Courtesy of Murray’s Cheese
Every month since March, we have been featuring a cheese chosen for us by cheesemonger, Marc Freshman at Murray’s Cheese in New York City for our 2016 Cheese Give-A-Whey. When you place an order at our website (cheesemaking.com), you become eligible to receive a pound (or a wheel) of the cheese of the month.
Marc Freshman
Marc told us why he chose this cheese for the month of June:
Hudson Flower is exclusive to Murray’s. We start with one of our favorite cheeses, Kinderhook Creek from Old Chatham, then we coat it with an aromatic blend of rosemary, lemon thyme, elderberries, hop flowers and more, to create a floral explosion on the tongue, immense flavor, bright and piney, lemony and citrusy, hoppy and grassy, woodsy and rustic. Inside, the paste is snow white and fudgy, milky and rich, sheepy and smooth, soft like a pillow, complex yet approachable.
Hudson Flower is available in whole rounds that fit in the palm of your hand, so it’s easily transportable, ready to take to any party, gathering or tasting. For the sweet tooth, I personally recommend a dollop of Murray’s strawberry jam right on top. Or, for those who prefer some tartness, I recommend a dollop of We Love Jam, which is a cherry and apricot jam we sell, it’s breathtakingly delicious – it’s like eating the inside of a freshly-baked cherry pie that just finished cooling on the window sill. Hudson Flower is truly a one-of-a-kind cheese, it’s one of my favorites!
Hudson Flower is one of Murray’s Cavemaster Reserve cheeses, known as “partnership cheeses.” Little wheels of pasteurized sheep’s milk cheese are born in upstate New York as Kinderhook Creek at Old Chatham Sheepherding. (Kinderhook Creek is a creamy, bloomy-rind cheese.)
Kinderhook Creek, courtesy of Murray’s Cheese
These little wheels are then adopted by Murray’s and brought up in New York City. They emerge from the caves as adults with a coating of herbs and hop flowers, and a unique flavor. In 2014, Hudson Flower won a 2nd place ribbon at the American Cheese Society Competition (category – Rubbed Rind Cheese with Added Flavor on the Exterior Surface). The 12-14 oz. wheels are aged for 3-5 weeks.
It is probably most similar to Fleur du Maquis (also known as Brin d’Amour), a Corsican sheep milk cheese coated with herbs and flowers.
Fleur du Maquis, courtesy of Olde Hudson
According to an article in Sassy Sips NYC it would be delightful paired with “Cremant de Bourgogne, Jura Chardonnay, Saison Ale, lighter floral reds or for breakfast with a cup of Chamomile tea.”
