Inside Paso Robles

An explanation for the local cheese shortage

by Danika Reed 

All year long we have people coming into Vivant asking for local cheese.  Most are visitors to our beautiful area, and still some are locals.  Many are perplexed at the shortage of local cheeses this time of the year.  My standard answer when asked to explain the shortage is “the goats are pregnant”.  Not many ask further questions, seemingly uncomfortable with discussing such topics, so I thought this might be the best place to explain in further detail. 

In the cheese world we talk about terms like “farmstead” cheese, “artisan” cheese, and “commodity” cheese among others.  To understand these terms, we must first understand the animals that are producing the milk to make our glorious cheeses.

Local Farmstead Operations

In our region of the Central Coast of California, there are a select few “farmstead” cheese operations.  This is defined by the animals being raised on the same property (or farm) that the cheese is being produced.  Using this method, the animals, mostly sheep and goats here on the Central Coast, are grazing as much as possible, and fed other supplemental grains and forages when the natural grass doesn’t grow due to lack of rain.  

To produce milk, the female goats and sheep (and cows, and yaks, and buffalo, ok you get the idea) must be impregnated once per year and give birth.  After they give birth and the babies are allowed to feed from their mothers for a short time, they are weaned and their mothers begin milking.  Farmstead cheese makers will then begin a season of cheese making, which starts with what they call the “Spring Flush”.  Hence the name, in most farmstead cheese making operations, they begin milking in spring after the babies are weaned and continue until the moms need to be impregnated again in the fall. 

With all of that said, the question still remains, why don’t we have local cheeses this time of the year? While most of our milking stock dried up (stopped producing milk) in the fall, they are now pregnant and getting ready to give birth in the spring.  Most local farmstead cheese production was over in October.  That means most fresh cheeses were unavailable by mid-October, and any hard cheeses the cheese makers made early in the year are sold out by this time of the year. 

Year Round Cheese Producers

We do still have local cheeses that are being made year-round.  This is accomplished by buying milk from farms that are staggering “strings” of animals.  This means that farmers group the animals within their herd into strings of animals that will get pregnant at different times of the year.  This will allow them to milk a portion of their heard year round.  

When a cheese maker buys milk from another farm, not on the same site as his cheese making operation, he can no longer call it farmstead.  Depending on how much volume the cheese maker is producing and his production methods, he can still call his (or her) cheese “Artisan”.  So, during our harsh cold winters here on the Central Coast (ok I think it has actually been 75 degrees since October but we still wear jackets!!) we might not have a huge selection of local cheeses, but with spring just around the corner, we can look forward to an abundance of fresh cheese in just a few short months. Hang in there people: more local fresh cheese is just around the corner!!  In the mean time, we have hundreds of other cheeses in stock to meet your every cheese desire!  

Vivant is Moving!

Stay tuned as Vivant is moving in the next couple of months.  If you want to stay up to date with our new adventures, send your email address to [email protected] and I will add you to our newsletter list.             

 

Danika is a local girl who, armed with a degree in Dairy Science and Ag Business from Cal Poly, went out to conquer the cheese world.  Now, with nearly 20 years of experience in buying and selling cheese she shares her knowledge and passion for the fromage with us through her store and website in Paso Robles, CA at Vivant Fine Cheese.

First 2014 Paso Robles Rhone Rangers Varietal Series - Petite Sirah

Photo courtesy of Rhone Rangers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, January 21, 2014 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Experience a fun and educational varietal tasting that includes amazing Petite Sirah wines from 17 Paso Robles wineries. This is the first of a series of "Hot Tuesday Varietal Nights" put on by the Rhone Rangers that also inculdes live music, incredible cheese pairings, small bites and an educational area where you can extend your knowledge about this great Rhone varietal.

The host for the January Varietal Night is Niner Wine Estates located at 2400 Highway 46 West, Paso Robles. Tickets are $15 per person and can be purchased here: http://petitesirahnight.bpt.me.

Don't miss this fabulous event!

 

About Rhone Rangers
The Paso Robles Chapter of the Rhone Rangers is dedicated to the education and promotion of Rhone varietals and Rhone blends to local trade, media, and consumers, and of Paso Robles as a top California region in the production of outstanding Rhone varietal grapes and wines.

 

 

 

Adelaida's 2nd Annual Walnut and Wine Festival

by Melani Meister

During the 1940's, Paso Robles was one of the largest nut producing regions in the nation and this Saturday, December 7, Adelaida Cellars pays homage to this historic period at their 2^nd Annual Walnut and Wine Festival.

The festival will highlight Adelaida Cellars' 85-year-old estate grown, dry-farmed walnuts with delicious walnut-inspired bites paired with Adelaida wines, holiday music, olive oil tastings and more.

