Now that the Super Bowl is behind us, we can focus on the cheese lover’s favorite holiday, Valentine’s Day. Forget Hallmark and the onslaught of “red velvet” sweet bombs all over the Internet, and remember the best recipe for a romantic evening is, well, cheese and champagne. Even if you’re without a Valentine this year, you’re never alone if you have cheese. Amen.
No one understands this better than friend-of-the-blog Kirstin Jackson, author of the blog and now book, “It’s Not You, It’s Brie.” I’ve had Kirstin’s book since Christmas but waited to tell you about it because it is truly a love letter to American artisan cheeses and the men and women who make them. In contrast to traditional encyclopedic approaches to cheese study, Jackson takes us on a more personal journey. She divides American cheese into 16 genres, ranging from “prepubescent cheese” to “old wheels” and beyond. Within each genre she introduces three selections, which allows her to give an intimate look at the featured dairies and creameries. By the end of the book, you’ll feel like you too are on a first-name basis with some of America’s finest cheesemakers, and may find yourself at the cheese counter asking, “Hey, do you have some of Kurt’s Dinah?”
While the prose is light, Jackson doesn’t shy away from technical details. This Italian nit-picker was pleased to see her explain why some may not consider Salvatore Bklyn ricotta to be true ricotta. You’ll also learn such impress-the-friends trivia as the mold that makes “bloomy rind magic” happen. Each chapter concludes with a recipe featuring that style of cheese, so as you’re following along at home, you can see how the different styles are best used in the kitchen. I have a date this weekend with Jackson’s “Landaff and Celery Root Beer Soup.”
GIVEAWAY: We’ll be back tomorrow with the first in our Curd Cupid series, but take a moment now to tell us what cheese you’d nibble on while reading “It’s Not You, It’s Brie.” We’ve got a copy to give away to one lucky reader. Entries accepted until midnight EDT on Wednesday, February 13; we’ll announce the winner on Valentine’s Day.
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I’ll be nibbling on a La Casera Robbiola from Italy, either one wrapped in fig leaves or in walnut leaves…and drinking a delicious white wine from the Loire, France.
Liking you on Facebook!
I’d nibble on a big chunk of Comté while reading about America’s best creameries!
I’d be nibbling on brie, of course…
liked you on facebook too!
I’d nibble on a cracker with midnight moon cheese
I’d nibble on Caerphilly on water crackers! Yuuuum. I’ve also liked you on Facebook~
I think I would snack on some drunken goat!
I love this title for a book. I adore Brie, but I love Camembert even more… so I think a little Coulommiers would be in order… Or maybe I’d just try something new!
P.S. I liked you on FB.
Cheers~
I’d snack on some Gruyere melted with ham in a croque monsieur…my latest cheesy obsession.
…& I “like” you too.
I would dreamily savor Le Lingot du Quercy even if we do only get the pasteurized version here in the U.S. Either that or I would go whole hog with a ginormous katchapurri (Georgian cheese bread) made with oozy, melty sulguni cheese. Shmancy or rustic, either way…YUM! I will now like you on Facebook!
…Or Cowgirl Creamery’s Redhawk or…I don’t know, there are so many nibble-worthy cheeses! (And I am rather indecisive and a bit of a cheese ho’ to boot!)
I would be dipping red grapes in a triple cream brie. One of my favorite combos. Hmmmm – creamy cheese.
PS – I liked you on FB and signed up for your new newsletter too.
Cheers!
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