Fall is a perfect time of year for eating cheese. Yes, we know that any time of year, any weather, any time, is great for eating cheese. We get it. (Obviously. We're a cheese store.) But let's talk about fall specifically.
Are you swimming in a bounty of crispy apples of all shapes, sizes and varieties? Apples love cheese. Is your kitchen ripe and full of crunchy pears, too? Chances are, if it's good with an apple, a pear will do just fine as well. Caramelly nuts, from pecans to peanuts to walnuts? Nuts were pretty much meant for cheese boards, and caramelized nuts scream FALL with their burnt amber colors and rich, brown spun sugar aromas. Is there pumpkin aplenty in the aisles of your local grocery stores, or lining the tables at a local farmer's market? Well, if you haven't ever tried pumpkin butter and blue cheese together before, this is the time.
It's also American Cheese Month right now - #AmericanCheeseMonth - so it only feels natural to build a great cheese board with some of our All-American favorites. With old classics and funky new finds from Jasper Hill Farm currently taking up real estate in our cheese counter, this is the perfect board to build Right Now. (Looking to learn more about Jasper Hill Farm? Play catch up in our most recent blog post by clicking here.)
Layer on your favorite sweater and coziest socks, and let's get building.
Our dream fall cheese board with Jasper Hill Cheeses: Cabot Clothbound Black Label, Soft Harbison (exclusive to DB stores!) and Bayley Hazen Blue with fresh figs, Quince & Apple Tart Cherry and White Tea Preserves, and Effie's Oat Cakes.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIy3x92fcaM[/embed]Meet the Cheeses.
Soft Harbison
Exclusive to Di Bruno Bros. retail stores, this special version of already-beloved Harbison is bathed in Fermentery Form's Soft wit beer, brewed with Valencia orange juice and zest, and a bit of coriander and chamomile. The Harbison isn't as funky as usual version (it's delicious, but more mild and accesible with a little hint of citrus pith), but the paste is still so gooey that it's like the cheese swimming pool of your dreams. Stop into our stores for this limited edition cheese, or buy regular Harbison online here.
Cabot Clothbound Black Label Cheddar
The most savory, umami-rific, mouthwatering Cabot Clothbound Cheddar around, specially selected by their sensory team and only made available to independent retailers. The team at Jasper Hill tastes every single wheel that they make, and an extremely small percentage get selected for the Black Label program. These are the batches that are, according to them, basically perfect. All Cabot is great, but these wheels are extra-triple-doubley great...squared. Now available in our retail stores exclusively for the very first time. Stop in for some, or order the always great blue label Cabot Clothbound Cheddar online here.
Bayley Hazen Blue
With notes of anise, fudge and even a soft scent of cinnamon sugar in the paste aroma, Bayley Hazen Blue is the perfect domestic fall blue. A nod to Colston Bassett Stilton (the perfect imported blue for fall and the holidays) this dense mouthful of blue cheese isn't too spicy nor too bland. It's got depth and texture, and is lovely paired with either fresh or dried figs. Available in stores and also online here.
Effie's Oat Cakes and Quince and Apple Tart Cherry and White Tea Preserves (available online here) round out this board with savory-yet-sweet fruit flavors and the perfect crunchy vehicle for layering all three cheeses on top of. Happy fall, and happy eating!
What's on your own fall cheese board? Let us know in the comments or tag @dibrunobros on Instagram!