| If you are a true blue cheese-lover through and | | | | creating brie cheese. These cellars should maintain |
| through, then just saying 'brie' would excite your | | | | a certain temperature to ensure that the fragile |
| taste buds. Perhaps you would even salivate. Brie | | | | cheese is not destroyed. Since this is so, brie |
| cheese, with its rich history to back it up and a | | | | cheese manufacturers are not assured that |
| truly impeccable taste that matches meat, | | | | maturation would really take place. Much risk is |
| vegetables, fruits or sauces, deserves more than | | | | involved in this type of business. |
| a minute of attention. | | | | The 'real Brie' naturally develops molds around its |
| According to some legends, Emperor | | | | exterior while the commercial ones have to be |
| Charlemagne of France had his first bite of the | | | | sprayed with spores (artificial ones) around the |
| creamy cheese and instantly fell in love with it. | | | | edges to develop the same result. The moldy |
| Who wouldn't, anyway? Brie cheese tastes fruity | | | | exterior is actually edible and should be served |
| and is also soft and creamy. Perhaps your | | | | together with whatever food goes with the |
| interest towards this type of cheese would be | | | | cheese or when it is served, alone, as an |
| doubled if you would learn that Charlemagne's | | | | appetizer. |
| dying wish was to have a 'last bite' of his favorite | | | | Now let's get down to the most interesting part: |
| brie! But all of that was way back in the eighth | | | | eating Brie. The best way to consume brie is to |
| century and until now, the cheese's popularity has | | | | have it at room temperature. As an appetizer, |
| not waned. | | | | brie cheese is delectable and very versatile. It is |
| In addition to the famous Charlemagne legend, a | | | | usually paired with crackers, fruits, nuts and even |
| certain Frenchman named Talleyrand suggested a | | | | breads. |
| worldwide competition where judges would decide | | | | There are so many ways of cooking and |
| which cheese was the best. Naturally, brie cheese | | | | presenting brie. And the best wines to go with |
| ran away with the title: "King of All Cheeses". | | | | this mouth-watering cheese? 'Cote-du-Rhone' (a |
| The 'original' French Brie is manufactured in | | | | type of red wine), Chardonnay, Beaujolais |
| Seine-et-Marne in Paris. It got its name from La | | | | Nouveau, Burgundy or Bordeaux (still red) and, of |
| Brie which is one of the provinces of Northern | | | | course, champagne. The keywords are: any |
| France. Modern day French, call it, well...French Brie. | | | | sparkling wine. |
| And no one could contest the way brie has | | | | For cooking, brie is best used as a topping for |
| withstood the test of time because it still is the | | | | certain foods. If one is interested in knowing |
| number one cheese in France (with about 400+ | | | | some recipes that use brie cheese, there are |
| different types all over the country). | | | | several of them that are offered on some |
| It is actually illegal to import this type of cheese in | | | | websites. Examples of brie recipes that you could |
| the United States because milk products that are | | | | research are: |
| used for cheese processes should be aged 60 | | | | 1. Baked Brie (with Amaretto) |
| days, at least. So for those who could not afford | | | | 2. Baked Potatoes with Brie |
| to go to Paris and buy the 'real thing', they can | | | | 3. Spicy Roast Beef and Brie Panini |
| buy from those who manufacture this cheese | | | | 4. Rose-glazed Brie |
| locally. | | | | 5. Four Cheese Pate |
| French Brie is made of cow's milk (unpasteurized). | | | | 6. Brie-stuffed Chicken Breasts |
| Its commercial counterparts, on the other hand, | | | | 7. Savory Cheesecake |
| are made of whole or skim milk (pasteurized). | | | | 8. Walnut-glazed Brie |
| True Brie is a mixture of the following flavors: | | | | 9. Upscale Cuban Panini Sandwiches |
| hazelnut, herbs and fruits. It is not cooked. It is | | | | 10. Black Olive Pate |
| only heated to just below 37 degrees Celsius | | | | Being able to know the history and the qualities |
| during the stage of renneting. After heating, it is | | | | that made Brie 'King' is as important as enjoying |
| placed in mold and sprinkled with dry salt. | | | | the meals this cheese improves. After all, you just |
| The process of maturation, which is about four | | | | don't just crown something for no reason. Brie IS |
| weeks (or more), takes place in a cellar. These | | | | king and will remain so for many years more. We |
| cellars are specially built for the purpose of | | | | can bet on that! |