Discover these amazing local walnuts, just in time for holiday baking, from 10:00 to 5:00 pm on December 7th in the Barrel Room at Adelaida Cellars. Tickets are $10 and include small bites, eight wines, and the festivities. 

Hope to see you there! 

 

 

Win stocking stuffers and Discover Gift Ideas from Paso Robles!

This holiday season give the gift of the Central Coast! Enter to win an amazing bottle of wine compliments of the Paso Robles Wine Club, complimentary Wine Wrangler Wine Tours, Hearst Castle tickets, and holiday recipe cards. Weekly winners will be drawn through December 20, 2013. Enter on Facebook here! Or, enter to win  by signing up for our e-newsletter using promotional code Stockings2013.

Offering a festive Downtown filled with holiday lights, boutique shopping and unique galleries, Paso Robles is a great holiday destination featuring more than 250 wineries, numerous craft breweries, farm-fresh cuisine and a wide selection of accommodations. Visitors can purchase the perfect holiday gifts in Paso Robles or online - from that special bottle of wine to a wide array of hand-crafted items – check out the amazing gift ideas below!  

Vivant Fine Cheese Club – Many Cheeses if you Pleases!

sign up for their e-newsletter using promotional code Stockings2013. Click here to read more. - See more at: http://blog.travelpaso.com/#sthash.sIXYpidG.dpufOffering a festive Downtown filled with holiday lights, boutique shopping and unique galleries, Paso Robles is a great holiday destination featuring more than 250 wineries, numerous craft breweries, farm-fresh cuisine and a wide selection of accommodations. Visitors can purchase the perfect holiday gifts in Paso Robles or online - from that special bottle of wine to a wide array of hand-crafted items – check out the amazing gift ideas below!  Vivant Fine Cheese Club – Many Cheeses if you Pleases!

Sign up your friend for their amazing Cheese Club! Located in Historic downtown Paso Robles, Vivant Fine Cheese is the Central Coast's premier cheese tasting room, featuring premium local and imported handcrafted artisan cheeses paired with the finest Central Coast wine and beer. Experience what their cheese experts have in store to make your cheese tasting experience truly amazing. You can also try their "Wine Parings" and discover which wines pair best with cheese selections from Paso Robles and around the world. For more information visit their online store at www.VivantFineCheese.com.

Paso Robles Wine Club – Great Way to Get to Know Paso Wines

Become a member and enjoy premium award-winning wines from the Paso Robles Wine Region.  This wine club is a premium wine club for the aficionados who love Paso Robles wine, or want to know more about this fast growing region. It offers a diverse selection of quality Paso wines starting from $80 a shipment. If you want to learn more and taste fabulous wines from one of the fastest growing wine regions in the world, then this is the club for you. For more information visit the online store at www.BuyPasoWine.com.

General Store Paso Robles – the Ultimate Artisan Stocking Stuffer!

Paso-made fabulousness including a whole line of olive oil products and everyone’s favorite “Paso Chick” t-shirts. Joeli Yaguda, Erin Stuck and Jillian Waters are the proprietors of General Store Paso Robles, bringing a combined 25 years of experience in Paso Robles food, farm and retail. This dynamic three-some loves sharing their finds, from the Central Coast and beyond, with visitors, from local-made jewelry, food and pantry items to lots of odds and ends. For more information visit www.Facebook.com/General.Store.Paso.Robles.

Find an Amazing Cabernet Sauvignon to Suit Your Fancy

Along with Zinfandels, Paso Robles gained notoriety for its Cabernet Sauvignons. For some of Paso’s legendary Cabernet Sauvignons, check out Eberle, J.Lohr Vineyards, EOS Estate Winery, and Adelaida Cellars. For a list of wineries visit www.PasoRoblesCab.com.

Find Works of Art at Studios on the Park – Witness the Action

Discover art originals and prints, handmade designer jewelry, scarves and home décor at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles.  A unique open studio environment where you can witness the creative processes of over 40 local artists as they create their masterpieces, Studios on the Park offers classes, workshops and exhibitions. Proceeds support this non-profits goals to share the creative process with all including local children. For more information visit www.StudiosOnThePark.org.

Give the Gift of Paso’s Rhône Varietals – California’s Rhône Zone

Paso Wine Country is gaining popularity for their exciting Rhône varieties such as Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Here are just a few wineries offering Rhône varieties: Robert Hall Winery, Tablas Creek Vineyard, Linne Calodo, Halter Ranch, Clavo and Eberle Winery. For a complete list of wineries visit www.RhoneRangers.org/about/pasorobles.php.

