Washed-rind Cheese

About

Washing cheese in brine and other solutions dates to the Middle Ages, when European monks discovered the practice encouraged bacterial growth that produced less acidic, more pungent flavors. Research at Cranfield University found the beery washed-rind Vieux Boulogne to be the world's smelliest cheese, surpassing even the brandy-washed Époisses, which is banned on French public transportation. Washed-rind cheeses are generally best served simply with bread or crackers, though they also pair well with piquant ingredients like cumin, sharp apples, or raw onion, or earthy ones like potato. This entry covers Stinking Bishop, Munster, Pont L'Évêque, Langres, Livarot, Vacherin, and Celtic Promise.

Pairs well with washed-rind cheese

• EaPotatoWarm, fruity washed-rind cheeses like Vacherin Mont d'Or melt well into a jacket potato.
• SuGarlicVacherin Mont d'Or, a very soft cheese from the France-Switzerland border, is often baked with garlic: the box is wrapped in foil, the…
• FrAppleCrisp, tart apple suits milder washed-rind cheeses such as Pont l'Évêque, and chef Pierre Gagnaire pairs a Pont l'Évêque chantilly with…
• GrAniseWashed-rind cheeses such as Munster or Stinking Bishop are usually too assertive to pair with much, but anise is strong enough to stand up…
• BrBaconLangres, a salty cheese from the Champagne region of France, has a flavor often compared to bacon; it's traditionally served with a little…
• FrPearLivarot, a pungent, buttery Normandy cheese, pairs well with pears grown in the same region, combined in a tart, served simply sliced, or…