A Local Tasting of Homemade Fresh Cheeses in Edmonton Alberta
Nancy, Sam and her friend Rocky, moi, Leslie from Smoky Valley Goat Cheese, Ian, Addie and Deb
Camera issues are the reason why I have so few, and such poor quality photos of our cheese tasting Thursday evening. Oh, what a night it was! What an incredible “food lovers” evening. Simple, yet so complex. The experience surpassed my expectations and I am still vibrating from it. I adore fresh cheeses, as I have said, numerous times, and I was the hostess, so I had the following for Tasting:
- Whole Milk Ricotta made with Citric Acid
- Crème Fraîche
- Cultured Butter
- Fresh Homemade Butter
- Buttermilk from the Fresh Homemade Butter
- Boursin-like herbed cheese
- Yogurt
- Yogurt Cheese
- Spicy Yogurt Cheese Balls
- Cabécou (not posted yet)
- Feta (not posted yet)
- Wild Blueberry Tarts with Crème Fraîche
- Chèvre two ways: plain and Nasturtium with Chives
Addie brought chèvre and his ricotta salata. After trying that, I am making it this week. It was spectacular! Really a delicious and unexpectedly lovely creamy cheese.
Deb brought chèvre and yogurt cheese; both were molded and so gorgeous! I didn’t get a photo of her dish that wasn’t over exposed! It was so pretty. I cannot express the pleasure I find in comparing flavours of similar foods. Tastings are at the top of my fun list. I am such a pushover!
Ian brought chèvre three ways and three other lovely cheeses. I had tried and written about his Caerphilly and his Crazy Acres Red, but the Crecenza was where my curiousity lay, and it was incredible. Not a mozzarella type of cheese, though sliceable, but also spreadable. Even looking at the lousy photo of this beautiful cheese makes me quiver.
Nancy brought a beautiful ricotta and Leslie brought her ricotta that was similar to my “cream cheese” ricotta: the curds were just toooo small for it to be ricotta like, but it was tasty.
I also did a yogurt cheese making demonstration. Liane was also there with a photographer, so she added to the fun! Ian and Cheesepalooza will be in The Journal September 5th. We are excited about that (and I am excited to see the good photos!)
Please mark your calendars for the Challenge Two tasting, same place, same time, on Friday, September 28 if you are a Cheesepalooza participant or fan. I did send a tweet out for 4 free spots, and got “yeses”, but none of the responders followed up and came. Too bad! It was such fun. Maybe in September! I cannot wait. I am having way too much cheesy fun for one person.
Oooh fun, a tasting!!!!!! Hope your camera issues are resolved by now.
NO, but soon. Headed out to the store today!
🙂
V
I want to eat all that cheese.
That is so nice that you got together and tasted cheese. Thanks for sharing the group photo.
So so so fun!!! This reminds of my nights with my Cooking Club when I lived in the USA. 🙂 How jolly to be with such kindred spirits eating such fabulous cheeses. 🙂
That looks sensational! You know I’ve made my ricotta – 2 ways…and yogurt and hung cheese (Labna) and even halloumi…but d’ya think I’ve posted any of it?!? I will, I will…I will :))))
Lydia!
Send me your links for the round up! Cannot wait to read your posts!
🙂
V
Fantastic! A cheesetasting is already fabulous but homemade cheeses is impressive! They all look so perfect and delicious and I am always sooooo impressed when people make their own cheese. It scares the heck out of me!
Jamie!
That was what motivated me, too. FEAR. I was so interested in cheese, but thought – no, believed that I could never do it. HA! Just watch me now.
🙂
V
That looks like so much fun!! I also love tastings.. even better when everyone has made it themselves!
Wish that I was closer for the next one
O that would have been so much fun to come too had I lived any closer! It looks amazing! Can’t wait for the next challenge.. 😉