Pithy Little Wine Company – So Clever

Located in the heart of historic downtown Paso Robles, they produce and sell fine California wines, olive oils, sodas and lifestyle products. The winery and mercantile is a great place to taste their collection of reserve wines, extra virgin olive oils and old fashioned cane sugar sodas while exploring a selection of California lifestyle inspired products for home and life. For more information visit their online store at www.PithyWine.com.

We Olive – Everything Olive Lives Here

For an urban olive oil tasting experience, head to We Olive in downtown Paso Robles to taste more than 30 specialty, extra virgin olive oils, both local and national, vinegars, olives, tapenade, olive oil-infused gifts sets, jams and more. Great gift ideas and corporate gift baskets. For more information and to visit their online store go to www.WeOlive.com.     

Craft Distilled Vodka and Gin from Grapes – Thirsty?

Paso Robles Craft Distilling, a micro-distillery, utilizes a unique distilling ingredient: premium Paso Robles grapes, a luxury that is normally too expensive for most distilleries to use in production. Paso Robles Craft Distillery applies the excess juice from its sister company, Villacana Winery, to its product, resulting in a high-end vodka and gin made with ultimate sustainability. For more information visit www.RefindDistillery.com.

Firefly Gallery - a Beautiful Boutique

Mother and daughter owners, Emily and Lauren, create holiday magic in their window displays and crafts throughout the store. They feature amazing books, linens, designer clothing, kid’s crafts and high end apothecary items. For more information visit www.Facebook.com/pages/Firefly/103839587506.

Brown Butter Cookie Company – Serious Cookies
Smell the brown butter sea salt cookies in downtown Paso Robles courtesy of the Brown Butter Cooking Company’s new location in the iconic Acorn Building at 12^th and Park Streets. The popular shortbread cookie company has opened the 1,300-square foot spot, complete with a storefront directly under the brick building’s acorn-topped clock tower.  For more information visit their online store at www.BrownButterCookies.com.

Sealed with a Kiss (SWAK) – Retro Cool
The popular store featuring retro, eclectic and, most of all, fun merchandise, has moved to Pine Street.  Treasure hunters will find more cool stuff in the new location, right in the heart of downtown with an entrance on Main Street. For more information visit www.SwakStuff.com.  

Sole Tree - a High-End Shoe Store

Owned by a young woman entrepreneur named Piper, this store is a dream come true for her. She had always wanted to open a shoe and accessories store in Paso Robles; and now she has! Specializing in all leather shoes from brands such as Born, Frye, Corso Como, Me Too and Kork Ease, as well as accessories and handbags, Sole Tree is the only high end shoe store in Downtown. For more information visit www.TheSoleTree.com.

AndBe Boutique – Wine Lifestyle Goods

This store showcases the Paso wine lifestyle with everything from jewelry to premium leather jackets and linens from all over the world.  Also the home of Paso Underground, a collective of small winemakers without tasting rooms. This group utilizes the store’s back patio as a collective space to pour their wines for patrons. For more information visit www.Facebook.com/AndBeBoutique.

Photos courtesy of TravelPaso.com.

 

Looking for that perfect, unique holiday gift? Why not add a little something for yourself by shopping in Paso Robles, CA. This artisan hamlet nestled in the coastal mountain range of central California, mid-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco, is just a three-hour drive from San Jose, making Paso Robles a centrally located destination for holiday shoppers.

Offering a festive Downtown filled with holiday lights, boutique shopping and unique galleries, Paso Robles is a great holiday destination featuring more than 250 wineries, numerous craft breweries, farm-fresh cuisine and a wide selection of accommodations. Visitors can purchase the perfect holiday gifts in Paso Robles or online - from that special bottle of wine to a wide array of hand-crafted items - check out the amazing gift ideas below!

- See more at: http://www.travelpaso.com/cm/experience_paso_robles/winter2013.html#sthash.XrQCWKto.dpuf

 

Find Artisan Gifts, Amazing Wine & Cheese Clubs, Win Stocking Stuffers, and Celebrate the Holidays in Paso Robles - See more at: http://www.travelpaso.com/cm/experience_paso_robles/winter2013.html#sthash.XrQCWKto.dpuf

Find Artisan Gifts, Amazing Wine & Cheese Clubs, Win Stocking Stuffers, and Celebrate the Holidays in Paso Robles - See more at: http://www.travelpaso.com/cm/experience_paso_robles/winter2013.html#sthash.XrQCWKto.dpuf

Find Artisan Gifts, Amazing Wine & Cheese Clubs, Win Stocking Stuffers, and Celebrate the Holidays in Paso Robles - See more at: http://www.travelpaso.com/cm/experience_paso_robles/winter2013.html#sthash.XrQCWKto.dpuf

Holiday Shopping Sparkles in Paso Robles

by Tina Swithin

While I am not one of the brave ones who venture out on Black Friday, I do love to shop. One of my favorite places to do my holiday shopping is Paso Robles. Brimming over with artisan gifts, amazing wine and cheese clubs, along with a festive Downtown filled with boutique shopping, unique galleries and holiday lights, there is no better place to kick off the holidays.  

