Cabot Clothbound Cheddar

L'Espalier and Vermont are wonderful neighbors.

On Christmas Eve, we dined at L'Espalier and opted for a selection of cheeses to end the meal.

When our cheese menu was delivered, we noticed that they had a Cabot cheddar that had been aged in the Jasper Hill cheese cave.

We mentioned that we would be back to try it and our server, afraid that they would be out of it before we returned, added a sample to our selection. We loved it and went hunting for more over the holidays.

(First photo © 2009 Penny Cherubino)

It's very like the English and Irish cheddars that we adore. As you nibble nearer the rind, it picks up that bit of barnyard taste that is present in our favorite Italian wines. Each slice offers a range of flavors from deeply caramel near the center to intriguing texture and a bit of funk near the rind.

We found it at Formaggio Kitchen in Cambridge. Cabot tells us that Formaggio is one of the few places in the Boston area to find this special cheese. (It is also available at South End Formaggio.)

Formaggio's site says,

"In our minds, the best cheddar isn't aged in plastic. Real cheddar is carefully wrapped in layers of cloth and aged in a cave so that it releases moisture and develops a concentration of flavor unlike any waxed or cryovaced cheddar.

Venerable Vermont cheese producer Cabot teamed up with Jasper Hill Farm to produce this cow milk cheese that puts us at the table with the best cheddars of the world. It has a smooth firm texture and a sharp and fruity flavor with hints of caramel sweetness on
the finish."

Our readers in other parts of the country can order it right here.

http://www.formaggiokitchen.com/shop/product_info.php?cPath=21_37&products_id=1792

And, the folks who brought serious cheese to Boston are not the only ones to notice the superior flavor and texture of this cheese. It was a gold medal winner at the 2004 World Cheese Awards in London, England. In 2006 it was named the "Grand Champion/Best of Show" in the American Cheese Society competition.

Of course, the staff at Cabot is justifibly proud of this achievement.

“Cabot Clothbound Cheddar is a marvel of milk, master cheesemaking and artful aging,” said Cabot cheese maestro Marcel Gravel. Made one vat at a time, from the milk of purely Holstein cows, the result is a singular, Old World style cheddar. A special, proprietary blend of cheese cultures gives an unpasteurized note to this pasteurized milk cheddar."
(The second photo is courtesy of Cabot Creamery Cooperative")

Details:
L'Espalier
774 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199
www.lespalier.com

Formaggio Kitchen
44 Huron Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
www.formaggiokitchen.com

South End Formaggio
268 Shawmut Ave, Boston Massachusetts 02118
http://www.southendformaggio.com/

Cabot Cheese
www.cabotcheese.com

Other Opinions:

Artisinal Cheese
00 W 37th Street 2nd Fl New York NY 10018

http://www.artisanalcheese.com/prodinfo.asp?number=10892
"While the partners differ considerably in scale - Cabot is the largest dairy in Vermont, Jasper Hill one of the smallest - this Old World style cheddar exists thanks to their neighborly cooperation. Our specially-selected, twelve-month-old Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, with its sharp, caramelly notes, proves how award-winning cheese and expert affinage combine to create a thing of real beauty. We are very proud at Artisanal Premium Cheese to represent what we consider to be a top notch US clothbound cheddar. Pair it with an American craft ale or your favorite bottle of California Pinot Noir."

Murray's Cheese
New York, NY
www.murrayscheese.com

http://www.murrayscheese.com/prodinfo.asp?number=20301100000

And here is a blog entry with a fun description.
http://www.murrayscheese.com/prodinfo.asp?number=ZB110308

"Forget your shrink wrapped wonders. Say hello to our sharp and earthy, authentic bandaged cheddar. Revel in the rich, brown butter aromas."

"Delight in the crystalline crunch. Made exclusively for your snacking pleasure by the finest single herd of Green Mountain-grazing ladies."

Cowgirl Creamery
80 Fourth Street, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956

http://www.cowgirlcreamery.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CABOTCHED

"Sharp and creamy, this cheddar doesn't so much melt in your mouth as it does coat every surface with caramelized luxury."

Comments

[Wendy]

Thanks for writing such a lovely article! We are very proud of the clothbound cheddar and are thrilled you enjoyed it so much!