| Vacherin Fribourgeois is a Swiss mountain cheese that | | | | straw color and may have small holes throughout and |
| is produced in the canton of Valais. As with all Swiss | | | | a buttery texture. It has a pleasant nutty flavor that |
| mountain cheeses the milk comes from cows that | | | | lasts in your mouth. |
| graze on Alpine grass and wild flowers throughout | | | | When buying Vacherin Fribourgeois look for a light |
| the late spring and summer. This pure grazing method | | | | brown rind that is semi-soft but not mushy. The top |
| allows the cows to produce sweeter milk. As | | | | of the rind may have a very thin paper label |
| summer turns to early fall the cows are brought | | | | attached. A hard rind indicates dryness and should be |
| down to lower pastures to graze on grass and | | | | avoided. An unhealthy odor of rot and a grayish tinge |
| summer hay. No other type of silage is fed to dairy | | | | to the paste are also telltale signs of over ripeness. |
| cows during the winter except alpine and low | | | | Vacherin is a great substitute for French Raclette |
| meadow hay. This is the traditional method of dairy | | | | when having fondue. Use it melted as the cheese |
| production, which continues today, and it has been | | | | covering on onion soup. This is a great melting |
| producing magnificent mountain style cheese for | | | | cheese so try using it in place of your usual Swiss |
| centuries. | | | | cheese on grilled sandwiches, gratins, potatoes or |
| Vacherin is a raw cow milk semi-firm cheese that has | | | | over steamed vegetables. Also serve it cubed with |
| been lightly pressed and aged for three to four | | | | salads or with fresh sliced apples or pears as a |
| months. It is closely related to Italian Fontina d'Aosta | | | | dessert course. It is wonderful as a table cheese |
| but its curd is not cooked. Vacherin has an inedible | | | | paired with crusty bread and wine. Remember that |
| natural brushed and washed rind that has a moderate | | | | the rind is inedible so remove it before serving or |
| stink factor, however the aroma is neither | | | | grilling. |
| overpowering nor offensive. The interior paste has a | | | | |