This year, Paso Robles is celebrating the holidays in style with giveaways such as wine,  Wine Wrangler Tours, Hearst Castle tickets and coveted holiday recipe cards.  Winners will be drawn weekly from November 8^th through December 20^th. 

Enter to win by signing up on FACEBOOK, or sign up for their e-newsletter using promotional code Stockings2013. Click here to read more.

If you haven’t had a moment to start your holiday gift list, I’ve taken the liberty of creating a list for you!

• Vivant Fine Cheese Club - Many Cheeses if you Pleases!

Sign up a friend or loved one for their amazing Cheese Club! Located in historic downtown Paso Robles, Vivant Fine Cheese is the Central Coast's premier cheese tasting room, featuring premium local and imported handcrafted artisan cheeses paired with the finest Central Coast wine and beer. Experience what their cheese experts have in store to make your cheese tasting experience truly amazing. You can also try their "Wine Parings" and discover which wines pair best with cheese selections from Paso Robles and around the world. For more information visit their online store at www.VivantFineCheese.com.

• Paso Robles Wine Club - Great Way to Get to Know Paso Wines

Become a member and enjoy premium award-winning wines from the Paso Robles Wine Region. This wine club is a premium wine club for the aficionados who love Paso Robles wine, or want to know more about this fast-growing region. It offers a diverse selection of quality Paso wines starting from $80 a shipment. For more information visit the online store at www.BuyPasoWine.com.

• General Store Paso Robles - the Ultimate Artisan Stocking Stuffer! 
  

  The owners of General Store Paso

Paso-made fabulousness including a whole line of olive oil products and everyone's favorite "Paso Chick" t-shirts. Joeli Yaguda, Erin Stuck and Jillian Waters are the proprietors of General Store Paso Robles, bringing a combined 25 years of experience in Paso Robles food, farm and retail. This dynamic three-some loves sharing their finds, from the Central Coast and beyond, with visitors, from local-made jewelry, food and pantry items to lots of odds and ends. For more information go to the General Store Facebook page.

• Find an Amazing Cabernet Sauvignon to Suit Your Fancy

Along with Zinfandels, Paso Robles gained notoriety for its Cabernet Sauvignons. For some of Paso's legendary Cabernet Sauvignons, check out Eberle, J.Lohr Vineyards, EOS Estate Winery, and Adelaida Cellars. For a list of wineries visit www.PasoRoblesCab.com.

• Find Works of Art at Studios on the Park - Witness the Action

Discover art originals and prints, handmade designer jewelry, scarves and home décor at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles. A unique open studio environment where you can witness the creative processes of over 40 local artists as they create their masterpieces, Studios on the Park offers classes, workshops and exhibitions. Proceeds support this non-profit's goal of sharing the creative process with all including local children. For more information visit www.StudiosOnThePark.org.

• Give the Gift of Paso's Rhône Varietals - California's Rhône Zone 

Paso Wine Country is gaining popularity for their exciting Rhône varieties such as Syrah, Grenache and Mourvédre. Here are just a few wineries offering Rhône varieties: Robert Hall Winery, Tablas Creek Vineyard, Linne Calodo, Halter Ranch, Clavo and Eberle Winery. For a complete list of wineries visit www.RhoneRangers.org/about/pasorobles.php.

• Pithy Little Wine Company - So Clever

Located in the heart of historic downtown Paso Robles, this charming boutique produces and sells fine California wines, olive oils, sodas and lifestyle products. The winery and mercantile is a great place to taste their collection of reserve wines, extra virgin olive oils and old fashioned cane sugar sodas while exploring a selection of California lifestyle inspired products for home and life. For more information visit their online store at www.PithyWine.com.

• We Olive - Everything Olive Lives Here

For an urban olive oil tasting experience, head to We Olive in downtown Paso Robles to taste more than 30 specialty, extra virgin olive oils, both local and national, vinegars, olives, tapenade, olive oil-infused gifts sets, jams and more. Great gift ideas and corporate gift baskets. For more information and to visit their online store go to www.WeOlive.com.

• Craft Distilled Vodka and Gin from Grapes - Thirsty?

