Girl meets cheese, a love story...

The cheese that turned me, think vampire but tyrophile, was Humboldt Fog from Cypress Grove. I randomly walked into a cheese shop, not expecting anything, and got walloped with a huge surprise. It was much like Nightmare Before Christmas, when Jack Skellington discovered the holiday trees in the forest, only my uncovering was much more complicated and notably aromatic. What a site, I never knew that there was such a thing as a cheese boutique!



With so many colorful options surrounding me, my eyes were darting back and forth like a music conductor’s baton. I stood in the shop and tried to look for something familiar or see if anything called to me, after a few minutes I saw the one. I made an instant beeline and was completely enamored by its frosty white brilliance. It glistened against a matte chalky rind, encompassing an ancient beauty. What stood out the most was a mysterious black ash line that ran across the inner body, like a crack on a perfect Greek statue. I introduce to you, Humboldt Fog. 

The cheese monger was friendly and after discussing a few details about the cheese and where it came from, he was ready to have me sample it. I watched as it crumbled into my hand like snow flurries and remember closing my eyes when I tasted it, I couldn’t even help it. It was chalky, yet creamy, biting but sweet. I never thought of a cheese as “tart” before but this one was; to the point that I had a tightening in my jaw. What a cheese. 


That day drove me to research more about cheese and has made me appreciate the art form that it is.  Next time you're in a cheese shop, try seeing if a cheese calls out to you and give it a go.  You may be surprised to find that sometimes the cheese may be shopping for you; cheese is alive after all. 

Humboldt Fog was my first curd love. What’s yours?