Say hello to the cutest cheese board! If you know me, you know I love cheese 🙂 And this past week I had an exclusive taste of some of the best French cheeses thanks to Cheese of Europe. Not only were they all amazing (you can really see the quality of a good cheese), but I learned a lot about European cheeses and their standards.
The European Union (EU) takes important steps to protect and ensure that its cheeses are of the highest standard in terms of quality, taste, diversity and tradition. They have strict guidelines for farm animals, prohibiting any use of antibiotics or hormones. There are also strict guidelines regarding the animal’s feeding and daily hygiene. And when you see a European cheese with a yellow and red Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) label, it means that the EU has guaranteed both the provenance in which it was made and the quality. These cheeses are made by skilled local producers, using specific ingredients and traditional methods.
It was incredibly hard to pick a favorite, all the cheeses were delicious, but my favorite was the Mimolette. It is a cow’s milk cheese with a rich orange color, with fruity and nutty notes with hints of caramel. They described it as a very “snackable” cheese, which is true! I kept coming back for more as the flavor was rich and delicious but not overpowering. They also suggested adding it to a dish like a creamy carrot soup for fall.
If anything, this event opened my appreciation for how much care goes into making French cheese. From the farms, to the animals, to the production of products, every step is incredibly important and meticulously crafted.
This post is in collaboration with Cheeses of Europe. @cheesesofeurope #makeitmagnifique