Archive for the ‘Cheese of the Month’ Category

Marcel Petite’s 3-year Old Comte

Friday, November 19th, 2010

Comte is the most eaten cheese in France. A very rare and special cheese, only the best affinneurs in France can produce the best tasting Comte in the country.

Comte is rumored to have been made for centuries, dating as far back as the time of Charlemagne. Although an ancient cheese, Comte comes with a very sharp and modern flavor. It has an ivory colored paste with scattered holes the size of a hazelnut. It has a complex and nutty taste, but has a caramelized flavor which makes it pleasing to the palate.

Comte is a firm pressed cheese made from raw milk, produced from the generously lush green Jura region of France. It is the most popular cheese in France, currently having different distinct flavors including apricot, chocolate, butter, cream, and grilled bread. Comte is a perfect appetizer cut into small cubes. It is a traditional fondue cheese, but is also great when chunked, melted, or grated.

Marcel Petite Affinneurs have been practicing the art of aging Comte for more than a hundred years. In the 60’s, they took over Fort Saint-Antoine, a fort build in 1879 as protection against a possible Prussian assault from Switzerland. After taking possession of the fort, Marcel Petite had a roof build over the courtyard and covered it with soil. As soon as the aging operations started, the affinneur had about 300 wheels on hand.

Mr. Petite revolutionized the way aging cheese was done in France. He started to age wheels of his Comte for longer periods of time at lower temperatures. The detailed and thorough maturing process spearheaded by Marcel Petite allows the cheese makers control over the Comte, specifying its age, its flavor and aroma.

Each wheel of Comte has the fruitier number, the month, as well as the year of production embedded on its side. After the wheels are produced and branded, they are sold by affineurs or cheese agers, who store the cheese for many months to ripen. Each affineur lives and dies by their reputation for finding and caring for the best cheeses available, and among the Comte affineur elite, no one stand as high as Marcel Petite.

An elaborate process is followed before a wheel of Comte passes the industry standards. At Fort Saint-Antoine, the head cheesemonger leads a staff of five tasters who spend every day sampling and tasting about 300 wheels of cheese just to determine how to proceed with each individual wheel. After tasting, the tasters decide how much longer they are going to age the wheels.  It is this process with careful attention to detail that makes the Marcel Petite Comte the best in the world.

There are many companies selling cheese in the United States, but none have made the effort to go through as much hassle as the Marcel Petite Affineurs have. A Marcel Petite Comte captures the real flavor of France. Taste and find out yourself; get your own wheel of Comte today!

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Top 3 Reasons Why You Should Join a Cheese of the Month Club

Friday, June 25th, 2010

There are indeed many reasons why it is a good idea to join a cheese of the month club. For those of us that like cooking, and culinary pursuits, cheese is basically the perfect ingredient to put in just about every food item you can think of, even in some desserts! Cheese can make even the most mundane cooking project turn into an extravaganza of flavor, and fun, and with a cheese of the month club, you will have the opportunity to try recipes that you may have never heard of prior to joining, as well as experience new flavors, and learn about the cheeses and food of different cultures.

The first, and best reason to join a cheese of the month club, is the opportunity to try out different and exciting recipes that you may have never heard of before. When you first join, you will probably receive your cheese in a cheese basket through the mail. Once you get this cheese basket, you may be thinking “Well now what do I do?” The answer to that is simple. You take your new cheese, whether it is some new gourmet cheese you have never heard of, or your basic American or Swiss cheese, and you find yourself a new recipe to try. This truly is the most fun part of being in a cheese of the month club.

Another cool reason to join a cheese of the month club, is to experience new flavors. Many people simply just do not realize how many cheeses there are out there to try. Once you realize that there are more cheeses than you initially thought, you will soon discover the benefits of learning about cheese, and being able to experience the plethora of new flavors that the cheese community has to offer. You will also feel distinguished among your friends for knowing so much about cheese, and the flavors of gourmet cheeses. This is just another benefit that you can add to the list.

Last but not least, when you join a cheese of the month club, you will not only learn about the many different cheeses there are, but you will also learn more about the different cultures that created these cheeses as well. Some cheese of the month clubs bring you not only cheese, but information about that cheese as well, so you gain knowledge, as well as flavor in your quest for excellent cheeses. If your cheese of the month club only brings you cheese, and not information about the cheese, use your natural instincts, and look up the information for fun. The internet is an excellent resource for information about cheese, and the places where cheese comes from.

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3 Reasons to Give a Cheese of the Month Membership as a Gift

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

Giving a Cheese of the Month membership as a gift can be the perfect solution for almost any person on almost any occasion. Here are 3 reasons to give a Cheese of the Month membership as a gift:

1. Perfect for any person on any occasion.

A Cheese of the Month membership is the perfect gift for any occasion including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, a promotion, retirement, or as a thank you. Not only are they the perfect gift for family and friends, but for coworkers, bosses, and clients. They are perfect for either a man or woman, young and old.

2. The gift that keeps on giving.

Each time they receive a cheese gift basket, your recipient will be reminded of your thoughtfulness. The contents of a cheese gift basket are often themed such as award-winning cheeses of a certain location or they are selected to explore a particular country or region. Often included with the cheese gift basket is a newsletter where your recipient can learn about the cheese’s origin, history, and flavor profile as well as recommended wine pairings and food suggestions to accentuate the taste, flavor, and texture of the cheeses received. The newsletters can be informative and entertaining.

3. Convenient and customizable.

Cheese of the Month memberships can be purchased well in advance or at the last minute. They are fast and easy to order online or over the phone from the comfort of your home or office. Many companies offer free shipping and a satisfaction guarantee. If you are purchasing at the last minute, they can offer express delivery for an additional fee. They are delivered to the recipient’s door, well packed and of the highest quality. They can also be shipped internationally saving you a great deal of time and money. Repeat customers are often offered discounts on future purchases.

Cheese gift baskets are customizable in a variety of different ways. You can choose the type of cheese gift basket and price, starting month, duration of the gift, and frequency of delivery. You can usually pay in one installment or month by month. If your gift is hit, memberships are often renewable.

Cheese experts can answer any questions you might have and can make suggestions. They offer many unique, hard to find, gourmet cheese from around the world that one might never have the opportunity to try otherwise. And it’s a great topic of conversation for the sender and the recipient each time the gift is delivered.

A Cheese of the Month membership can be the perfect gift for almost anyone on any occasion. They are a long-lasting, memorable gift that is easy to order and customizable to meet not only your recipient’s needs, but yours as well.

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