La Fête du Fromage - La Brique du Forez

The Auvergne is home to many of France's well known and loved cheeses; sublime Cantal, gorgeous Gaperon and two beautiful bleus, Fourme d'Ambert and Bleu d'Auvergne.

In the extreme eastern edge of the Auvergne lies the le pays du Livradois-Forez, home to this week's cheese, La Brique du Forez (also called Chevreton du Livradois).

La Brique du Forez is soft - in texture, aroma and flavor. Nothing about it is over the top.
This is a humble, well rounded cheese that has beautiful butter and hazelnut flavors, and I also detected gentle hints of goatiness. Its earthy aroma has a tiny bit of barnyard to it, but not aggressive at all.

Made from 100% unpasteurized goat's milk during the spring and autumn and a blend of cow and goat's milk the rest of the year, this cheese is produced both on small farms and by artisan cheese makers.
One website did state that la Brique has become industrially produced, however the Fromagerie where I bought it said that this one was lait cru and fermier.

If you find yourself in the Auvergne or see this cheese for sale at a Fromagerie in France, don't hesitate to try it. It is a wonderful cheese!

Wine recommendation: a fruity Beaujolais or a floral Viognier.

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La Fête du Fromage - Five Fabulous French Fromages

Choosing just five French cheeses out of the multitude that I've tasted over the last couple of years was an interesting task. Especially since so many of my favorites aren't available outside of France. But I thought that if I narrowed down the choice to just five superb French cheeses that are all available in the States, maybe it would inspire some of you to put together a cheese platter to serve family and friends during the holidays.

One of the best things about a cheese platter is there's no cooking involved. At this time of year, you've got to love that! After you've purchased a varied selection, it just takes a bit of arranging on plates or platters and adorning with some fruit, possibly some nuts, and sliced French bread or crackers.

I think a cheese platter is the perfect thing to take the edge off if you're throwing une petite fête that will carry on until the wee hours. After the nibbles have been reduced to crumbs, put out a cheese platter and your guests will be revived and ready to keep the party going!


1) Bleu d'Auvergne
Buttery and smoky tasting. A delicious bleu!



2) Comté
No wonder this one is a favorite here in France. Its distinctive nutty and caramelized flavor is so satisfying.



3) Brie de Nangis
Smooth and buttery and an absolutely delectable member of the brie family.



4) Pouligny Saint-Pierre
This little pyramide is sublime!



5) Brin d'Amour or Fleur de Maquis
Seductive and soft on the inside. Spicy and herby on the outside.



These cheeses are all available online through my Amazon Store, Murray's Cheese, fromages.com and artisanalcheese.com

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Tuesday's Fête du Fromage - Bleu d'Auvergne and Saint-Félicien

Bleu d'Auvergne and Saint-Félicien

Saint-Félicien is a luscious, creamy cow's milk cheese with a high fat content (60%), made in the Rhône-Alpes region.
I adore this cheese! The texture is very soft and the flavor is mildly sour and tangy. I think Saint-Félicien is perfect in the morning, spread on toast and drizzled with honey.

Buttery, moist and smoky tasting, Bleu d'Auvergne is named for its place of origin, the volcanic, remote Auvergne region of south-central France. It was discovered in 1850 by a farmer and was granted AOC status in 1975.
Try it with a sweet white wine and dried figs or with gutsy reds such as Côtes du Rhône or Cahors.


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