From the Cheese Portraits series.

Cheesemaker Sheila Flanagan gave me this square wheel of cheese with a rind that resembles ancient rock. Appropriately, it's inspired by the Adirondacks as the earthy flavor suits its appearance. Sheila and her partner Lorraine Lambiase have run and restored their historic barn at Nettle Meadow Farm, in Warrensburg, NY and this award winning cheese producing creamery is also a sanctuary for over 100 animals described as "differently abled" on their website. The cheese pays for the farm's ability to give a happy home to animals that would otherwise be abandoned.

This washed rind cheese has a layer of cow's milk curds and a layer of goat's milk curds separated by a layer of black vegetable ash. It's a this labor intensive cheese and the brainchild of Sal Speights, one of their cheesemakers. It's as funky and flavorful as it looks as the rind is washed with New York Porter and sealed in vodka. They age if for a minimum of 30 days but prefer 60-75 before releasing it. This wheel was extra aged, due to my busy schedule and delay in painting it and this helps boost the peppery flavor and rich creamy texture. Also painting this on a hot summer day, it was inevitable to start to ooze some, causing some beautiful teardrop cheese tears (?) that really demonstrate how creamy the cheese is.

If you get access to Nettle Meadow's newest cheese, I suggest you grab it!

Origin: New York, USA

Availability: sold