An American Tribute to Reblochon

"Harmony Encore is a great compliment to our assorted cheese board and it’s the 2nd most requested of our cheeses”
Jason Simpson, Chef De Cuisine, Park Room, Piedmont Driving Club

"Harmony Encore is a little bit of a paradox. You expect the mildness of a brie because of the softness of the texture, but it is actually rather sharp in flavor like a cheddar. It reminds me of raclette."
Jessica Rothacker, Heirloom Cafe

Description

A washed rind raw cows milk cheese reminiscent of French Reblochon.  The rind gives off a pleasant aroma of toasted butter and the straw colored pasted is thick, rich and meaty. Encore's soft and smooth paste is aromatic, salty, savory, mushroomy and buttery, but not challenging. Very difficult to find this style cheese in the U.S. due to the careful aging to 60 days to meet legal requirements for selling raw-milk cheeses.  A fantastically unique cheese that shows off the unadulterated qualities of our milk. Made in 1 pound rounds.

How it's Made

Simple, really.  We milk the cows and put fresh milk in the vat.  Milk is heated to about 90 degrees, starter cultures (friendly bacteria) are added to begin consuming the milk sugars (lactose) and decreasing the pH of the milk.  Rennet is added at the appropriate time, curds are cut and hooped into 5.3 inch circular forms.  The next day the cheeses are salted and head for the cheese cave, where they will remain for 60 days.  Once a light white mold develops on the surface after a week or so, we begin hand washing the cheese to develop an aromatic and flavorful rind that mature into a wonderfully satisfying cheese.

Suggested Uses

The classic dish for using French Reblochon is Tartiflette.  We make this dish at home using Harmony Encore and it may be our favorite dish in the world!   It's easy to make and unforgettable...here's a recipe for you to try!

Of course, Harmony Encore has other uses...like in making the world's best macaroni and cheese. Try our Farmstead Mac and Cheese recipe here.  Or, just put it on a cracker and enjoy the wonderfully flavorful mouthfeel that only this cheese provides.

If you're not cooking with Harmony Encore, let it sit at room temperature for a half hour to maximize your enjoyment!

Pairings

Of course, there's no "right answer" with wine pairings...but there are some wrong ones!  Liz likes sweeter wines such as Rieslings.  These pair well with Harmony Encore and cut through some of the richness. As for Tim, he likes a variety of red wines.  Fortunately, as with Reblochon, Harmony Encore has big flavors that can stand up to many wines without overpowering them.  Try with your favorite Pinot Noir or a good Beaujolais.