Belle and the Bees Breakfast Cheese - Cheese Course

by Max Shrem, Posted Jun 15th 2010 @ 5:00PM

Looking for an enticing alternative to cream cheese? Try the Belle and the Bees Breakfast Cheese from Fromagerie Belle Chèvre in Elkmont, Ala. Its lusciously creamy, fluffy texture and its tangy, floral and fruity flavor make this cheese spread taste like rich goat's milk ice cream drizzled with honey. And, the cheese's mild approachable taste and smooth consistency mean that it's ideal for spreading on all sorts of breads, including bagels. To find out more about the tanginess and sweetness of this cheese spread, we spoke to Tasia Malakasis, owner of Belle Chèvre.

The addition of tupelo honey from a Savannah beekeeper gives this cheese a delicate taste of rosewater and a distinct pear-like aroma. The combination is similar to the experience of tasting tangy yogurt with syrupy honey or to that of eating sliced pears with fresh goat cheese. "I like to play with the cheese to enhance the sweetness," says Malakasis. Thanks to her mixing of flavors, the spread has just the right balance of sweet and tangy.

More on the Belle and the Bees Breakfast Cheese after the jump.

The taste of Belle and the Bees Breakfast Cheese also has to do with the freshness of the cheese. Malakasis uses baby fresh chèvre, aged just about two days. In addition to its freshness, the mildness of the cheese can be attributed to Alabama's soil, rich in limestone. "Our goat's milk cheeses in Alabama taste different to those from Vermont and Wisconsin, because of the limestone content in the soil," says Malakasis. "It produces a milder tang in the goat's milk, and the cheese tends to be less chalky and grainy."

From the honey to the goat's milk, this cheese spread is very much a product of its Southern roots. Even those who are timid about goat cheese will appreciate the sweetness and creaminess here. Indeed, Malakasis is all for making artisanal food something that everyone can enjoy, not just "foodies." "I don't want my cheeses to be anything more than approachable," she says. "Cheese should be fun and celebratory, not complicated." And, without a doubt, the mildness of the spread makes it perfect not just for toast in the morning but in sandwiches with baby greens, with crackers at a party, and definitely at a picnic.

Filed Under: Cheese Course
Tags: bell chevre, BellChevre, belle and bees breakfast cheese, CheeseCourse, cream cheese

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-17-2010 @5:42PM Lita said... If this was a legitimate product, it would not be hawked here. I would be leery of theft of my money or my ID (or both), or maybe even a product that might cause food-bourne illness. Beware.
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