Paso Robles Craft Distilling, a micro-distillery, utilizes a unique distilling ingredient: premium Paso Robles grapes, a luxury that is normally too expensive for most distilleries to use in production. Paso Robles Craft Distillery applies the excess juice from its sister company, Villacana Winery, to its product, resulting in a high-end vodka and gin made with ultimate sustainability. For more information visit www.RefindDistillery.com.

• Firefly Gallery - a Beautiful Boutique

Mother and daughter owners, Emily and Lauren, create holiday magic in their window displays and crafts throughout the store. They feature amazing books, linens, designer clothing, kid's crafts and high end apothecary items. For more information visit www.Facebook.com/pages/Firefly/103839587506.

• Brown Butter Cookie Company - Serious Cookies

Smell the brown butter sea salt cookies in downtown Paso Robles courtesy of the Brown Butter Cooking Company's new location in the iconic Acorn Building at 12th and Park Streets. The popular shortbread cookie company has opened the 1,300-square foot spot, complete with a storefront directly under the brick building's acorn-topped clock tower. For more information visit their online store at www.BrownButterCookies.com.

• Sealed with a Kiss (SWAK) - Retro Cool

The popular store featuring retro, eclectic and, most of all, fun merchandise, has moved to Pine Street. Treasure hunters will find more cool stuff in the new location, right in the heart of downtown with an entrance on Pine Street. For more information visit www.SwakStuff.com.

• Sole Tree - a High-End Shoe Store

Owned by a young woman entrepreneur named Piper, this store is a dream come true for her. She had always wanted to open a shoe and accessories store in Paso Robles; and now she has! Specializing in all leather shoes from brands such as Born, Frye, Corso Como, Me Too and Kork Ease, as well as accessories and handbags, Sole Tree is the only high end shoe store in Downtown. For more information visit www.TheSoleTree.com.

• AndBe Boutique - Wine Lifestyle Goods

This store showcases the Paso wine lifestyle with everything from jewelry to premium leather jackets and linens from all over the world. Also the home of Paso Underground, a collective of small winemakers without tasting rooms. This group utilizes the store's back patio as a collective space to pour their wines for patrons. For more information visit www.Facebook.com/AndBeBoutique.

Tina Swithin is the Blog Manager for TravelPaso.com where she writes blog-a-licious Paso Robles articles.  Tina is also a Huffington Post contributor where she covers family travel and "hidden gems" in California. Follow the Paso Robles Insider to get the inside scoop on all the haps in Paso Robles Wine Country.

Don't get Spooked by CHEESE in Paso Robles!

 By Danika Reed

As the weather gets cooler and the leaves start to change, Halloween decorations hit the shelves and we all get to dust off our crock pots and dive into the season of comfort food!  This time of the year is perfect for incorporating cheese into every dish you make.  Cheese makes EVERYTHING better.. 

Are you ready to “fall” in love with the cheese that I consider to be the best cheese ever made. Rush Creek Reserve hails from Wisconsin and ripens to perfection this time of the year. Made in the fall of 2012, the Master cheesemaker responsible for this masterpiece allows it to hit the marketplace in October when it is at the peak of deliciousness!  The raw milk used in making this cheese imparts savory flavors of hay and the forages of Autumn.

At Vivant Fine Cheese, we will be busy in the coming months as the shipments are lined up every week until mid December!  So the key to enjoying this amazing cheese is don’t be spooked by the look and smell.  It is a Vacherin Mont d’Orr style cheese which originated in France.  The spruce wood that wraps the edge of the cheese keeps its creamy goodness inside but also imparts a woodsy flavor to the paste.  Though the rind of this cheese looks like moldy worms, once you cut off the “lid” the goodness inside will make you forget you were ever spooked!  At Vivant Fine Cheese, we call it a “spoon-cheese” because you can literally spoon it onto a fresh baguette or crisp cracker.

So go on and enjoy the spooky cheeses of the season with gusto!

 

Danika Reed is the Cheese Monger at Vivant Fine Cheese, located in historic downtown Paso Robles. The Central Coast's premier cheese tasting room features premium, local and imported handcrafted artisan cheeses paired with the finest Central Coast wine and beer.  Danika is our monthly guest blogger for Cheese'n it Up!

Danika Reed is the Cheese Monger at Vivant Fine Cheese, located in historic downtown Paso Robles. The Central Coast's premier cheese tasting room features premium, local and imported handcrafted artisan cheeses paired with the finest Central Coast wine and beer.  Danika is our monthly guest blogger for Cheese'n it Up! - See more at: http://blog.travelpaso.com/2012/03/cheesen-it-up-in-paso-robles-to-brie-or-not-to-brie.html#sthash.2ypefjdx.dpuf

 

Paso Macaroni and Cheese Festival is THIS Weekend!

by Tina Swithin

While scanning restaurant menus, I often find myself faced with a huge dilemma involving macaroni and cheese. Yes, you heard me. I often struggle with the preconceived notion that it's only for children. As an adult, I feel judged by society when eating macaroni and cheese in public. While dining with colleagues, I am expected to order a salad, chicken or a trendy tapas plate. Sometimes I find myself wanting to confess my love for macaroni and cheese by shouting it from the rooftops. Extreme, I know.  

