点评:In addition to the cheese classes in San Miguel de Allende and in Europe, The Empress of Cheese leads trips afield in the greater San Miguel area. We recently went to the Rancho San JoseMaria, in the state of Queretaro. She's well organized, having us meet at a precise time and location so that we could travel caravan-style.
The Rancho is a sheep ranch on the other side of the the city of Queretaro, tucked into a valley between cactus and mezquite, with several hundred Friesian sheep. This breed of sheep is known for their high milk production and high percentage of milk fat, both essential in making good cheese.
After our tour, the Empress introduced us to the owner and the she walked us through a tasting of 8 of the more than 10 types cheeses they make, from a creamy pungent one reminiscent of bleu, to an herb-infused hard cheese that ages beautifully to a crystally, almost crunchy texture.
Tonya Harmon, the Empress herself also told us about potential combinations, both savory and sweet, and we nibbled fresh bread between the different cheese types in order to clear the palate.
The Rancho has won multiple Mexican and International awards, and their on site shop offers, cheeses, wool blankets and throws, and even sheep fertilizer.
I look forward to attending Empress of Cheese classes here, and it's a great way to enjoy the bounty of Mexico.
翻译:除了在圣米格尔-德阿连德和欧洲的奶酪课程外,奶酪皇后还会带我们去大圣米格尔地区进行实地考察。我们最近去了克雷塔罗州的圣何塞玛丽亚牧场。她安排得井井有条,让我们在精确的时间和地点见面,这样我们就可以像旅行车一样旅行。
牧场是克雷塔罗市另一侧的一个牧羊场,坐落在仙人掌和梅斯基特之间的山谷中,饲养着数百只弗里斯兰羊。这种绵羊以产奶量高和乳脂率高而闻名,这两者都是制作优质奶酪的关键。
参观结束后,奶酪皇后把我们介绍给了牧场主人,并带我们品尝了他们制作的十多种奶酪中的八种,从奶油般浓郁的蓝纹奶酪,到香草味浓郁的硬奶酪,经过陈化后口感晶莹剔透,几乎酥脆可口。
奶酪皇后托尼亚·哈蒙亲自向我们介绍了各种咸甜奶酪的搭配,我们一边品尝着新鲜面包,一边品尝着各种奶酪,清爽一下味蕾。
这家牧场曾多次荣获墨西哥和国际奖项,他们店内还出售各种商品,包括奶酪、羊毛毯和披肩,甚至还有羊粪。
我期待着参加这里的奶酪皇后课程,这是一种享受墨西哥丰饶物产的绝佳方式。