Midnight Moon, A Romantic Goat Cheese Gouda

Maybe it's the woman on the label, Bella-Bella daBall or perhaps it's the romantic name, but the goat cheese Midnight Moon by Cypress Grove Chevre creamery is made for the lover in us all.

I'd been perusing the cheese station at my local market, in particular looking to try an all-goat confection, when a wedge of semi-hard glacier-white cheese with an intriguing name caught me eye. Lo and behold, what I found was a hidden cheese treasure, Midnight Moon... Oh...

I brought it home thinking I'd enjoy a hunk of it with the tempranillo Spanish wine I also purchased, but couldn't wait that long. With abandon, I undressed that wedge of cheese and broke off a piece that made a speedway to my mouth. All of time suddenly slowed to almost a standstill as I allowed the rich, smooth, buttery and dense fullness of the thing to dissolve on my palate.

It was like I had a cheese epiphany.

Immediately I went online to find out my taste buds hadn't deceived me. Midnight Moon has received top accolades from cheese masters worldwide in fact, winning Best in Show out of 69 entries in the Hard Goats Milk Cheese category for the 2010 World Cheese Championships among other top cheese awards over the last 8 years since its creation.

Cypress Grove Chevre may be a California dairy, but make no mistake Midnight Moon is crafted and aged in one of the cheese meccas of the world, Holland. If you love Gouda then you'll love Midnight Moon which to my taste buds was even more buttery and a lighter-fluffier version of Gouda, but at the same time, rich nutty and dense which is even more than surprising coming from a cheese made of vegetarian rennet.

I never knew how sexy and romantic cheese could be until now, and as The Cheesemonger describes it, "Midnight Moon is pure cheese porn."

Cheese for the Diet Health Conscious

Cheese for the Diet Health Conscious


Watching your weight?  Need some protein to fuel your day?  Looking to add more nutritious foods to your diet?  Look no further...

An ounce of cheese, with some crackers or a nice slice of whole grain bread, and any fruit fresh or dried, makes a satisfying, power-punching, staving-off-starvation snack. High in calcium and protein, cheese makes a smart choice to your weekly shopping list.

Cheese is affordable, accessible, natural, nutritious and noshable.

If you consider the cost of other snacks you would be consuming:  scones, muffins, energy bars, smoothies, granola bars, bagels, the price you would spend on an ounce of a high quality cheese is more than comparable yet, without all the additives, preservatives and sugar.  Add a serving size of crackers or a slice of good quality bread, with an apple or fruit of your choice and ta-da, you have nurtured yourself in way that can only make you happier and more effective.

Though cheese is rather weighty in fat content,  in moderation, like milk, can probably help you to actually lose weight. (This is my personal opinion.)

Go for the good quality, minimalist cheese varieties-- Gouda, Cheddar, Edam, Emmental. There are literally hundreds of varieties of cheese and many available now at your local supermarket, health food or speciality store... but even more exciting is that the really good stuff (from all parts of the globe) is just as easily accessible online!  Amazon.com has many of the world's best offerings just a few clicks away.

High quality cheese comes from the milk of cows that have a lush environment and are well-nourished.  Like happy cows, eating cheese on a regular basis can make happy humans perform at their highest level as well.

So, here's to eating better, eating basic, and eating smart beginning now.

Grilled Cheese the Adult Way: Gouda and Chutney

Just off The Canadian Press, a tasty way to dress up a grilled cheese sandwich, using Gouda cheese, slightly sharp and ultra creamy, with the sweet-and-tangy-combination of chutney.

Gouda and Chutney, yes, they make a nice pair and dance well together. But if you haven't the gouda-stuff (har-har), an aged cheddar will also work nicely.


credit:  The Canadian Press, Victoria Brett

Cheese Recipe for the New Year -- The Gouda Life

Here's a simple, yet stunning recipe at GourmetSleuth.com using Gouda cheese, fresh peppercorns, honey and fresh figs... "Oh, holy yum!" as a dear friend of mine would say.

Did I forget to tell you about the Cointreau?

This would be the perfect collation to serve if having a few friends over in the evening. With or without a raclette grill, this palate pleaser is sure to delight!

A Lovely Presentation of Raclette...