“a desert without cheese is like a beautiful woman who has lost an eye”
Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin 1825 ~ <a href=”http://www.delongwine.com/Brillat-Savarin.pdf”><em>The Physiology of Taste</em></a>
Epoisses, Roquefort & Brie. Napoleon, Charlemagne & Louis XVI – These three subjects (and their love of cheese) have caused great debate over the centuries on which is the true heir to the title of the ‘king of cheese’
Most people would have at one time or another either tasted or heard of Roquefort & Brie, but Epoisses, now there is something new to me. Reading the descriptions of this cheese and almost smelling the pungent aroma through the computer reminds me of many a French cheese that requires vacuum sealing before being placed in a fridge!
You can not travel through France (and Europe for that matter) and not experience cheese, by accident or by design. Like our appreciation of any artesian craft, cheese will compliment our wine voyage through Europe making it another significant cornerstone of our journey. We are also looking to make this another educational experience for the boys with a visit and tour of a cheese production facility.
Some of the regional ‘specialities’ we hope to sample will include, but hopefully will not limited to:
<ul>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brie_de_Meaux”>Brie de Meaux</a> (cow) – Ile de France</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coulommiers_(Cheese)”>Coulommiers</a> (cow) – Ile de France</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89poisses_de_Bourgogne”>Epoisses</a> (cow) – Burgundy</li>
<li>Aisy Cendre (cow) – Burgundy</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Langres_(cheese)”>Langres</a> (cow) – Champagne</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaource_(cheese)”>Chaource</a> (cow) – Champagne</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munster_(cheese)”>Munster</a> (cow) – Alsace</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comt%C3%A9_(cheese)”>Comte</a> (cow) – Jura</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_(cheese)”>Beaufort</a> (cow) – Alps</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reblochon”>Reblochon</a> (cow) – Alps</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomme_de_Savoie”>Tomee de Savoie </a>(cow) – Alps</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Nectaire”>Saint Nectaire</a> (cow) – Auvergne</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Marcellin”>Saint Marcellin</a> (cow) – Rhone</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banon_(cheese)”>Banon</a> (goats) – Provence</li>
<li><a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brocciu”>Brocciu </a>(goats) – Corsica</li>
<li>Feta (sheep) – Greece</li>
</ul>
<a href=”http://www.cheese-france.com/”>http://www.cheese-france.com/</a>
<a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_cheeses”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_French_cheeses</a>