Totally agree with Alan. The Mt. Tam is just wonderful. I’d buy three of the pucks at 50% off and not think twice. Red Hawk is great, as well, but kicks your rear with a heavy ammonia smell that can be a bit much for casual cheese fans.
It’s late… but I totally concur here. I do not like the smoked cheese at all. Oregonzola is one of my favorites, probably moreso than their seasonal release of the brandy-soaked grape leaf bleu (Sept iirc?) I bought a wheel of it at the local store and ate half of it on the way down to CA. Not a good decision to eat that much cheese in the car, and ended up giving the other half of the wheel to a wine-friend in Saratoga when I got there Caveman is good, too.
Chris,
I have a great cheese monger here in Dallas who has helped me learn a bunch about cheese. In my 2 years of buying from him, I have had and would reccomend the following:
Monday, October 3: LaClare Farms Evalon- really interesting to try this version of goat…they have a great chevre as well
Tuesday, October 4: Milton Creamery Jamesport Secret- have had the prairie breeze and really like it…never had this one
Wednesday, October 5: Point Reyes Farmstead Blue Cheese- as calssic as blue gets although i like their Bay Blue even better
Thursday, October 6: Jasper Hill Farm Cabot Clothbound Cheddar- fantastic…can’t say enough about what is going on at Jasper Hill…buy everything they sell
Friday, October 7: Rogue Creamery Smokey Blue- a really interesting take on blue with the added smoke…makes a great pasta filling with pork
Thursday, October 13: Cypress Grove Chevre Midnight Moon- this is good not great…but if at a regular grocery this will always work
Saturday, October 15: Uplands Cheese Company Pleasant Ridge Reserve- so great…might be one of my favorites
Tuesday, October 18: Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam- a fantastic soft cheese…all of their products are great…look for the red hawk
Thursday, October 20: Vermont Creamery Coupole- i really like their products and this one is one of their most interesting
Saturday, October 22: Hook’s Creamery 1-Year Aged Cheddar- good 1 year cheddar not as sharp as i like cheddars to be…their 10 year is amazing
Wednesday, October 26: Ludwig Farmstead Creamery Kickapoo- interesting and has a really creamy finish
Sunday, October 30: Jasper Hill Farm Bayley Hazen Blue- another great blue
Additionally if your market has the Jasper Hill Winnimere or Harbison those are worth seeking out.
I agree on all counts on these Cowgirl Creamery cheeses. I love the Red Hawk, but it is funky. Mt. Tam is an easier sell around my house. The texture when it’s ripe is amazing, and it won a brie competition in France.
The Vella Dry Jack is an interesting cheese, the texture of a hard grating cheese but smoother, more buttery, and less salty than Parmesan or Romano.
Going well - the picks and suggestions have been spot on. Missed a few days due to work but will post notes after I go clean out the cooler on Saturday (Pleasant Ridge Reserve day).
BTW, the feedback has been fantastic…MUCH appreciated