The cheesemaker: Fromagerie F.X. Pichet, Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, Quebec
This month’s cheese was honored with three top awards at the 2014 Canadian Cheese Awards, including CHEESE of the YEAR, BEST ORGANIC CHEESE and BEST SEMI-SOFT CHEESE!
Fromagerie F.X Pichet is located in Saint-Anne-de-la-Pérade, Quebec. Marie-Claude Harvey (the executive director of the refining house) and Michel Pichet (organic milk producer for over 25 years) care very much about creating an organic cheese.
The dairy cows are fed dry floral hay, organic feed grain and kelp, imparting the distinctive taste to this traditionally made cheese.
The cheese: Le Baluchon
The word “baluchon” is French for backpack. It was given its name because its creat
ors wanted the cheese to have its place at every table, just like a seasoned world traveler. Le Baluchon is semi-firm, with small eyes, a moist paste and a slight sheen to its butter-yellow colour. The aroma is fresh, creamy and barny. The flavour nicely balances salt and fruitiness with a mellow, savoury finish. The earthy, somewhat gritty, rind is a wonderful complement to the rest of the cheese. The Baluchon is a great cheese for a meal with toast and it is also perfect on a cheese board!
Food pairings:
This cheese pairs well with a light, fruity red wine such as a pinot noir or a light ale.
Pick up a piece of le Baluchon, August’s Cheese of the Month, and know that you are helping to contribute to a valuable community initiative; 10% of the proceeds from sales of this special cheese will be donated directly to Hub Hospice Palliative Care.