Rosie's Robiola

oil on wood, 8x10"

Rosie's Robiola, original artwork by Mike Geno

From the Cheese Portraits series.

Boxcarr Handmade Cheese is a new cheesemaking company in Cedar Grove NC, started by a brother and sister team, Samantha and Austin Genke. They are making cheeses inspired by the small country farmsteads of Italy. Rosie's Robiola is a soft-ripened cow's milk robiola with a thin wrinkly geo rind and an oozy, yeasty center. The name is an hommage to one of Samantha's all-time favorite goats, and also to her 7 month old daughter.

As the cheese started oozing the moment it was cut, this makes for a challenge, especially for summer month painting. The beautiful bloomy rind has an intricate pattern resembling a loosely-woven basket and I felt like I was racing to get what I could painted before it oozed out. I fear I didn't come close to representing the brilliance of it's flavor. This cheese won my heart at first taste. I am SO grateful that the cheesemaker stopped by the studio to drop off a few squares of this. I expect to be hearing a lot about Boxcar Cheese in the future.

Origin: USA, North Carolina

Availability: sold