March 24, 2010

La Fête du Fromage - Le Pascouli

I found this cheese tucked into the side of the refrigerated case at CDD Sud, a local shop that is stuffed to the gills with regional wine, honey, liqueur, charcuterie, olives, etc. Surprisingly, the saleswoman had absolutely no information to offer other than "c'est délicieux." Well, that was enough for me.
The label offered a bit more help - the name of the fromagerie who makes it, where it is located, and a cute little drawing of a cow's face.

Le Pascouli is produced at la Fromagerie le Pascouli in Payra sur l'Hers, a tiny village in the Lauragais near Castelnaudary, home of the legendary Cassoulet.
I was immediately impressed by its heft. This cheese is a generous 5 x 1.5 inches and weighs in at a substantial 650 grams (1.6 pounds). A bargain at only €8.

That crazy orange colored rind, which I can only imagine gets its color through the use of annatto seeds, encases a beautifully soft and chewy unpasteurized cow's milk cheese. It has a a gentle aroma and perfectly balanced yeast, butter and mushroom flavors.

Le Pascouli is a true people pleasing cheese. I think it would charm the pants off even the most wary cheeseophobe.

We enjoyed small slices of it with hunks of une campaillette and some red Minervois wine.


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5 comments:

Jennifer said...

Nathalie
This one is so delicious! It reminds me somewhat of Alpine cheeses. Luckily that giant wheel is going to last us a while.

French Shelter said...

I have to try and find it. I'm just getting done amping up on the Lou Perac Bleu.....ummmmmm

XuXu
www.frenchshelter.blogspot.com

afoodobsession said...

love learning about new and different cheeses! this looks great.

Jennifer said...

afoodobsession
Thanks for commenting. This was a great one!

Jennifer said...

XuXu
Lou Pérac bleu - very nice!