Good evening to everyone. I am sitting here after I brought my wedge of Point Reyes’ Newest Blue to test at my company’s picnic. Why not bring it to a place where all of my colleagues have lived around the world working in development and are experienced in eating new and unusual foods? My name is Karen and while this might be my first time writing about cheese, I can’t help think that I have been in countless situations where I am trying things first before everyone else will try them after me.  As for cheese- I am just a plain “cheesie.”  I call myself that because I start to sound cheesy when I describe some of the delicious stinky ones in the world that I’ve tried and I love them.

So let’s go and talk about the wonderful package that arrived at my house.   Wrapped in silver foil, cooled by an ice pack, I was sent a blue cheese made by Point Reyes to test.  I took my wedge to the picnic.  Since blue cheese is perhaps my favorite kind of cheese whether made with goat, sheep or cow’s milk, I could not think of a better place to enjoy it but at a summer picnic.  Unwrapping the cheese,  you’ll  see a cheese that looks delicious with a good looking rind; not too hard and not too soft.  Everyone who tasted the rind agreed- it was indeed one of the more good tasting rinds they have ever eaten- blue or non- blue.  So a plus for the rind.  The cheese itself was nice and creamy. It had small blue veins and not much of those beloved crevices of blue gold.  Under the sun and in the heat of Washington, DC, it kept its consistency.  For a blue, that’s always a bonus.   Some compared it to a Camembert in texture.  I think it was much firmer- closer to a semi-soft ripened cheese.

As for the taste, other “cheesies” won’t be impressed with its milder flavor.  It is a mellow blue with a salty aftertaste. For our crowd at the picnic, they loved it, but did comment on the salt content.  Maybe I think all blues should be bold and stand up in a crowd, however, this one will work with your friends who would like to venture into the world of blues.  Why not put it in a salad, use it as a topping for a pizza with caramelized onions, prosciutto, and this blue, place it alongside some slices of pears or even fig paste? Our picnic goers had some bread but most ate it without any accompaniment.   As for a beverage that could be served with this cheese, remember that this was a company picnic; let’s just say that it went well with the sweet ice tea. Who knew?

For the borderline lovers of blues, here is a great cheese to break out and share with your friends. But as for the other cheesies; we will be looking for other Point Reyes’ Original Blues to make us happy.