July 25, 2023

Cheese Wisdom: Strong blue flavor in a creamy base

Sweet, salt, and tang come together for a tasty palate hit

by Anita Skogland

The Cheese: Point Reyes Original Blue, Point Reyes, Marin County, Calif.
Where to Purchase: Orrman’s Cheese Shop
Price $28/lb.

The Style: A creamy base heavily inoculated with blue mold, a bit of crumble when sliced.

Flavor Profile: Slightly salty, with a strong blue flavor, hint of cashew, butter; sweet and ripe. The cheese has no rind, and slices easily due to the firm paste. Hint of white pepper.

How to Enjoy: Add to salads of all types, serve with tart apple and port, thin slices on fresh tomato slices run under the broiler, side by side with local fresh peaches, topped with honey on a slice of baguette.

Wine Pairings: LBV port, zinfandel, full-bodied reds, Chenin Blanc from South Africa, Champagne.

Extra Reading: The Giocamini family uses cow’s milk from their own herd to make their cheeses. The family has had their farmstead for over 100 years in Marin County. It is now a woman-owned business, with three of the granddaughters running the operations. The Original Blue, an award-winning cheese, was the first blue cheese made in California. It uses vegetable rennet, is gluten-free, and is aged 3.5 months.

Check out the rest of our Cheese Wisdom picks!