Help needed with French cheeses

[Binky Profile]

We are currently in Saumur (Loire Valley) with splendid opportunities for foodie experiences.

I need suggestions for cheeses to try.

I like camembert, ossau iraty, cambazola, gruyere, emmental, comte.....and hate goats cheese. Given that I am fond of creamy strong tastes, what would you suggest I try next at the delicatessen/supermarket?

[Alexandria Profile]

There are hundreds if not thousands of cheese farms throughout
The Loire Valley.

Perhaps, Joan knows via her circuit.

However, we were at a cheese farm
several years ago called:

Madame Limousin
Gaec, Limousin

They produce Cow and Goat Cheeses,
and butter.

If I recall, the name might be Pressigny
of the Designation .. This name rings
a bell ..

Good luck. Have a nice summer.

[Joanbunting Profile]

Hi Binky Shame you don't "do" goat because the Loire is famous for them

Do you like hard or soft cheeses? I love Langres, Lagioule, Compte and Cantal in the harder section and going softer, Epoisse . Chaource. For blues Roquefort of course but also forme d'albert snd real Bresse bleu- not the commercial stuff. I also like bleu des Causses and the blue from the Vercours. The latter being cow,

[Binky Profile]

We are eating gorgeous Bresse Bleu. We've not had it before but are really enjoying it with crackers and wine after dinner. Thanks joan!

[WWordsworth Profile]

That is my favourite way to spend an hour or so.
Cheese, crackers and wine.

Enjoying some Orkney cheddar and a glass of petit verdot right now.

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

A quick note to Binky.
I,m in Catalunya, and see Kefir readily available in all shops.
I needed some after a bout of illness, that finally picked me up.

Excellent stuff.

[Joanbunting Profile]

I should also have mentioned DD's favourites Morbier which is from the east. It is made from the morning and evening milks separated by a layer of wood ash. She also adored St Marcelin which is a soft cheese from around Grenoble where she was a student.

So much choice and as President De Gaulle famously said "How can you govern a country which has more cheeses than days in the year?"

[Binky Profile]

is the ash still in the cheese joan? I don't much like the sound of that. We spotted lagioule on the cheese counter so that shall be our next foray into new tastes.

We drove up from Saumur to Dinan this morning and stopped for a wayside picnic. Tapenade, baguette, Bleu de Bresse, cherry tomatoes, some grapes and a flask of clementine and mandarin juice. There was a little picnic table, the sort the French do so well, and the sun was glorious (but we were sheltered under trees). It was a feast fit for a king.

[Joanbunting Profile]

The ash is still there Binky but if you didn't know what is is you would not notice it. Anyway several French cheeses are rolled in ash
http://www.fromages-france.com/en/cheeses/morbier/

Glad you had a lovely picnic.

[Binky Profile]

joan, you might know the answer to this conundrum: why can't we get unsalted crisps in France? There are heaps of Doritos and savoury things that look like expanded polystyrene, but no crisps. This was in Intermarche, Carrefour and E. Leclerc.

[Amyw Profile]

is the ash still in the cheese joan? I don't much like the sound of that. We spotted lagioule on the cheese counter so that shall be our next foray into new tastes.

We drove up from Saumur to Dinan this morning and stopped for a wayside picnic. Tapenade, baguette, Bleu de Bresse, cherry tomatoes, some grapes and a flask of clementine and mandarin juice. There was a little picnic table, the sort the French do so well, and the sun was glorious (but we were sheltered under trees). It was a feast fit for a king.

That sounds lovely Binky. I remember a childhood holiday to France where we stayed in an old farmhouse. My overriding memory of the holiday was lots of lovely baguettes, tomatoes and ham sat outside in the sun and going to drool at the patisserie windows

[MariaK Profile]

why can't we get unsalted crisps in France? There are heaps of Doritos and savoury things that look like expanded polystyrene, but no crisps. This was in Intermarche, Carrefour and E. Leclerc.

Binky
Not sure what the problem is : No unsalted crisps? or NO crisps at all?

I very rarely buy crisps, let alone the "polystyrene" stuff, but definitely see lots of them - though probably less than in UK. Anyway, did a Dinan google and found this

Monoprix Dinan
7 RUE DU MARCHE, 22100 Dinan - TEL – 02 96 39 11 02
Catalogue – page 13
https://www.tiendeo.fr/Magasins/dinan/m ... rchix/7778

Lay’s nature + Tyrrell’s salt & vinegar
But I suspect the "nature" just means "not flavoured" but they may well be salted.

NB - you may have to click on ACTIVER to get the full page

Or ask a member of supermarket staff - the people stacking the shelves are usually very helpful - but make sure you ask for SHEEPS !!!

Glad to see you're enjoying your holiday - look after yourself

Marja

PS - If you like hard cheeses with a bit of oomph you may want to try Cantal from LIDL. It's pretty good and very reasonably priced. But IMO it has to be Lidl or a specialist Fromagerie. Their Comté - very bland.

PPS - I posted some stuff that might be of use on the Kefir thread

[Joanbunting Profile]

You know Binky I don't think I have ever seen unsalted crisps either in the UK, apart from the old Smiths salt them youself sort. or here. There are reduced fat and salt versions and I regularly buy unsalted peanuts and cashews.

If you do buy supermarket cheese try to get it from the cheese counter and not from the plastic wrapped help yoursef sections. Best of all try a local market- there's bound to be a cheese stall or a specialist shop - they are magical

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

I wonder if candal is a cheese we tried at an excellent Logis.
Swearing I'd remember the name of it, the following morning the name was gone.

My favourite is still selles sur cher ( i should check the spelling).

[Joanbunting Profile]

Gill, perhaps you had Cantal?

[Pampy Profile]

You know Binky I don't think I have ever seen unsalted crisps either in the UK, apart from the old Smiths salt them youself sort.

Walker's and a few of the supermarkets do "salt your own" crisps in the UK.

[MariaK Profile]

If you do buy supermarket cheese try to get it from the cheese counter and not from the plastic wrapped help yoursef sections. Best of all try a local market- there's bound to be a cheese stall or a specialist shop - they are magical

Joan,

On the whole I totally agree with you, but every now and then there's the exception that proves the rule - the proof of the cheese is in the eating .

I like well aged cheddar, but for years despaired of ever finding a decent one in France. I tried very good Fromageries, cheese counters in supermarkets ... all bland and tasteless, until a few years ago when Monoprix started importing what was labelled "Extra Strong Cheddar" wrapped in paper from the UK. Yum! Apart from munching perfect for cheese sauce.

For the rest, it's goat's cheese from a stall in the Saturday market 300m down the road , the others from the Fromagerie or the covered market open everyday but that's a short tram ride away.

[Joanbunting Profile]

I get extra mature Cheddar wrapped in paper in our local Fresh. I don't buy it very often but there's nothing else you can use for cheese scones is there?

[Stokey Sue Profile]

I had some Morbier last night, it was fine, but I'm not crazy about that bouncy/squidgy texture or the taste. The ash is more visible than detectable on the palate

I have a Pie d'Angloys at the moment, which I like but I have it mainly because it was on offer at Ocado!

[Binky Profile]

Everywhere we have stayed has provided lovely local or specialist cheeses at breakfast. The hotel we stayed last night gave us La Vache Qui Rit, which was like Dairylea. Very unpleasant.