Get it? Because brebis is a French word?
In stark contrast to the one hit wonder of evil that today's title alludes to, our cheese is an ancient and thoroughly delicious curd. Ossau Iraty is one of those delectable French sheep's milk cheeses coming out of the Basque region of France and holds the honor of being one of only two French sheep's milk cheeses to have name-controlled status. The other is Roquefort, kind of a big deal.
Origin: Northern Basque Country, France
Milk: Sheep, unpasteurized
Rennet: Animal
Affinage: ~3 months
Notes: Although it's not cheap it is well worth every penny; snack it, cheese plate it, five course meal it.
Thoughts: Ossau Iraty is a lovely cheese in that it manages a great complexity and range of flavors and textures. It does of course predominantly showcase the oily and rich features of sheep's milk and it's region especially, but instead of this being an overpowering affair it is all balanced. The creaminess of this relatively young cheese comes through strong, despite the rather firm texture, and carries with it all of the nuance of the raw milk, grassy and a little meaty. For all of the decadence, and this truly is an indulgently fatty cheese, the aftertaste is surprisingly clean and leaves you wanting more. The French don't just hand out name/area controlled status, and this is a cheese that has clearly earned it.
I hope the mouse w/ flowers gag worked, thank heavens for an internet full of cute animal pictures.
In stark contrast to the one hit wonder of evil that today's title alludes to, our cheese is an ancient and thoroughly delicious curd. Ossau Iraty is one of those delectable French sheep's milk cheeses coming out of the Basque region of France and holds the honor of being one of only two French sheep's milk cheeses to have name-controlled status. The other is Roquefort, kind of a big deal.
Milk: Sheep, unpasteurized
Rennet: Animal
Affinage: ~3 months
Notes: Although it's not cheap it is well worth every penny; snack it, cheese plate it, five course meal it.
Thoughts: Ossau Iraty is a lovely cheese in that it manages a great complexity and range of flavors and textures. It does of course predominantly showcase the oily and rich features of sheep's milk and it's region especially, but instead of this being an overpowering affair it is all balanced. The creaminess of this relatively young cheese comes through strong, despite the rather firm texture, and carries with it all of the nuance of the raw milk, grassy and a little meaty. For all of the decadence, and this truly is an indulgently fatty cheese, the aftertaste is surprisingly clean and leaves you wanting more. The French don't just hand out name/area controlled status, and this is a cheese that has clearly earned it.
I hope the mouse w/ flowers gag worked, thank heavens for an internet full of cute animal pictures.
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