Cheese Tasting

Lauren Wakeman and I went to a cheese tasting at St. James Cheese Company about two months ago.  Great activity and all you can eat cheese and wine for 20 bucks.  What a steal.  The local cheesemongers had just returned from the American Cheese Society Conference in Seattle, Washington.  Thousand upon thousands of cheeses were sampled in a very short time.  St. James brought back the winners (and some of the losers) to recreate their own American Cheese Society tasting.  Among the cheeses: Bonne Buche, Saint Genevieve, Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Marieke Gouda, Tarentaise (Thistle Hill), Tarentaise (Spring Booth), Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, Avolea Clothbound Cheddar, Buttermilk Blue and Echo Mountain.  Flavors of salted caramel and grass were tasted throughout the sampling.  Best in Show went to Pleasant Ridge Reserve from Upland Cheese Company in Wisconsin and Bonne Buche from Vermont Butter and Cheese.  St. James offers tastings on Wednesdays and Thursdays.  You can check out their schedule here. 

To add to this wonderful cheesy experiment, Lauren and I had the privilege of sitting at the table with a couple from Michigan who were on their honeymoon.  Who would have thought two honeymooners at a cheese tasting in New Orleans?  Just love it. 

So, next year the American Cheese Society Conference is in Montreal.  It is open to the public.  Who wants to go with me?!

This is the cheese wheel they give you to help you determine the smells and tastes you are experiencing.