As most of you already know I love the cheese shop in Darien, it is definitely one of my favorite places. So imagine how excited I was when I learn that Ken was giving a talk to the Woman’s Group at the Darien Community Association. We agreed to collaborate, with Ken supplying the cheese and for good measure we sourced as much of the meal as possible from the cheese shop, so in addition to the cheeses listed below we also had fabulous bread, quince paste and fig jam. I served the cheeses with a salad, the recipe is below.
Everything You Want to Know About Cheese with the fabulous Ken Skovron from the Darien Cheese Shop.
Cheese Menu
St. Johnsville
Country of Origin – United States
Region – Mohawk Valley
Milk Type – Pasteurized Goat
Coming from Cochran Farms, St. Johnsville is a bright chevre styled after those of the Loire/Poitou region of France. The flavors are milky and tangy, with a good balance of grass, hay, and salt.
Crème de Lyon
Country of Origin – France
Region – Rhone/Alpes
Milk Type – Pasteurized Cow
Commonly known as D’Affinois, this double crème cheese has the profile of Brie and a triple crème at the same time. The palette presents buttery, sweet cream notes with a beautiful pudgy, creamy texture.
Taleggio
Country of Origin – Italy
Region – Lombardy
Milk Type – Pasteurized Cow
Produced by the Italian CasArrigoni family, Taleggio is a traditional DOP protected washed rind cheese. With a bite of pungency and funk, this cheese has a melody of tang with notes of grass and fresh cream.
Beaufort Alpage
Country of Origin – France
Region – Haute Savoie
Milk Type – Raw Cow
One of the oldest, dating back 2000 years, and most famous Alpine cheeses, Beaufort Alpage is a traditionally crafted cheese that holds its character in the age-old practices of how it’s prepared. With aromas of barnyard and hay, the palette presents toasted nuts, caramel, hay, fresh herbs, and warm butter.
Ossau Iraty Fermier
Country of Origin – France
Region – Basque
Milk Type – Raw Sheep
Using an age-old practice, called transhumance, where the animals are allowed to graze naturally and wildly, gives the character of the cheese a quality that is so natural and raw. The notes are very nutty and salt, with a bit of tang and sweetness.
Shropshire Blue
Country of Origin – England/United Kingdom
Region – Leicestershire
Milk Type – Pasteurized Cow
Produced by the most famous Colston Basset Dairy and affinaged by Neal’s Yard Dairy, Shopshire Blue, a hand-ladled cheese, is a yearly treat that many look forward to. With the addition of annatto seeds, Shropshire tends to be creamier and mellower than Stilton, yet delicately sweet.
Ingredients
- Salad greens
- Dried figs, quartered
- Strawberries, hulled and sliced
- Green apples, cut into small pieces, no need to peel
- Candied walnuts
- Pomegranate seeds
Fig Balsamic Dressing
- 2 Tablespoons fig balsamic vinegar
- 6 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Teaspoon wholegrain mustard
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Make the salad dressing by combining all the ingredients, and mix well.
- Mix the salad greens with enough dressing to lightly coat the leaves.
- Top with the apples, walnuts, strawberries, figs and pomegranate seeds.
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