The Wonderful World of Cheese

The Wonderful World of Cheese at Hen House MarketIn addition to a large and diverse selection of domestic cheeses that our Hen Houses have always carried, we have,of late, focused on building an ever increasing repertoire of imported cheeses. The variety and quality continues to grow, as does our excitement, along with the public’s interest and consumption.

The US Dairy Export Council reports that “The U.S. annual cheese consumption is reaching

30 lbs per capita and growing”. This interest can be seen in upscale restaurants, many of whom have added sophisticated cheese plates/trays/courses to their menus. A highly successful restaurant in New York City, ARTISNAL, is built entirely around the concept of cheese, complete with its own temperature-controlled cellar under the restaurant to ripen each cheese to its own individual state of perfection.

Each month we highlight a particular cheese, which we will tell you about here. More importantly, we invite you to come into our stores and taste them, developing your own repertoire of favorites.

Cheese of the Month for August, 2010

Beemster Cheese

Grand Cru Gruyere at Hen House Market

Beemster Classic is a wonderful 18 month old aged Gouda imported from our friends in Holland.  This cheese is hard of texture and makes for great snacking with ripe pears and crisp honey flavored apples.  The cheese can be grated to add flavor to salads and pastas.  Beemster Classic cheese will appeal to Cheddar lovers as well as those who appreciate a great parmesan.  Beemster is produced from the milk of cows that have ranged on a polder(an area of land that has been reclamed from the sea).  This land is so rich in nutrient that it has a blue tint to the grass, because of this the cheese has 20% less sodium than other Gouda Cheeses.  If you are lactose intolerant ...Good News!!!  Beemster Classic can be safely consumed with out danger, other varieties may have traces of lactose.  Pair this cheese with a sweet sparkling wine, a light white, or a fruity table red.  Do taste this cheese with your favorite beer or ale.  Bon Appetite!

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