So Much Excitement About Cheese...

Whenever I travel, be it to someplace new, or an old haunt, I make a point of stopping into unique food stores.  I'm always on the lookout for new taste experiences.

raincoast fig & olive crisps

While I was in Orleans, MA this summer (part of Cape Cod) My Mom and I happened across Main Street Wine and Gourmet.  I decided that we must have a look inside.  We found these interesting-looking raincoast crisps on the shelf, alongside several others, and quickly came to the conclusion that they looked too tasty to leave without buying.  It was also agreed that they seemed a good pair for the bijou aged goat cheese that we had purchased earlier from PB Boulangerie Bistro (along with a number of to-die-for french pastries) in Wellfleet.
Now I'm going to be upfront about the cheese; it is smelly.  If you're not going to eat it right away (storing it in the fridge) I'd recommend putting it in a plastic bag.  I do enjoy the smell of cheese, but it's not necessarily a smell that is nice to have permeating your entire refrigerator.

bijou aged goat cheese from Vermont Creamery

 
Yes, there are some cheese fanatics who would argue that this is an inappropriate method of storing a cheese, and that you must allow it to breath somewhat, but the bottom line is that some cheeses smell like feet, or other strong odors. And don't get me wrong, I mean this in the best way possible- I love smelly cheese! But in modern days, the kitchen has become more of an entertainment spot at small dinner parties, and not every guest will appreciate eau de cheese cave emanating from your cold food storage.  Shorter story: until I am wealthy enough to afford my own cave (will probably never happen), or another fridge used solely for the storage of wonderfully ripened cheeses (unlikely, but hopeful), I will be resorting to 'bagging and tagging', so that my refrigerator does not reek of cheese.

raincoast crisps, fig & olive variety

Now, with that said, the cheese has a delightfully mild and nutty flavor! It is a delicious cheese that pairs well with rosemary crackers or fig & olive raincoast crisps (there is a rosemary raisin pecan variety of the crisps too; I can't wait to try it!).  The crisps themselves are thick and crunchy.  They have a very nice fruity-oat flavor, with a hint of olive savory, that matches the mild nutty-ness of the bijou, and the extra crunchy texture is an interesting compliment to the creamy cheese.

fig & olive crisp with goat cheese

This is one of those amazing culinary situations where the whole becomes more than just the sum of it's parts.  There is a third, and different, experience offered by tasting the two elements together.  (This doesn't always happen, but I get terribly excited when it does! Like bananas in chocolate.)  It's a great appetizer for your next party, or even just a before-dinner treat to spoil yourself. Enjoy!