St. Agur Blue + Italian Roast Coffee

    The pairing of a strong, creamy blue cheese with a perfectly brewed cup of coffee was first brought to my attention by a co-worker (and A.C.S. Certified Cheese Professional. ) of mine.  Even my adventurous, food-loving heart balked at that combination.  I believe the word "interesting!" came out of my mouth.  Which, if one had listened carefully, actually would have registered as "icky!" 
    I am so ashamed. 
    Because, as I'm sure you can anticipate, blue cheese and rich coffee is the unlikely amazing duo. 
I went for the big guns for this flavor pairing.  No mild Cambozola and "Breakfast Blends" for this experiment.  I opted instead for the punchy St. Agur blue matched with a bold Italian Blend coffee.  Fortune favors the brave, I suppose, since I was well rewarded for my selections. 
    The creamy-sandy texture and lactic-pepper bite of the cheese, washed down with the deep toasty notes of coffee left a kind of smokey void on the palate.  Flavors developed from a peat smoke to pipe tobacco, finishing with just a lingering hint of earthy animal. 
    All that from one bite of cheese and one sip of coffee. 
    Already I'm planning out my next coffee/cheese pairing with raw milk Manchego and a light Latin American coffee.  A gooey washed-rind stinker with a fruity Ethiopian seems like an even bigger adventure.   My breakfast horizons are, now, certainly much wider.

The Good Stuff.

It's no secret that I'm a fan of Avalanche cheeses.  

Most notably the pillowy fluff of their fresh Chevre.  Since I'm pining for the return of The Guy (he's doing business type things out of state) I decided to cope by buying myself some fancy-type cheese.  But what's a lady to do when a plain log of Chev isn't enough?  Naturally she scrounges in her refrigerator (in the back and slightly above the crisper) and produces magic. 

That's what.

To elaborate this Chevre is rolled in paprika and chopped fire roasted tomatoes w/olive oil, garlic, and herbs.  A tiny salad of spicy/bitter greens adds a zing of contrast.  Of course my security blanket of a cheese platform, cracked pepper water crackers, balances it all out.  

I do suspect 7 out of 10 times I take cheese anywhere, that cracker comes with me.  

This time it had the pleasure of delivering that fine, fine Chev concoction to my face.  

Which, naturally, soothed my pining.  

Still, a log of cheese is a poor substitute for a Fiance.