|
Discover the world's finest cheeses,
from creamy French Brie to zesty
California blues, at Raley's, Bel Air and Nob Hill Foods. With over 200 varieties, you're sure to find a new favorite, or rediscover a treasured classic. Need help making a decision? We're here to help. Just ask us and we'll gladly open any piece of cheese and cut a sample for you.
How Cheese is Made
Basically, cheese falls into two general categories: fresh and ripened.
Fresh cheese is made from milk that is heated, stirred and thickened with vegetable or animal rennet. Then the curds are separated and pressed into cheese.
Ripened cheese begins like fresh cheese, then is cooked, cooled and treated with culture. When the curds are separated, they are aged. While the cheese ages, flavor and aroma seep into the cheese. Oils, spices and cloth can be added to the rind to aid in this ripening process.
When the cheesemaker feels the cheese is ready, it is removed from the aging rooms and prepared to send out to stores.
Farmstead, or "homestead," cheese is made only from the freshest of milk. This cheese, by definition, is "from the farm" and uses only that particular farm's milk. Made with the hands of those who work the land, this cheese has great character and flavor. Artisan cheese is created using age-old traditions and techniques to achieve perfection and style. A genuine piece of artwork, this cheese is handcrafted with expertise to create a truly exceptional product. Specialty cheese is a gourmet cheese that pays close attention to flavor and texture. It is designed specifically to please and entertain guests, as well as spice up an ordinary meal. Farmstead and artisan cheeses both fall under this category. Processed cheese is natural cheese with added ingredients that aim to preserve, stabilize and increase shelf life, as well as enhance flavor and texture. American, or "orange" cheese, falls under this category. This type of cheese is often produced in mass quantities and helps preserve milk surplus by turning it into a condensed, storable product that everyone enjoys.
|
