Bijou

Bijou is an exquisite, little, soft-ripened, pasteurised goat-milk cheese produced by Vermont Creamery located in Websterville, Vermont.

Bijou, which means "Jewel" in French, is quite the fitting name for this tiny little cheese that embodies all that is unique in the making and caring of a small 'crottin type' goat-milk cheese.

 

Bijou is made with fresh pasteurised goat-milk which is supplied to Vermont Creamery by 20 family goat farms. The curd coagulates overnight, drains in cheese-cloths and then shaped into little cylinder buttons. Bijou is then dried and matured for 1 week before being packaged for retail. Each container which is designed to promote ripening contains 2 Bijou cheese crottins. Each Bijou weighs 2 oz.(57 grams) and measures approx. 1 1/2 inch (4 cm) in diameter and 1 1/4 inch (3.5 cm) in height. Bijou like 'crottin type' cheeses evolves with time, gaining in sharpness and complexity as it reaches an ideal maturity at 30 days.

Bijou is an award winning chèvre for Vermont Creamery. It has received the 1st Place position in the category of American made International style goat cheese at both the 2014 and the 2015 American Cheese Society competitions. Bijou also received the Gold medal at the 2014 World Cheese Awards.

Bijou has a lovely wrinkly, cream coloured, geotrichum-rind and a milk-white soft paste that is denser in the middle and creamier on the outside. Bijou has a wonderful sweet and yeasty taste & aroma due to the geo-rind. It has a smooth, rich and creamy texture with a robust tangy flavour with hints of hazelnuts.

Bijou is quite a versatile cheese it can be served as a creamy spreadable goat when young, toasted on a baguette with a salad for a traditional French chèvre-chaud or it can stand on its own on any cheese platter. Bijou pairs nicely with complex aromatic white wines such as an Alsace Gewürztraminer or try it with a Belgium Tripel beer with complex aromas and flavours.

Vermont Creamery has been making cream, fine butter, fresh and aged cheeses for over 30 years. Their fine products have won them over 100 various national and international awards. Read my review on one of their other award winning goat cheese Bonne Bouche.

Vermont Creamery has invested in the future of goat farming by creating a sustainable goat dairy in Randolph Vermont. Ayers Brook Goat Farm is being set up as a teaching venue for future farmers and current farmers across the United States, a place where they can come and learn good animal management and to help encourage the growth of the goat dairy industry in Vermont.  

http://www.vermontcreamery.com/

Bleu de Brebis de Charlevoix

Bleu de Brebis de Charlevoix is a semi-firm, blue veined, pasteurised sheep milk cheese produced by La Maison Maurice Dufour in Baie-Saint-Paul located in Quebec's picturesque region of Charlevoix.

In 1994 Maurice Dufour a certified agronomist, established the cheese aging house 'La Maison d’affinage Maurice Dufour". Through the years this cottage-type cheese factory has earned their fame and glory with the highly regarded Migneron de Charlevoix cheese.

Several years passed at Maison Maurice Dufour, paving the way for their Bleu de Brebis de Charlevoix, an innovative cheese made only from sheep's milk. Bleu de Brebis de Charlevoix introduced in 1999 is made with the milk of Lacaune and East Friesian breed of ewes. Roquefort AOC cheese is produced exclusively with the milk of Lacaune ewes. Bleu de Brebis de Charlevoix received a First Prize Ribbon at the 2011 American Cheese Society Competition.

Bleu de Brebis de Charlevoix is a round 2.5 kg (5 1/2 lbs.) wheel measuring approx. 22 cm (8 1/2") in diameter and 12 cm (5") in height and is aged for 5 months. It has a greyish rind and a pale yellow semi-firm paste with a few bluish-green veins. It has quite a strong flavour, quite pungent and slightly salty.

Bleu de Brebis de Charlevoix is the perfect addition to any cheese plater or as a companion to many dishes or salads. This blue cheese is pleasant with dried fruit, chocolate and sweet wines.

La Famille Migneron de Charlevoix cheeses includes; Le Migneron a semi-soft, surface-ripened, washed rind, cows milk cheese that was crowned the Grand Champion at the 2002 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix competition; Le Ciel De Charlevoix another award winning semi-soft, cow's milk blue cheese; Secret de Maurice a soft surface ripened sheep-milk cheese whose secret recipe comes from Spain; La Tomme d'Elles an award winning firm, surface-ripened, washed rind made with a mixture of sheep and cow milk; La Tomme de Brebis de Charlevoix a firm, surface-ripened, washed rind, sheep milk cheese.

Today La Maison Maurice Dufour is known across the country for their Famille Migneron cheeses they produce and for having pioneered the resurgence of fine Quebec cheeses.

www.famillemigneron.com/