Cheeses with a Kick

My favorite nibbling cheeses are the ones that have a spicy kick. I find the addicting peppery flavor and  pleasurable heat oh-so satisfying. I love anything containing pepper, even if it makes my nose run and eyes water. There are a lot of pepper-flecked, spice-laced cheeses out there, but these stand out above the rest. And don't worry, you won't be running for the milk!

Marco Polo
The base of Beecher's Marco Polo is one of my favorite cheeses of all time, Flagship. Flagship has the nutty flavor of Gruyère and the sharpness of a nice aged cheddar. And when you add green and black peppercorns in the mix, you have a cheese that's bursting with flavor. The heat level is mild and the peppercorns tastes so fresh, almost as if they have just been milled. 

For more information about Beecher's Flagship, see my "Must-Try Cheese" post.

Sonoma Hot Pepper Jack
This cheese is delightfully creamy. It's smooth and almost melts in your mouth. The heat is less pronounced when eaten with other foods. But, if eaten by itself, you will notice the heat. It's like a tickle- a good tickle, that leaves you wanting more. 

Image via Boudin Bakery
My "Cheese Spotlight" post provides additional information about Sonoma Jack cheeses.

Mike's Firehouse Jack
Mike's Firehouse Jack from Petaluma is truly a unique cheese. You can actually taste the individual red and jalapeño peppers. And the hints of cilantro, parsley and spices make it that much more flavorful. I can gobble this up!

****If you're looking for something fiery, definitely check out Cabot's Hot Habanero Cheddar. I'm warning you, it's HOTTTTT. 

Serve a Super Bowl Cheese Platter

It's that time of the year again for the Super Bowl-where you can eat to your heart's content and oh, watch the big game. Let's be honest here, I'm excited for the food. I enjoy the bar fare that's typically served on Super Bowl Sunday; however, I like switching things up by serving a cheese platter. I conceptualized a Seattle Seahawks platter made up of cheeses of the Pacific Northwest: Rogue Creamery's Oregonzola and Washington's Beecher's Flagship (also mentioned here). I've added Wisconsin's Sartori Espresso BellaVitano to represent the coffee city of Seattle.

The sweet and earthy black truffle honey is the perfect complement to the deep flavors of Espresso BellaVitano and the sharpness of Oregonzola and Beecher's Flagship. Columbus salami adds a meaty, savory element to the platter, and the walnut bread is that necessary nutty component that brings it all together. Touch down.

Photography Credits: Seattle Seahawks cheese board via Bed Bath and Beyond, Beecher's Flagship, Sartori, Oregonzola via Amazon, truffle honey via Dean & Deluca, Columbus sausage via Amazon, walnut bread via Boudin

A Must-Try Cheese: Beecher's Flagship

"A Must-Try Cheese" is a new series that I will be introducing to the blog. It's my way of sharing with you my favorite cheeses. This week's cheese is Beecher's Flagship from Seattle, Washington. Let me tell you, it's incredible. If swiss gruyere and cheddar had a baby, it would be named Flagship. It's nutty with a sharp, cheddary finish. True Story-I actually had one of my customers thank me for introducing him to this cheese! It's that good. I simply enjoy it with a baguette and a Matilda.  The malty, butterscotch notes of the beer bring out the natural sweetness of the cheese. Not too light nor too strong, making it a perfect pairing with Beecher's Flagship.

photography credits: beechers flagship via beechers handmade cheese, baguette via paris baguette, goose island's matilda beer via the beer snob