Apr
6
2010
Feet, socks, BO. We are not talking about the locker room but the aroma of some of the world’s most delectable foods – gourmet cheese. One step into a fine cheese shop and it’s easy to be overwhelmed with the foul fragrance. To some it’s offensive and to others it’s heavenly. With most foods, the sense of smell is directly related to the taste but this is not always the case with cheese. If the odor wasn’t enough to keep you from sampling these culinary delights then perhaps the use of molds and bacteria in the cheese production process will. These microscopic wonders are employed to produce a desired rind color and flavor profile. For the adventurous foodie, there are many renowned cheeses considered to have an unsavory bouquet that are definitely worth a taste.
Most gourmet cheeses known to be odiferous have something in common. They fall into a category known as washed-rind cheeses. During the aging process, these cheeses are washed with a brine typically of salt water, brandy, beer or other spirits. Sounds perfectly harmless, right? Turns out this washing method allows the cheese to become hospitable to the beneficial bacterium responsible for the brightly hued rinds, robust flavor and pungent odor. A few times per week, the cheeses are bathed in these liquids until they are perfectly aged.
As we all know, the French love their cheese. No other country produced so many types. It has a rotten cheese from Le Metro has (Paris subway system) – ????? Burgundy ban. But do not let this stop to enjoy the most incredible washed rind cheese, a you. With its old rust colored edible fruit, epoisses (because it's commonly called) has adhesive, cream center and a unique and outstanding flavor. Unpasteurized milk, is washed and the local brandy. To epoisses see in a small round at your local cheese shop, gourmet food stores wooden box.
Washed rind cheese similar luxury is worth noting that you Taleggio. The Lombardy region of Italy from a square of cheese has been produced for centuries in the same way. Made of milk and salt, and pour the water bath, Taleggio with food, rose red skin. When fully mature, this is a moist, semi-soft and butter (some people say meat) taste of cheese. And let's not forget the unforgettable smell.
As one of the treasures of bite hedonism, it is easy to forget the strong smell. Simply grab a bottle of wine and a crust of bread. But to be thoughtful, just make sure you are not on the Le Metro.