Idiazabal Cheese, the Unpasteurized Sheep’s Milk Cheese from the Spanish Pyrenees.
Though it is a non-smoked cheese, some varieties are smoked which is allowed by the DOP only if does not affect the general stipulation for the production of Idiazabal Cheese. The crust is closed and smooth and its color goes from brown in its smoked variety to yellow-beige in its non smoked variety. The cheese texture is tight without air pockets. For Florence Fabricant, “[Idiazabal Cheese] has a pale interior and a firm, supple texture similar to provolone cheese.” The taste is robust and provocative, slightly acidic, and has the characteristic buttery touch of sheep milk cheeses. The smoked versions usually have a more pronounced aroma. Idiazabal is a small-medium size cheese with a weight between 2 and 4 lb.
Date: Sunday 21, 2008
The Rise of Spanish Cheeses: Manchego Cheese
But one of the most popular kinds of Spanish cheese is the Manchego cheese. This cheese is made exclusively in Don Quixote’s land, La Mancha. It is a fertile, elevated plateau located in Central Spain. It is famous not only because of Don Quixote but because of their Manchego cheese. It is made out of the whole milk of Manchega sheep, where it got its name. Manchego cheese is processed in dry, cool caves for a period of two months to one year.
Date: Wednesday 10, 2008
Spanish Chorizo - The Production of Chorizo, Step by Step.
The period from late fall through early spring is called the montanera, or acorn season, when pigs feed on the acorns of these trees, each eating about 22 to 26 pounds of acorns a day. The Iberian pig, which descends from the wild boar of southern Europe, is not a handsome specimen. It has drooping ears, a long snout, thin legs and dark hair. But its meat has a dense striping of fat and intense flavor, which produces the most sought-after cured hams in Spain.
Date: Monday 17, 2008
Mojama - Spain’s Coastal Treasure
While mojama is still a largely undiscovered delicacy outside of Spain, it has been recognized by specialty stores worldwide for years and is slowly entering more mainstream markets as the demand increases. In Spain, Mojama is most often served in thin, translucent slices, drenched in only the best extra-virgin olive oil, with a glass of your favorite white wine. Elsewhere it has been seen finely grated over a plate of lightly oiled spaghetti, with a chopping of parsley and a glass of red wine.
Date: Thursday 13, 2008
Cured Iberian Ham (Jamon Iberico). Spain’s not-so-hidden Treasure
With ninety races and more than two-hundred hog varieties, it is important to distinguish the two main races that are used in the production of Spanish hams. The highest quality hams come from the Iberian blood line, which are descendents of the wild boar. They are produced in the southwestern region of Spain
Date: Monday 10, 2008
Sherry Wine, the Most International Spanish Wine.
According to the Greek geographer, Strabon, the Phoenicians were the ones to introduct the first vine into this region of the Iberian Peninsula. Soon after, consumers and investors alike began to take an interest in Jerez, like the many British families who directed a large part of their business to the region. Today, Jerez is [...]