In this installment
Saucisson Sec Salami
Alp Blossom Cheese
Saucisson Sec Salami
The artisan meat world is exploding with incredible producers making small-batch charcuterie from local, heritage breed animals. This Saucisson Sec from Il Porcellino Salumi in Denver is one of my new favorites: a traditional French-style pork salami with garlic, pepper and red wine. Where producers might get creative with obscure ingredients to make their charcuterie stand out, this salami went for true, straight forward pork flavor. And hit the mark.
Alp Blossom Cheese
Wanna get noticed in the cheese world? Cover your wheel in a vibrant, colorful potpourri of dried flowers like marigolds, rose petals, chervil and lavender. Then add some of the local herbs and spices that grow in the land surrounding the farm. The eye-catching covering isn’t just for show. It helps balance the big, bold, nutty, notes of the cheese inside with a soft, herby sweetness. I make it sound like there’s a battle going on between the flavors but that’s not so. It’s really well balanced and easy to eat. The floral rind will draw your attention but it’s the flavor inside that will keep people coming back for more again and again.