Featured Cheese - October 2010

Pecorino Romano is a salty, Italian cheese, that is hard – good for grating. Made from sheep’s milk, Pecorino Romano is often used in pasta dishes similar to its cousin, Parmigiano Reggiano (parmesan). Serve with bold red wines.

White Wensleydale is firm but not dry and hard, creamy yet the surface is slightly uneven and crumbly, and has a slightly sweet but also tart flavor. It’s sometimes described as having a nutty, buttermilk flavor and with a honey aftertaste, and gentle aroma of cut grass. It has a fine curd, minimal texturing, and high moisture content. Wensleydale is usually eaten young, at about a month old. This cheese goes well with a crisp apple and is traditionally eaten with fruitcake.

Dry Monterey Jack is an American favorite! Made similarly to Monterey Jack, Vella Dry Monterey Jack cheese is then rubbed with unsweetened cocoa and black pepper and aged between 7-10 months. It has a firm texture with a sweet, nutty flavor. Dry Jack is terrific grated, sliced, or used in recipes. Try it in casseroles or on soups or Mexican-style dishes.