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We are having a cheese showdown this Saturday from noon to four! We will be featuring two Alpine-style cheeses, Le Gruyere, which can be traced back to at least 1115, and Mountaineer, an all-American cheese that Meadow Creek Dairy perfected in 2004! We will then sample two blues, Gorgonzola Piccante, one of the oldest blues in the world, and Rogue Creamery's Oregonzola, which shares many characteristics with the original, but with a distinctive Pacific Northwest twist. What will win- European tradition or American innovation? Join us and cast your vote!
We look forward to seeing you!
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Round One...Le Gruyere AOP vs. Meadow Creek Mountaineer!
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Le Gruyere is an AOP (Protected Designation of Origin) Swiss cheese from the region of Gruyère, where cheese has been in production since at least 1115. It's safe to say these affineurs know what they're doing! The cheese is made only from the raw milk of cows fed with natural forage (grass in the summer, and hay in the winter), has no additional additives, and the milk producers are all located close to the cheese dairy where they deliver milk every morning and evening. This is a truly epic cheese, well deserving of the many accolades and awards it has received through the years. Serve with walnuts and speck, or use in gougères, melted in fondue, on a Croque Madame or French Onion soup. Pair with Cabernet Franc, late harvest Riesling, stout, and single malt scotch.
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Mountaineer came about after a trip to Europe inspired the affineurs of Virginia's Meadow Creek Dairy, who wanted to create something like the classic Alpine cheeses of Valle d'Aosta and the Savoie. With it's orange-brown washed rind and the full-flavored dense, crystallized paste made with raw milk from the dairy's own herd of Jersey cows, Mountaineer rivals those classic favorites. Serve with figs and toasted hazelnuts. It also melts beautifully so it would be excellent in fondue, gratin, grilled cheese, or used with the Partyclette! Pair with Viognier or apple and pear ciders.
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Round Two...Gorgonzola Piccante DOC vs Rogue Oregonzola!
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Gorgonzola Piccante is Italy’s precious blue cheese and one bite can send your taste buds swirling with both sharp and sweet sensations. Originally produced in the town of Gorgonzola, Lombardy, in the center of northern Italy, it reached D.O.C. status in 1955. Inspectors rate the quality of Gorgonzola by the amount of mold in their interiors; the ones with the most greenish-blue mold are rated as superior. Serve with berries, pears, peaches, honey, and almonds. Pair with Sauternes, Muscat, or other similar fruity dessert wines.
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Oregonzola is an award-winning Gorgonzola-style cheese developed by Ignazio Vella in the 1990's. The smooth texture and clearly defined deep blue green veins recall the Italian classic, but the bouquet of fruit, sweet cream, and tangy flavors set it apart as a true American original. As with the rest of Rogue Creamery's product line, Oregonzola is always made with rBST-free milk. Serve on a cheeseboard with prosciutto, figs, and pears, or spoon over warm polenta and top with toasted pine nuts for a rich, flavorful, and satisfying dish. Pair with Vin Santo, or reds like Syrah and Pinot Noir.
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Tastings Gourmet Market
1410 Forest Drive
Annapolis, MD 21403
(410) 263-1324
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Store Hours
M - F 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Sat 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Sun 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
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At Tastings Gourmet we want to share with you our passion for European food of incomparable quality. For more than 10 years it has been our mission to find and provide to you the finest options for eating and entertaining.
410.263.1324
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