#zuercher

Organic Rogue River Blue—LIMITED OFFERING!

Fall is on its way back, and with it comes the return of Rogue Creamery’s Organic Rogue River Blue.  Released every year for the Autumnal Equinox, it has been one of the cheese world’s favorite traditions for 16 years running.  In that time, it has developed a base of passionately devoted fans and won numerous awards, including 2 “Best in Show” accolades from the American Cheese Society.

 What makes this cheese so sought after?  Everyone has a different answer, but there’s no shortage of possibilities: Rogue’s high quality organic Swiss and Holstein milk, their emphasis on sustainable production, or maybe the pear brandy-soaked grape leaves (all local sourced by Rogue, of course) that wrap the cheese and give it a heady sweetness to counterpoint the cheese’s salty, pungent flavors.

We are pleased to announce that we are expanding our offerings from LaClare Family Creamery.  Family owned and operated, LaClare was started 40 years ago in Wisconsin when Larry Hedrich bought a small goat farm and quickly became interested in high quality cheese.  Since then LaClare (named for Larry and his wife Clare) has since grown into an highly decorated dairy specializing in goat and mixed-milk cheeses, made by Larry’s daughter Katie.  Because of the enthusiastic reaction we’ve received to our current LaClare lineup, we have decided to add the following four cheeses:

 •         Chandoka Block 1/5# (U1700)—This mixed-milk cheddar is a younger, rindless version of LaClare’s award-winning Cave Aged Chandoka and features similar deep, brothy flavors with sweet butterscotch notes.  However, it is softer and creamier in texture, making it superior for melting.

•         Plain Chevre 12/4oz (U1910)—With its silky texture and rich, clean flavor, this is premium-quality chevre at a very accessible price point.

•         Garlic and Herb Chevre 12/4oz (U1920)—A robustly flavored mix of herbs gives this fresh goat cheese a savory kick. 

•         Honey Chevre (U1930)—This tangy chevre is mixed with sweet honey for a perfectly balanced flavor that pairs beautifully with fresh fruit.

We are now stocking three varietals of shelf stable Divina Organic Olives. These are a great option for a retailer looking for high quality olives without the space needed for an olive bar or the labor required by a bulk repack program.

·         Organic Pitted Kalamata Olives (JD100, 6/5oz): These meaty black olives are a staple for both snacking and cooking.  Their flavor is fruity, smoky and slightly tannic.  They pair beautifully with feta and other saltier cheeses.

·         Organic Castelvetrano Olives (JD130, 12/7oz): These mild Sicilian olives have a bright green hue and a sweet, buttery flavor.  They make a great introduction for people new to olives and can be served with fresh cheeses, tomatoes and fish.

·         Organic Pitted Green Olives (JD110, 6/5oz): A great everyday olive! With their slight herbal flavor and full-bodied texture they are perfect to keep on hand for entertaining, cooking or even just snacking.

Please welcome the newest addition to the Cellars at Jasper Hill collection: Little Hosmer!  A “mini version of a new world-style brie”, this gooey cheese is approachable in flavor, with notes of cauliflower, butter, and fresh cream.  Its namesake is equally charming; a small pond in Craftsbury, Vermont, where the cheesemakers take breaks swimming and fishing. At just 4oz. Little Hosmer is perfect for a spring picnic or makes an easy appetizer for two with a light drizzle of lavender honey. Try pairing it with a Sparkling Rose or a crisp Pale Ale.

We introduced Capriole’s newest cheese in the summer of last year, and figured this was a good time to revisit. Some of you may carry it now, but others may have forgotten about it or not even noticed its launch. We’ve always felt that Capriole makes some of the best soft ripened goat cheeses in the US, and Flora stands up to expectations. If you are interested in receiving a sample on your next outgoing order, you can reply directly to this email and we will get it done!

The first new cheese created by Capriole in 25 years, Flora, is a based on the French Selles-sur-Cher-style goat cheese, and adapted to southern Indiana’s terroir. Fresh rounds are dusted in ash, regulating the pH, and facilitating the wrinkly growth of its Geotrichum candidum rind. Flora comes pre-wrapped in parchment paper, allowing for an easy addition to a cheese case or as a grab-and-go item.

The creation of Flora was encouraged by a request for Capriole to offer a cheese sized somewhere between the 3-ounce Wabash Cannonball and the 10-ounce Piper’s Pyramide. Their newest cheese weighs in at 6 ounces each, and holds up well over time. Flora is the namesake of Judy Schad’s grandmother, and pays homage to Ms. Flora Hemmer’s homestead skills of making cottage cheese and butter from a neighbor’s cow’s milk supply.