Cœur de Neufchâtel
Well, it’s St. Valentine’s day (almost) and I’ve been trying, for years, to write up this one at around this time of year, but always missed. Yes, I know… cheesy, but when you have a heart shaped cheese, waddya gonna do?
To be fair, it isn’t the only heart shaped cheese, and Neufchâtel is not always heart shaped. It can be found in other forms, logs, wheels and bricks.
 Cœur de Neufchâtel Regardless of the shape, Neufchâtel has a soft, smooth, velvety rind, covered in a fine white mould. The smell is very mushroomy with hints of ammonia. The pate is gooey and pale yellow just inside the rind, but almost white and crumbly in the centre. It has a very slight buttery smell that is almost non-existent. The taste is immediately salty, quickly giving way to a pungent flavour accompanied by a burning sensation. There is no real after taste, but it leaves you with the burning and an anæsthetic sensation. It is also one of those cheese that has an interesting effect when taken with wine, producing a strange metallic taste. A bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You think it’s going to be mild mannered, a soft creamy, delicate cheese in a lovely little heart shape. But, then it bites. It’s a bit of an unusual cheese and one to try because of it, but to be honest, it’s a little overrated. |
Purchased from the cheese stall outside Brighton Station.
Reviewed by Nick & Olympia, 2012.
(1.5/5)