Neufchâtel (Cheesy Lover #1)
Hello! I have a cheesy ambition, and that’s to eat and review every cheese available in Borough Market. I’ll take requests, if there’s a cheese that you want to see reviewed.
SPOILER ALERT: I have tried *quite a lot* of these cheeses already, but I’ll try to not give plots away.
Neufchâtel
Cheese stats: French (from Normandy, actually), soft and unpasturised cow cheese
Bought from: Le Marche du Quartier
We ate this for lunch, on top of some sourdough bread.
It’s shaped like a HEART! *insert squeaking about cute cheese* Apart from that, it’s covered in a velvety mould. This, cheese science fact fans, is penicillium camemberti, and it’s the fungus that does the magic on camembert (hence the name) and brie.
I cut a slice from the cheese, and discovered that inside it’s two cheeses in one. Directly under the fuzzy white rind, there’s a smooth and sticky, slighly translucent yellow layer, while the heart of the cheese is lighter, crumbly and opaque. I scoff my slice. It’s tasty! Very buttery and creamy, but with a good tangy, acidic aftertaste and a bit of bitterness and plenty of salt. There’s a hint of mushroominess in the taste, which reminds me of Brie. I really like the contrast between the crumbly, fluffy core and the sticky layer around it.
Cheese-eating companion manages to keep a straight face while stating that it’s ‘floral, buttery, slightly grassy’.
Cheesy conclusion: This was a very good lunchtime cheese; not too stinky, and not too strong, but with plenty of interesting textures and flavours to keep us entertained.
marna in FT /Pumpkin Publog • 371 views
Hooray! Cheesy Lover is such a good blog name, well done everyone in the pub for thinking it up :)
oi! we need pictures of these cheeses!
I am not sure this is what Marna is talking about!
*shudders*
This is what I’m talking about:
http://www.fromageetbonvin.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/coeur-neufchatel-300×276.jpg
I did try to take a crappy cameraphone picture, but it was too dull and blurry.
to be expanded at a later date: i had some cheese yesterday (from angel’s newly opened waitrose — i wz feelin fancy) which contained a “layer of edible ash”
As you said you’ll take requests I’d recommend Beenleigh Blue which is available from Neals Yard at Borough market.
she’ll take your havarti but you won’t feel it
Before you know it you’ll be on your bries