You can imagine the sheer delight that I felt when I heard about the Paso Macaroni and Cheese Fest. A place where I can openly express my love for this amazing, cheesy little dish. This isn't your mom's Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, this is a gathering of Paso Robles' top chefs who will be serving up gourmet mac & cheese while competing for the Judge's Award and Peoples' Choice Award. As if that isn't enough, there will be over 20 wineries along with BarrelHouse Brew which is the ​exclusive brewery for the event. In addition, festival goers will enjoy live entertainment and vendor booths with olive oil, cheeses, almonds, gelato and more!

Paso's Gourmet Mac & Cheese Fest is taking place THIS weekend. Mac & cheese lovers can unite and openly discuss their love for this yummy dish. Hungry? Ready for the details?

Saturday August 24th, 2013 at Le Vigne Winery from 2- 6pm. Come on out and get your Mac on!  Tickets are still available and can be purchased by clicking here.

Cheers to Mac & Cheese! 

Tina Swithin is the Marketing Coordinator and Blog Manager for TravelPaso.com where she writes blog-a-licious Paso Robles articles.  Tina is also a Huffington Post contributor where she covers family travel and "hidden gems" in California. Follow the Paso Robles Insider to get the inside scoop on all the haps in Paso Robles Wine Country.

Learning to Properly Preserve Your Cheese

By Danika Reed

Working in the world of cheese I come across people with all sorts of questions:

• “What type of cheese should I have with the wine I am serving tonight?”
• “Is Roquefort a blue cheese?”
• “What is the difference between 2 year and 5 year gouda?”  (For the record, the answer is three years, silly!)  

One question that I am most often asked is how to store various types of cheese. I often cringe when people tell me that they commonly use Ziplock bags. Knowing how to properly wrap and store cheese is very important. 

Types of Cheeses:

• Fresh
• Soft Ripened
• Semi-Soft
• Hard
• Blue

Storing Cheese: Most refrigerators have a drawer for vegetables but few have a dedicated cheese drawer.  For those who aren’t lucky enough to have a dedicated cheese drawer, the vegetable drawer will also work well.  This drawer contains a small amount of humidity which is perfect for keeping your cheeses fresh. 

Wrapping Cheese:

• Fresh Cheese: This category is made up of cheese that should be eaten within a short period of time.  There is a high moisture content which provides a great environment for mold and bacteria to grow.  Fresh cheeses consist of cream cheese (real cream cheese, not the kind that comes wrapped in foil), fresh mozzarella, mascarpone, ricotta and burrata.  These cheeses should be left in their original packaging and consumed quickly. They will start to lose flavor and grow unfriendly attributes the longer they sit in your refrigerator.

• Soft Ripened Cheese: These are commonly referred to as “brie style” or mold ripened.  The most important thing to remember about this category is that the mold on the outside is a living breathing organism and contains the flavor. Most usually notes of mushroom and earth.  Always eat the rind, always! These cheeses should always be wrapped loosely in wax or freezer paper.  This will allow the rind to flourish until it is ready to serve.  If the cheese has an “open” side and is not a full wheel, that side should have a separate piece of wax paper only covering the exposed side. 

•  Semi-Soft and Hard Cheese: This group is a little less finicky and the goal is to keep the air out. This category contains cheddars, goudas, manchegos, jacks, fontinas, and many others. Get out the plastic wrap and wrap them as smoothly and tightly as possible.

•  Blue Cheese: This is an interesting category because the goal is to encourage the growth of mold on the inside while inhibiting its growth on the outside. This is really for aesthetic purposes as you don’t want to serve a block of blue cheese that looks like it may walk off the plate! Blue cheeses are the only category that should be wrapped in aluminum foil.  Foil is a mold inhibitor, so it should be able to keep the furry monsters from flourishing on the outside of your blue cheese block.     

Don’t forget to always treat your cheese with kindness and it will delight your taste buds for days to come!   Cheers to cheese!

Danika Reed is the Cheese Monger at Vivant Fine Cheese, located in historic downtown Paso Robles. The Central Coast's premier cheese tasting room features premium, local and imported handcrafted artisan cheeses paired with the finest Central Coast wine and beer.  Danika is our monthly guest blogger for Cheese'n it Up!

