Ahhh Comte'. No cheese is closer to my heart. I love everything about it. It's nutty, slightly tangy flavor. It's firm texture. The gentle aroma of green fields and cows. But most of all, I love where Comte' takes me.
On my first trip to France, I fell in love. What an amazing place. The food, the wine, the architechture, the people, the landscape, the coffeee, the markets, and most of all, the cheese....... Growing up in America we had cheese, but mostly of the Velveeta and later, Cheddar varities. The cheeses I discovered in France were a revelation that changed my life. My two fondest food memories of that first trip are of Chevre Chaud salad - warm goat cheese on toasts over a salad of greens with the most perfect simple vinagrette, and Comte' on Baguette - thin slices of tangy Comte' pressed into a split thin baguette, sometimes with butter. I even had an amazing Comte' baguette at the airport. (excuse me, I think I just drooled) So, because my eyes have been opened to the huge world of cheese, I make weekly trips to the cheese shop, trying all kinds of interesting cheeses, I keep a cheese journal and my cheese drawer often boasts 6 or 7 different cheeses in it.
Which brings me back to the Comte'. When I bring home that paper wrapped block of cheese heaven, I feel like I'm buying cheese as the French do - from a small shop owner who has dedicated their life to selling cheese. When I open the blue paper and take that first whiff of salty cows, I'm in a green French field surrounded by hairy cows that say "Le Moo". When I have thin slices of Comte' on Baguette for lunch, I'm in France. But Comte' really shines with enjoyed with some crusty bread and a glass of red wine. Simplicity defined - to me there isn't a better combination.
For more information about Comte'. please visit Comte.com, a wonderful resource about all things Comte', including production, recipes and great Comte' cellars to visit if you are in thier neighborhood.
My love letter to Comte' is part of La Fete du Fromage, a homage to delicious cheeses the world over hosted by LouLou over at the gorgeous Chez LouLou - A Taste of Life in the South of France.
I love Comté too! With Beaufort, I think they easily beat a Gruyère or an Emmenthal as far as taste goes.
(In via Loulou, of course)
Posted by: Nathalie (Spacedlaw) | November 15, 2008 at 10:13 AM
I find Comté to be a bit of a lurker - that is, I forget just how great it is until I get a nibble. It may not be as flashy as a downy-rinded raw milk camambert or a stinky, washed-rind livarot, but it's always a pleasure to bite into.
Posted by: Camille | November 16, 2008 at 02:49 AM
Sounds terrific!
A little recommendation, I found these to be so delicious and useful in my kitchen: http://bajoseasonedsalts.com/
Cheers.
John
Posted by: John | November 19, 2008 at 01:02 PM