Humboldt Fog Cheese

Cypress Grove's Humboldt Fog Cheese

This may be my favorite American cheese, and I'm not talking about the stuff you put on grilled cheese sandwiches.  I first tried Humboldt Fog at one of our local cheese specialty foods stores.

I asked the counter person for suggestions on exciting goat's milk cheese. She came around the counter to the open refrigerated unit. She started telling me about a selection of different cheeses, but when I saw the Humboldt Fog, I knew it would be incredible.

Before even tasting this fantastic goat's milk cheese, I could see the creamy, white interior and funky white rind. Once I tasted it, I thought I was in heaven.

Incredibly, we are now making some great cheeses in this country that are starting to rival those of Europe. The mother-daughter team of Mary Keehn and Malorie McCurdy in Humboldt County, California, makes Humboldt Fog. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in trying new cheeses.

Characteristics

Made in California, USA, from goat's milk, Humboldt Fog's cheese has a soft, white interior when ripe. It can be a bit gooey under the rind but more like cream cheese toward the center.

With a bloomy, white but edible rind, this cheese tastes like butter & cream. It is considered a medium-aged cheese that is great as an appetizer, on a cheese plate, or served for dessert.

The Short of It

• Region: California
• Country: United States
• Milk Type: Goat
• Milk Treatment: Pasteurized
• Rennet: Vegetarian
• Rind: Bloomy
• Texture: Soft
• Aging: 3 weeks
• Size(s): 5 pounds or 16 ounces

Where to Buy

I always recommend that you find a good cheese shop near you and become friends with the cheesemonger who will turn you on to some great cheeses, or at least they should.

Humboldt Fog comes in 14-ounce mini wheels.

Online Source: Cheese

I would encourage you to find a good cheese shop near you so you can get to know your cheesemongers, and they will get to know you. However, if you don't have a good local cheese shop or they don't have some of the cheeses, I recommend checking out Di Bruno Bros. online.

Di Bruno Brothers is close to home to me. They have been in Philadelphia since 1939 and prided themselves on bringing fantastic food to the city of Philadelphia and drawing food lovers together in their ‘home.’ They also have a store outside Philly where I get most of my cheese and cured meats. If you can't find a particular cheese in your market, most likely, Di Bruno Bros. will.