Cementing its place as a premier provider of artisanal goat cheeses at the 7th annual Good Foods Awards Ceremony & Reception, held January 20th, Laura Chenel's took home top honors for the West Region with its Ash-rinded Buchette.
The Good Foods Awards doesn’t merely focus on superior-tasting products; rather the award is comprehensive—taking into account both tastiness and socially- and environmentally-responsible practices that companies use to produce their offerings.
“It is this common philosophy that we share with the Good Foods Awards - that truly good food not only tastes great, but respects the environment and community in which it operates – is what makes us so proud to be recognized tonight,” noted Philippe Chevrollier, General Manager of Laura Chenel’s and Marin French Cheese, in a press release. “To obtain the Good Food Awards honor is a reflection of our continued commitment to making highest quality of handcrafted goat cheese products in a sustainably conscious manner, sourcing local ingredients whenever possible,”
Representatives of Laura Chenel's were presented with the prestigious Good Foods Awards honor by renowned Bay-Area chef, restauranteur, and activist Alice Waters—in a fitting tribute; Waters was one of Laura Chenel’s first customer over 35 years ago.
The winning cheese, a 4.5-ounce ash-covered Buchette, is a delicate soft-ripened chèvre reminiscent of traditional Geotrichum-rinded goat cheeses from from France’s Loire Valley. The exterior of the cheese log is dusted with a thin layer of vegetable ash, and the surface thus develops a signature grey, wrinkly surface while the cheese ages over the course of eight to 12 days. The cheese is then carefully packaged in a protective wooden vessel.
During the aging process a creamline forms beneath the tender, edible rind which contrasts beautifully with the dense, chalky center’s texture and tangy taste. The company’s Ash-rinded Buchette is made using fresh, locally-sourced pasteurized goat’s milk. The company also produces an Original Buchette that’s naturally finished without ash for a more piquant chèvre flavor.
Other aged cheeses the company produces include Taupinière, Crottin, Goat Brie, and Tome.
For more outstanding, award-winning offerings for the deli department, check in with us at Deli Market News.
