that the blue sharpness is not overdone by the heavily smoked cheese. This is a raw cows milk with a vegetarian rennet and aged for three months.
Made in the mountains of Leon, Spain, Leonora is made from pure Alpine goat milk. Uniquely molded into a long brick shape, the cheese is covered with a natural mold and develops a creamy consistency over the three month aging process. This cheese reminds me of a boucheron cheese in that it ages in a very similar way. It is very creamy and smooth when young, but as it ages it becomes sharper. The cheese becomes drier and dense and clay-like while the section near the rind becomes creamy and can be gooey at room temperature. Friekin' Delicious!
Pecorino Toscano Stagionato is a centuries old D.O.C ( or name and origin controlled) table cheese from Italy. This Pecorino is nutty with a little salt on the palate. Besides the nutty-ness gives off a little grassyness and herbs. Some people say "only drink chianti or muscat with this cheese" which I agree are good choices, but I"m sure if you came in,our wines by the glass could also accommodate you.
So these three cheeses and the previous ,"torta la serena" tort of the siren, cheese are our newest additions to our cheese plate. We love buying and tasting all of these different cheeses. Its refreshing to research and "discover" new cheese, even if they've been being made for centuries. These are all served with grilled house made baguette bread and our cherry compote and fig sorghum butter. Also the delicious marcona almonds. We have six total cheese making up our list. The other two cheese not mentioned are pleasant ridge and "Cyprus Grove Goat Cheese Cheddar". Both delicious cheeses too and worth checking out. We continually serve two goats milk, two sheep's milk and two cow's milk cheeses. They run the full gamut of creamy to firm or blue. You can order them one at a time or all six if you feel daring. Come check it out!