Danika Reed is the Cheese Monger at Vivant Fine Cheese, located in historic downtown Paso Robles. The Central Coast's premier cheese tasting room features premium, local and imported handcrafted artisan cheeses paired with the finest Central Coast wine and beer.  Danika is our monthly guest blogger for Cheese'n it Up! - See more at: http://blog.travelpaso.com/2012/03/cheesen-it-up-in-paso-robles-to-brie-or-not-to-brie.html#sthash.2ypefjdx.dpuf

 

Danika Reed is the Cheese Monger at Vivant Fine Cheese, located in historic downtown Paso Robles. The Central Coast's premier cheese tasting room features premium, local and imported handcrafted artisan cheeses paired with the finest Central Coast wine and beer.  Danika is our monthly guest blogger for Cheese'n it Up! - See more at: http://blog.travelpaso.com/2012/03/cheesen-it-up-in-paso-robles-to-brie-or-not-to-brie.html#sthash.2ypefjdx.dpuf

What’s HOT in the World of Cheese?

by Danika Reed

Summertime is my absolute favorite time of the year.  Growing up in North County, I consider myself a true Central Coast native. While I did stray from my little oasis for a brief stint in the corporate world, the experience caused me to fall deeper in love with Paso Robles.  The occasional 110 degree summer days do sometimes elicit a small amount of complaining but I really do love our weather!  The hot days and perfect nights make for heavenly picnic and barbecue weather. What is the best accompaniment to your outdoor menu? I am happy that you asked!  It’s CHEESE, of course!

What’s Trending in Summer Cheese?

First and foremost, all of our local cheese producers are in full swing and doing a good job keeping Vivant stocked with seasonal cheeses that seem to be flying out the door!  One of my personal favorites is Alcea Rosea Marinated Chevre.  I know I talk about this one a lot, but only because it is simple and amazing regardless of your level of cheese snobbery! Whether you consider yourself a cheese aficionado or just a newbie to the cheese world, you’ll love this cheese!  It is a fresh farmstead goat cheese made right here in Templeton.  Legendary cheese maker, Bev Michaels is not only amazing at the art of cheese making but she is also a certified Master Gardner.  Bev brings these two talents together in her Marinated Chevre starting with her amazingly creamy and mild fresh goat cheese (chevre) and then she then adds an array of herbs from her garden and finishes it off with Olea Farms Olive Oil.  I recommend bringing it to room temperature and slathering it on a fresh local La Migliore baguette.  Serve this on your patio table with a chilled bottle of Pinot Grigio and your guests will never leave!

Of course, we can’t write a blog in the middle of heirloom tomato season and not mention Burrata! This time of the year we can’t keep it in stock!  With a shelf life of only three days we ship it in three times a week to keep it at the peak of its flavor and creamy goodness!  Traditionally an Italian cheese, Burrata is in the mozzarella family but with so much more to offer! This cheese starts with a thin mozzarella “skin” hand filled with mozzarella curd and cream. Just writing about this makes my mouth water!  We sell it in one pound tubs made by our favorite mozzarella company Gioia Cheese in South El Monte.  Maybe not the most romantic place to make it, but they know what they are doing!  To make the most of this lovely cheese, slice up some of your favorite juicy heirloom tomatoes and top with a spoonful or three of burrata, fresh basil, Olea Farms lemon olive oil and a pinch of fresh ground pepper. Take my word for it, it’s so good that you will hide this one from your guests!

Bread cheese is another one that is trending during the summer months and for good reason.  Hailing from the great state of Wisconsin, Carr Valley Cheese Company creates this little gem that needs a little time on the grill.  Yes I said grill!!  Remove it from the wrapper and put it on the barbecue!  Wait for a few minutes and you won’t believe the gooey goodness that awaits you!  While I like to serve it with marinara sauce, but they also recommend dipping in honey or even coffee!  You can’t pass this one up next time you fire up the grill!

So, now that your mouth is watering and you are getting ready for your next “cook out”, as my Wisconsin friends like to say, swing by Vivant and pick up everything you need to make your meal amazing!  No cooking needed, since we all know we don’t want to be inside this time of the year! 

Cheers to our beautiful Paso Robles and all it has to offer!

Danika Reed is the Cheese Monger at Vivant Fine Cheese, located in historic downtown Paso Robles. The Central Coast's premier cheese tasting room features premium, local and imported handcrafted artisan cheeses paired with the finest Central Coast wine and beer.  Danika is our monthly guest blogger for Cheese'n it Up!

