Two Great Flavored Cheeses from Great Britain

The British Isles are the home of some really outstanding but sometimes overlooked cheeses. For many years, British cheese makers seemed to be almost afraid to innovate. During World War II the cheese industry was essentially taken over by the government. Many regional small dairies never went back to private cheese making after the war and the big manufacturers concentrated, by and large, on making the widely popular standard products like cheddars and a few not too interesting blues. Fortunately, artisanal cheese making hit England not too long after it became popular in the US and now even a few of the larger dairies are making some unique and distinctive cheese. Two of these are:

Red Dragon (Wales, cow milk, pasteurized, vegetable rennet)

Wales used to make a wide range of cheese but now only a few are made there; one of the best is Red Dragon. Red Dragon is a truly interesting and creative twist on a fairly sharp flavored cheddar. The addition of soft brown mustard seeds and a yeasty Welsh brown ale gives this cheese an earthy look and aroma. The seeds aren’t really crunchy but are certainly noticeable and somewhat tangy. It has a smooth, buttery, creamy texture and pairs well with meats and other firm cheese. It makes a great sandwich on dark bread with a slice or two of ripe tomato or even some pickle. What to drink with it? Brown ale of course or a not so fruity bold red wine.

Huntsman (England, cow milk, pasteurized, vegetable rennet)

We all have probably had a cheese sandwich but a sandwich purely made of cheese? That is exactly what Huntsman is. It is a combination of double Gloucester cheddar cheese and alternating  layers of Stilton blue cheese, a classic  English blue. Stilton is rich and creamy but a little crumbly, with a light tangy nutty flavor.  Gloucester cheddar is a highly valued cheese for its superior flavor that goes well with Port wines. The flavors of both cheeses complement each other to provide a distinctive tasting appetizer or dessert cheese to be served with beer, hard cider, or wine.  Because of the two different textures I don’t recommend melting Huntsman but it makes a great and interesting looking addition to a cheese plate.

Take a "Shelfie" With Your CreekSide Favorite!

 Let’s spread some CreekSide-Community Co-op love!  What better way to do that than with a picture of yourself with your favorite CreekSide product?  This is an easy, powerful, fun (and free!) way to help share what you love about CreekSide.

We call it the "shelfie"!

 

Please share your #shelfies however you can, using #creeksidecoop if you post it on Twitter or Instagram, and @mention CreekSide Co-op in Facebook posts.  We’re going to keep a count of #shelfies shared each week, so let’s see how many we can get going!

Have a ball - be creative with produce - or even canned soup!  Enjoy your shopping trip a little more - we can't wait to see all of those CreekSide Shelfies!

Two outstanding American made Italian inspired cheeses

I have remarked previously on these pages about the fact that some dairies advertise that their milk is superior because it comes from “happy” cows. In fact, as far back as 1907 the makers of Carnation Condensed Milk advertised that their product was made from the milk of “contented cows” and the California milk advisory board’s slogan is “Great cheese comes from happy cows. Happy cows come from California.”  While PETA and other animal rights groups challenge the claim that there is even such a thing as a happy or contented  cow being raised for the purpose of dairy production, research indicates that cows do suffer from stress and perhaps even depression and that these conditions can have a negative impact on both the quantity and quality of the milk they produce. So while perhaps few, if any, cows are joyous or rollicking with laughter, we can assume that relatively speaking, well cared for cows produce better, richer, more flavorful milk and cheese. Both of today’s cheeses are good examples of attentive production and dedication to high quality methods.

The cheeses  we are tasting are both influenced by classical Italian recipes and styles but with an American twist.

Lida Gold (Calkins Dairy, Pennsylvania, Raw  Cows Milk, Vegetable Rennet)

Lida Gold can clearly be thought of as a derivative cheese, inspired by the Italian mountain cheese called Montasio. It is more likely that you a familiar with the  similar and quite popular Assiago and while close in texture Lida Gold is probably more flavorful than most of the imported Assiagos you will find. While not a washed rind cheese and therefore not particularly pungent, it is anointed with olive oil and mashed tomatoes and those flavors are certainly noticeable. You will probably note some fruitiness  and some say  a bit of  the essence of new mown hay. Like all the Calkins products this is a cheese whose creation was well thought out before presented to the public. Reflecting its Italian heritage, it goes well with a Pinot Grigio or a Soave. Or how about an Italian  beer like Perroni? 

BellaVitano Merlot ( Sartori, Wisconsin, Pasteurized Cows Milk)

The Satrori family has been making a wide range of Italian style cheese in rural Wisconsin since the 1930s. While now a fairly large producer, they keep garnering both US and European awards for the high quality of their cheese. The BellaVitano Merlot has been around only since the late 1990s. It is kind of like a moist Parmesan crossed with a Wisconsin cheddar. Then it is infused with Merlot wine. It is quite soft and fruity, winey and pleasant smelling with a nice mouth feel. It melts nicely, makes a great addition to a cheese plate, especially since it is not at all typical of what would be expected from a Wisconsin cheese. I like serving it with a soft red wine; Merlot of course, but any low tannin red California or Italian wine is a perfect match. Maybe try a hard cider?

- Burt "The Big Cheese" Siegel

WHY CREEKSIDE CO-OP CARRIES ONLY DOMESTIC SHRIMP

Lets face it, shrimp is a great staple for many American dinner tables.  It's easy to prepare and goes well in many dishes.  But, did you know there is a dark side to the International shrimping industry?

fishing and shrimping industries are dealing with an ever increasing crisis in international human trafficking. So much so that the US State Department monitors an average of 180 countries yearly for slave trade violations. 

This is one good reason to look for the stamp 'PRODUCT OF US' on your next shrimp purchase, and the one reason CreekSide will only carry domestic shrimp.  We pride ourselves on being a community grocery store - and work to bring the best products to our shelves for our customers.  Sometimes the best means making sure that other communities are not suffering on our behalf - fair trade bananas, coffee and chocolate are also sourced based on cooperative values.

You can find US-caught shrimp in the CreekSide fish freezer across from the iced fish display case.  

US-caught shrimp are more costly than products from other countries, but when you consider that you are paying for fair wages and an ethically produced product, our bet is that your meal will be much more enjoyable.

Purim Baskets - a Tradition of Community!

One of the guiding values of CreekSide Co-op is to foster a spirit of community through our products and interactions with our customers and neighbors.

The Jewish holiday of Purim, which commemorates the survival of the Jewish people in ancient Persia who were to have been annihilated in a single day, will be celebrated next Thursday, March 5th. Purim Baskets, also known in Hebrew as Mishloach Manot, are gifts of food or drink that are sent to friends, relatives, neighbors, teachers, business associates, and any other acquaintances, on Purim day. Purim Baskets are meant to ensure that everyone has enough food for the Purim feast held later in the day, and to increase love and friendship within a community.

CreekSide Co-op embraces the concept of the Purim Basket on Purim and throughout the year. 

You can order two Purim Basket favorites from CreekSide: Roling's Bakery mini-hamantaschen and individual or cases of 6.3 oz. bottles of Kedem grape juice.  Orders will be taken through Saturday, February 28th and available to be picked up the week of Purim, beginning March 2nd!

Go here to order: creekside.coop/purim-order-form