Brace yourselves, Valentine’s Day is coming! How do I know that it’s coming (other than the obvious of checking the calendar...)?!? Because the decadent heart shaped cheeses have started to filter in! Today’s post will be a little different than others, as we are focusing in on two cheeses from a particular producer, rather than one single cheese. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to one of the grandmother’s of artisanal cheese in the United States:
Farmer/Cheesemaker: Judy Schad
Cheesemaking Company: Capriole INC
Location: Greenville, Indianna- right next to the Kentucky border
Milk Type: Alpine, Saanen and Nubian goat
Judy Schad and her husband Kevin are the masterminds behind Capriole Inc. In 1976 they bought their land- only to discover that Kevin’s family had actually owned the same plot of land decades back. If that doesn’t sound like it was meant to be, then I don’t know what is! Where cheeses like Roquefort and ricotta can be dated back incredibly far in history (to the the times of the Roman Empire!), American cheese history doesn’t span anywhere near as far back- we must look much closer to the present to really get a feel for America’s artisanal cheese revolution.
Like others at the forefront of the cheese revolution in the US, Judy and her husband were on the lookout for a sustainable lifestyle when they bought the land, and moved their three children there from the suburbs. Not only did they seek a lifestyle that was more sustainable for themselves, but Judy also wanted to provide a model for goat farming that others could use as a stepping stone for their own farms. Some 30 odd years later, Capriole is still going strong! They produce a variety of incredible goat cheeses- including the two that you see here today; The Fromage a Trois Boubon Chocolate Chevre torte, and the simple Chevre and pink peppercorn heart!
The bourbon chocolate chevre torte is absolutely bursting with flavor- the chevre is mixed with rich cocoa, while the raisins and pecans throughout are soaked in bourbon. For a match made in heaven, maybe you’ve still got a bottle of that Goose Island Bourbon County Stout hanging around!? For those who like it a bit mellower- the peppercorn chevre hearts. The quality of the chevre really comes through in these simple wheels, and they provide a perfect creamy vessel for the spice of the pink peppercorns. Pair this one with a bubbly! I don’t know about you, but I’m most likely going to end up with BOTH of these on my Valentine’s Day cheese plate!