Carr Valley Cheddars

The Lady continues to serve more delicious cheeses from the Award-Winning Wisconsin Cheesemaker, Sid Cook’s Carr Valley Cheese.

This week she served their Ten-Year Cheddar both with crackers for snacking and melted on grilled burgers. I marvel that anyone can keep such a delicious cheese around for ten year without someone hijacking it out of the cheese plant and taking it home for one fine cheese feeding frenzy.

The Lady has served other delicious aged cheddars but this one is without a doubt the best one so far. This cheese is handcrafted in their La Valle plant in small vats by cheesemakers with more than 100 years experience.

As with all aged cheddars, the flavor of this cheese is full and robust with that tasty, bitter after bite that lets you know this cheese has been aged and aged for years. It almost burns the roof of your mouth its so strong… that’s a good thing…

I give Carr valley Ten-Year Cheddar 4 Paws out of 4 Paws (cause that’s all I’ve got).

Serving Suggestions: Equally excellent on a plate and as a cooking cheese.

Wine Pairing: You need a robust Cabernet that will hold its own with this equally robust cheddar.

Beer Pairing: Try a Barley Wine with this cheese.

Awards: This cheese won 2nd place in its class at the 2005 American Cheese Society Competition.

The next day, The Lady surprised The Man by serving Carr Valley Horseradish Cheddar with the Sesmark Crackers I recently (like 15 minutes ago…) reviewed in this post. The Man loves horseradish and when he discovered that cheesemakers put it in cheese… well, you know what happened… he went into a perpetual swoon…

This flavored cheese is medium cheddar with just enough horseradish to make a strong flavor without overpowering the cheese.

I give Carr Valley Horseradish Cheese 3 Paws out of 4 Paws (cause that’s all I’ve got).

Serving Suggestions: Again, this cheese is great as part of a cheese plate and will add dimension to your favorite mac n cheese.

Wine Pairing: The Lady suggests a nice Merlot; always a favorite around the manse.

Beer Pairing: An IPA, although, when I checked in with Beer Enthusiast, Mike Wright, he suggested Bud Light… imagine that…

FTC Full Disclosure – The cheesemaker/manufacturer sent me their product, hoping I would review the product/cheese.

Sesmark Original Sesame Thins

While wandering around the cheese section of a competitor (aka “spying”), The lady discovered a tasty little cracker from Sesmark. According to their website, they use only natural products grown in the heartland of America; the sesame seeds come from Oklahoma and Texas.

These thins are made from wheat flour and white and black sesame seeds. They are slow baked and good for you. Sesame seeds are high in protein and filled with antioxidants. They are a good source of manganese, copper, calcium, iron and a bunch of other things that keep humankinds and felines healthy.

And these crackers are delicious with a robust and nutty flavor. The Lady served these with a cheese plate and the crackers enhanced the cheese tastes. As a special treat The Lady schmeared a bit of Fancy Feast Chicken Pate on one for me and like The Man often does, I swooned…

I give Sesmark Original sesame Thins 4 Paws out of 4 Paws (cause that’s all I’ve got).

The Lady promises to keep these crackers around the manse and bring home more varieties for this Feline Foodie to taste…

Alouette Extra Creamy Brie

New Extra Creamy Brie shown here on the right.

With 75% butterfat, this new Brie from Alouette is technically a triple crème and it is quite appealing.

The Lady brought home this small wheel of soft-ripened cheese recently after a sales rep gave her one to sample. Lucky me, The Lady decided to share… she’s good that way…

It comes in a cute package; it’s a 5 ounce wheel wrapped in paper and sitting on a flower-shaped dish made of bamboo. What’s inside is divine.

The Man swooned and I waited patiently for more, more, more…

This triple crème is creamy and firm with a thin rind. The Lady shared it on the “Sell-By” date at the recommendation of the sales rep. He explained that Alouette is meticulous about these dates and that in reality the cheese reaches its ripening peak on or around this date and continues to be tasty for another 30 days.

This Brie is mild and just a little on the earthy side the way good Brie should taste. It reminded me of that lovely triple crème, Saint Andre The Lady sells on the Cheese Kiosk.

I give Alouette Extra Creamy Brie 3 Paws out of $ Paws (cause that’s all I’ve got).

Serving Suggestions: The Lady served it on the new 34° Whole Grain Crispbread Crackers. Add a little honey and you’ve got dessert. This Brie would make a perfect baked Brie topped with many of the toppings that The Lady features in this previous posting. You can also serve it on a grilled chicken breast as Lapellah Restaurant does and also it would be dynamite melted on a burger.

Wine Pairing: This Brie deserves a pairing of a fine champagne or sparkling wine.

Beer Pairing: IPA is always a fine pairing with this style triple crème.

FTC Full Disclosure – The cheesemaker/manufacturer sent me their product, hoping I would review the product/cheese.