Danika Reed is the Cheese Monger at Vivant Fine Cheese, located in historic downtown Paso Robles. The Central Coast's premier cheese tasting room features premium, local and imported handcrafted artisan cheeses paired with the finest Central Coast wine and beer.  Danika is our monthly guest blogger for Cheese'n it Up! - See more at: http://blog.travelpaso.com/2012/01/by-danika-reed-vivant-fine-cheese-hello-cheese-loversthe-ladies-at-vivant-enjoy-a-good-love-story-but-even-more-than-that.html#sthash.yGbIbBXO.dpuf

Cheese'n it Up: Getting Cheese Nerdy with Vivant Fine Cheese

by Danika Reed

At Vivant Fine Cheese, we have many visitors who are passionate about cheese.  Many of them come to us because they love cheese and want to learn more about it.  The world of cheese is vast and can sometimes be an overwhelming landscape. While a big undertaking, I am going to try and sum up the world of cheese in a few paragraphs.

Most cheese is loosely grouped into five different categories: Fresh, Soft Ripened, Semi Soft, Hard and Blue Veined. Before we begin, I’d like to offer an apology because this could get a bit cheese-nerdy! Because I have a degree in Dairy Science, I am the ultimate cheese nerd!

To know how to group cheeses we need to know the nuts and bolts of how cheese is made. First we start with milk.  This sounds simple, but milk comes in many varieties.  Most mainstream cheese is made from cow, goat or sheep milk, but it can actually be made with any type of milk containing protein, fat, sugar (lactose) and water. We currently carry a cheese made with some coconut milk which gives it a finish full of summer which is a wonderful pairing with the crisp white wines of summer. 

Once we have our vat full of milk, we add a starter culture. This culture is what determines the type of cheese being made and what finished characteristics it will flaunt.  Next we need to add a coagulant to separate the solids from the water in the milk.  Most domestic cheeses are made with a vegetable or microbial based coagulant, but in the early beginnings of cheese milk was coagulated with an enzyme from the lining of a calf’s stomach. Don’t ask me how the first cheesemaker figured that out! 

After we have let the mixture rest and set up (similar to letting Jello set up in the fridge), we need to cut it into approximately 1 inch squares.  This will allow us to drain off the excess water, which is now whey because it contains small amounts of protein, lactose, and fat.  Once the whey is drained, we start to veer off in different directions depending on what kind of cheese we want to make.  If we are making Cheddar, we will need to turn and salt large slabs of curd to extract more of the whey.  This process is actually called “cheddaring”.  If we are going to make a blue cheese, we can stir in any number of different strains of mold to create blue veining throughout.  If we are going to make a hard cheese, it is important to “press” out as much whey as possible so the aging process is successful.

Now that we’ve covered the basics of cheese making, let’s concentrate on the categories of cheese: 

• Fresh Cheese: These are usually less than 90 days old and they do not have a rind.  The most common fresh cheeses are chevre (fresh goat cheese), cream cheese, and feta, though there are many others.  Some fresh cheeses are adorned with flowers or herbs to give them flavor and eye appeal. These cheeses should always be wrapped tightly and close attention should be paid to the manufacturers’ expiration date. 

• Soft-Ripened Cheese: This describes a category of cheeses that are “brie style.”  These cheeses contain a mold rind which usually imparts an earthy or mushroom flavor.  The rind can be very thing or thick and cushiony depending on the cheese makers preference and how long it is aged. These cheeses should always be loosely stored in freezer paper or parchment paper.  The cut or exposed side can be covered with a smaller piece of wax paper to make sure it doesn’t dry out. 

• Semi-Soft Cheese:  This category includes cheese under 3 months of age such as Manchego, Monterey Jack and Havarti. They are creamy and mild and have many uses as table cheese or in recipes.  These cheeses should be tightly covered in plastic wrap to keep them as air tight as possible.  The air is what will allow the surface molds to grow and eventually break down the cheese to be inedible.

• Hard Cheese: These cheeses are commonly aged 18 months or more.  A common good example of a hard cheese is Parmesan Reggiano.  This type of cheese should also be stored wrapped tightly with plastic wrap.  They will last a very long time because they have the least moisture content of any of the categories.

• Blue Veined Cheese: This type of cheese is inoculated with certain mold strains and aerated to encourage mold growth throughout.  Because these cheeses are encouraged to grow mold, they can sometimes become overgrown with mold in the refrigerator.  For this reason we recommend keeping your blue cheeses tightly wrapped in aluminum foil which inhibits the surface molds from growing. 

I sure do hope some of this information is useful and will be the next step to you becoming a cheesey-nerd too!  Cheers to cheese!     

 Danika Reed is the Cheese Monger at Vivant Fine Cheese, located in historic downtown Paso Robles. The Central Coast's premier cheese tasting room features premium, local and imported handcrafted artisan cheeses paired with the finest Central Coast wine and beer.  Danika is our monthly guest blogger for Cheese'n it Up!