First, we went to the supermarket together and the kids helped to pick out the cheeses. Following a battle with the Saracens in 778, Charlemagne stopped for a snack in Rouergue (the region of south-central France from which Roquefort hails). Susan Smillie, "Which is the true king of cheeses? It was Brillat-Savarin, philosopher-gourmand, who dubbed Epoisses the king of cheeses -- a declaration not to be dismissed, considering the seriousness with which he regarded cheese. Various cheeses have been called the King of Cheeses. Well, legend has it that his culinary aesthetic was so enlarged, so distinguished, that he would carry dead birds around in his pockets so he could savor the aroma. Camembert. It was a feast, and no one further argued the point. Charles the Well-loved, a.k.a. Another royal fan of Brie was Louis the XVI, the guillotined one. Subscription Gift certificate Professional corner . Ten Important French Cheeses. Retrouvez King the Mice and the Cheese: In English and French et des millions de livres en stock sur Amazon.fr. Reacting against all the violence caused by the French Revolution, the Congress of Vienna restored "legitimate" monarchies throughout Europe. Napoleon, on the other hand, wasn't quite as careful or as cultivated in his taste: "I eat quickly and masticate little," he admitted. It was Brillat-Savarin, philosopher-gourmand, who dubbed Epoisses the king of cheeses -- a declaration not to be dismissed, considering the seriousness with which he … An abbot served some cheese to the monarch, who started picking out the greenish-blue bits with his dagger, assuming the mold to be a corruption. During the Middle Ages, farmers were not landowners and they had to pay a “right of use” on the quantity of milk produced and to make their animals graze, which made its production illegal. He did, and he liked it enough to order a couple of batches delivered each year to his castle in Aachen. France is a land known for its astounding culinary diversity. Talleyrand remained silent until his own messenger arrived, bearing Brie de Meaux. It has an AOC label that certifies its authenticity and quality. One of the joys of my time in France was the abundance of cheeses, the variety, and the availability. In 1411, French king Charles VI, a.k.a. The monks caught him picking off the rind, aiming for the creamy interior; so they told their king to eat the cheese whole, crust and all. Various cheeses have been called the King of Cheeses. In fact, Julius Caesar may have been the first big shot to praise Roquefort, which he tasted while conquering Gaul in the first century B.C. Perhaps it was worth the beheading: different people have different priorities. It is just as appreciated by French people as it is by foreigners. Brie, one of the world’s best-known cheeses, is considered the King of Cheeses. it is also awarded as a “king of cheeses by Philosopher Diderot. Brie is perhaps le fromage Français le plus connu (the most well known French cheese) in the United States. He hampered his own escape from the revolutionaries by insisting that his entourage stop for long and luxurious meals. Achetez neuf ou d'occasion De très nombreux exemples de phrases traduites contenant "French cheese" – Dictionnaire français-anglais et moteur de recherche de traductions françaises. Let's go to southern France and enjoy a true Roquefort! The story goes that Charlemagne discovered Brie exactly as he discovered Roquefort (although four years earlier). The ultimate cheese realm, the French have perfected the art of making delicious cheeses, and just such a vast variety of them that you'll need multiple lifetimes to taste them all. Then they got back to redrawing borders. Plus, it has a low fat content compared to other cheeses, so you can eat as much as you like! In fact, it was declared "Prince des fromages, et premier des desserts" 'prince of cheeses, and first among desserts', which only later … Traditionally, French cheeses are divided into eight groups known as les huit familles de fromage (the eight cheese families). Reblochon’s birth occurs in the XIIIth century, in the Thones valley, Haute-Savoie. Indeed, after the controller’s visit, farmers s… Although Julius wasn't a "king" per se ("I am Caesar, not King," he told his subjects), he did have a few other titles including dictator-for-life, consul-for-life, imperator, father of the fatherland, and God. Enlightenment philosopher Diderot (who famously suggested that kings should be strangled with the entrails of priests) declared that Roquefort "is indisputably the finest cheese in Europe". As the last man proclaimed king over most of Europe -- a man who confessed he "could never see a throne without feeling the urge to sit on it" -- perhaps Napoleon knew a sovereign cheese when he tasted one. Shop now and enjoy tasty assortments of cheese from France. It has been said about French cheese “Any country with 300 cheeses cannot die” Winston Churchill, during the German occupation of France “How can you be expected to rule a country that has over 200 kinds of cheese?” Charles de Gaulle “Age is something that doesn’t matter, unless you are a cheese” Billie Burke Camembert: As renowned as the béret and the baguette, … Since then Roquefort's been adored by all the glutton kings of France, especially the later kings Louis. The French have been wary, at times, of human kings -- consider the rough way they treated Louis the Last (XVI) -- but they've never shied from crowning kings of cheese. Traditionally, there were between 350 and 400 different types of French cheese, but today there are close to 1,000 varieties. France's statesman, Talleyrand, proposed a friendly contest of cheeses to pass the time (and assert some nationalistic pride); the others assented, and brought in their nations' finest. Cheese library Recipes Quizz Newsletter Services . Cheeses of France: Roquefort—the “King of Cheeses” March 29, 2016 Geri Metz. This pungent and striking blue ewe's milk cheese has a long history and a formidable reputation. It's said that the ill-fated monarch was caught at last while relishing, very slowly, some good Brie cheese at a tavern in Vernnes. It is made from cow milk all year round and will have a different character throughout the seasons depending on what the cows are fed (hay in winter or grass in summer). This AOC brie tastes rich and sweet, and is made from cow’s milk. I am truly a “cheese-a-holic!”. But some are consumed more than others due to their fame and production. It has a soft creamy texture and an almost sweet taste which reminds of certain nuts. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=King_of_Cheeses&oldid=983068699, Short description with empty Wikidata description, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 12 October 2020, at 01:52. Toggle navigation. Next up for B is Brillat-Savain, named after one of the France’s most famous gastronome (see below). This Northern French cheese was invented upon request of King Louis XIV, who wanted his people to stop eating popular Dutch Edam while France was at war with the Netherlands. French cheese has come to command an important reputation on the world stage, for example, brie may be produced anywhere, but a brie with the "Produce of France" stamp denotes a certain standard, thereby demanding a higher price. David Clark, "The King of Cheese: 3 French Cheeses Vying for the Crown". If you have the chance to taste some ripe, runny Epoisses, you might be surprised by its powerful odor, which has proven offensive to many. It is part of the soft cheeses’ family. After the Napoleonic Wars, representatives from every European power gathered in Vienna to rearrange their devastated continent. Other cheeses have had their royal endorsements; but of all the contenders for the kingship of cheese, Brie is the only one to be formally crowned by a unanimous vote of European aristocrats. The cheeses had flags that helped to label the origin of the different cheese, and we had fun searching for the French flag. To make one Brie de Meaux cheese takes about 25 liters of cow's milk. The French enjoy a lot of cheese. French Cheeses Still the yardstick for quality in so many ways: the sheer variety of the goats’ milk cheeses, the aromatic punch of the washed-rind cheeses, and the sublime fruitiness of the unpasteurised Bries and Camemberts. 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