by Steven Doyle
What weighs five ounces, is about an inch and half tall and is no more than five weeks old? I can only think of one thing, the MT TAM from Cowgirl Creamery. This lush heavy butter fat cheese has a soft and very edible rind, slightly oozy in the center and will make you leap like a lord. Lords do leap quite a bit, and Mt Tam may very well be the reason why.
Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt Tam is arguably the finest example of a triple cream in the United States. It has a rich and buttery flavor with a natural essence of cremini mushrooms, a certain nuttiness from the aging, topped with a delicious lemony finish that pairs ever so wonderfully with your favorite bubbles. It is a festive cheese and it clings to a festive wine. But do not fear pairing with whatever works for you.
In the past few weeks we have enjoyed the cheese with a delicious 2015 Pinot Noir from MacMurray, and more recently with a Malbec. The Malbec had an assist from particularly beautiful and plump blackberries, which were on the sour side but played well into the hands of the wine and cheese combination. The MacMurray pairs well with most anything.
For our beer friends, you will find that the Sorachi Ace, the Brooklyn Saison/ Farmhouse Ale, dances nicely with our featured cheese. Locally, graft the cheese with an IPA such as the Community Mosaic with its distinctive hoppy madness and notes of citrus, herbs and malt.
The Mt Tam is a cheese that likes to be taken to a dinner party, but is also geared towards a romantic evening for two. The cheese is served best close to room temperature. You can find our favorite cheese of the week at Whole Foods or Central Market in Dallas.
