Tussey Mountain (revisited)

Ladies and gentlemen, it's officially farmers market season and that means CSA season, too!

I'm thrilled to announce that Family Farm Creameries will be working with THREE Western Pennsylvania CSA producers to offer a Local Cheese Share this season, including our longtime partner, Clarion River Organics of Emlenton, Pennsylvania. New this season are cheese share selections from Who Cooks For You Farm of New Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Harvest Valley Farms of Gibsonia, Pennsylvania.

Along with CSA season and our Local Cheese programs comes renewed activity on the FFC Cheese Blog.

So, without further ado, I present to you a cheese that I am always eager to share with those who are new to farmstead cow's milk cheeses... "Tussey Mountain"

"Tussey Mountain" is produced by members of the Rice family of Clover Creek Cheese Cellar of Williamsburg, Pennsylvania and, to me, it's everything a farmstead cheese should be.

A "blind" cheese with a close-texture and firm, dry butter-yellow paste that melts in your mouth, "Tussey Mountain" is Clover Creek's version of Emmenthaler Swiss.

For a "Swiss" cheese, it's incredibly accessible. I'm not particularly a fan of sharp, Americanized "Swiss" style cheeses, but "Tussey Mountain" is an all around exception.

Milder in sharpness than your average "Swiss," this cheese has a tangy-sweet flavor and earthy, mushroom aftertaste.

To me, "Tussey Mountain" is best enjoyed "straight-up" - not necessarily cooked into a dish. Feeling frisky? This cheese is even better when paired with a medium-body white wine with low acidity and light, fruity notes like a Viognier. If you prefer beer with your cheese or you'd like to try a meltier version, consider reaching for a Lager or even making your own Lager-infused fondue.