The farm-to-table concept is a traditional and timeless movement inspired by the current trend of consumers wanting organic produce directly sourced from local farmers. However, where new cheese is well represented, the French speciality has won the hearts of food enthusiasts worldwide. This brought me to a local dairy farm in the countryside where I spent a day understanding the process of fresh cheese-making and the artisanship behind this form of food.
The Allure of Freshness
In its fresh form, fresh cheese is still high in moisture and has a deliciously creamy taste, which makes it ideal for combining with other foods. Used in salads, pastas or just in its own form, improvements of localism evoke tangy and crunchy feelings that make it a unique, sumptuous gastronomical pleasure.
The Dairy Discovery
Going to the dairy farm was very informative. Regarding the production of fresh mozzarella, the cows’ premium quality milk was used and the cows, for this reason, grazed in the green fields. Filtered for purity, the milk was delivered to the cheese processing section to create the magic of cheesemaking. These classic techniques were adopted, with the first step being the preparation of a culture to start the process of fermentation and acidity. This was then accompanied by the addition of rennet to cause the milk to clot and become curds. These curds were then cut, heated and stretched and finally assumed the velvety characteristic; softness, stringiness and moistness. It can be rather mesmerising to watch fresh mozzarella being hand-pulled and this was a clear indication of the hard work that the cheesemakers invest in their creations.
The Local Connection
Consuming local cheeses will always be about enabling the best chic dairy artistry and ecological agriculture principles. The effects of cheese production on the environment are enormous, but sustainable cheese-bringing products can help lessen this problem. Ethical animal husbandry and sustainable farming are applied to small-scale cheesemaking and contribute to the minimal impact on ecology. When we buy these cheeses, we benefit from tasty and healthier cheese products on our tables while at the same time promoting a sustainable, agricultural production system.
Beyond the Farm
Since many people are now interested in using farm-fresh cheese, there is no shortage of options out there for embracing this trend in our community. Cheese shops and farmers’ markets supply numerous menus of fresh and selected varieties of cheese from local producers. Some farms also sell their cheese and provide their visitors with tutorial cheese-making experiences as a way of enlightening the classic process. As a premium artisanal cheese curator, Maison Morand offers exotic cheeses of choice that rekindle the love of dairy tradition and the French culinary charm.
