Search results for "Maine"


Opus 42

Opus 42

Series: Cheese Portraits

Description: Allison Lakin sent me this beautiful cow's milk cheese that is an interesting mix of flavors that translates as both fresh spring rain and the musty cellar it was aged in. It's quite hard to pin down in words, and I mean that in a good way. It's earthy and grassy, but like there's some onion-grass in there, or chives... and it's light and mildly sharp and nutty with a yeasty milk-like finish and ... it's addictive. I love it and can't say I can compare it with any other cheese in memory. It's also quite attractive with a crumbled, mottled texture and a color range of pale-chalky lemon-yellow to a rich deep orange-olive glow nearer the rind. Thanks Allison, for helping me get another Maine cheese portrait on the cheesemap!

Origin: USA, Maine

Tags: Lakin's

Price: sold

Ricotta (Lakin's Gorges)

Ricotta (Lakin's Gorges)

Series: Cheese Portraits

Description: Maine, is another new state for the cheesemap! Allison Lakin, of Lakin's Gorges Cheese, generously sent me this fresh basket-molded Ricotta made with Tide Mill Organic Milk. It is an understatement to say it was extremely challenging to paint. There's need for a lot of subtle color in the a-chromatic white wheel. It's flavor is subtle (as expected) yet wonderful and Allison offered lots of suggestions of pairings. I found honey was best suited as it became a fine breakfast after having painted it late into the night before.

Origin: USA, Maine

Tags: cow, New England, Lakin's Gorge

Price: sold

Rockweed

Rockweed

Series: Cheese Portraits

Description: A recent visit to Maine allowed me to catch up with my cheesemaker friend Allison Laking, of Lakin's Gorges Cheese, who is a fancy-schmancy Ivy League (Cornell, hence "Gorges") educated anthropologist. Now She's a humble kick-ass cheesemaker, a milker of cows and farmer's market maven. She handed me this square wheel of her gorgeous (see what I did there?) bloomy rind cheese with a zig-zag layer of powdered seaweed running through its center. I'm so glad to finally get a chance to paint this beauty. After a week or so it was perfectly ripe and delicious, and so creamy it was threatening to ooze while I was painting it. In the end, it turned out to be a super model. This cheese is a result of relocating her cheesemaking to her farm. Allison wanted to create a cheese that was truly a taste of place. East Forty Farm stretches down to Long Cove, on the Medomak River which is rich with seaweeds. After 6 months of research and careful choosing the best flavor profile, she started making the powdered ribbon for the center of the new bloomy rind cheese. It's aged for one month and is creamy, briny and deliciously savory. I almost get a hint of the fresh sea when I eat this, but perhaps that's just my silly artist imagination. Regardless, I absolutely love it! Seek some out for yourself, from Laking's Gorges Cheese.

Origin: Maine, USA

Price: sold