Isigny Sainte-Mère Fromage Blanc (Cream Cheese)

TASTING NOTES FROM THE CURATOR

Fromage Blanc means “white cheese” in French, and this fresh cheese originated in the north of France. It’s a creamy soft cheese that is almost fat-free. The Isigny Sainte-Mère Fromage Blanc comes from Normandie, and has a wonderfully light texture, almost like mascarpone, but not as heavy. Its taste is similar to yogurt and sour cream, light and tangy.

PREPARATION AND PAIRINGS

Fromage Blanc is usually served like yogurt, as a dessert with some fruits. It can also be served like ricotta, spread on bread with some jam. But the Isigny Sainte-Mère Fromage Blanc (Cream Cheese) is also great to use as an ingredient in dishes, like sauces, savory oven-baked meals, and desserts. It can also be used as a substitute for sour cream, mascarpone, ricotta, and cottage cheese.

FOR THE LOVE OF TRADITION

When the sea retreated in the 16th century, one of Europe’s largest wetlands, the Isigny region, was left with a rich clay soil. This soil allowed the greenest of grass to grow plentifully, giving dairy farmers in the region an abundance of incredibly fine milk, rich in mineral salts and trace elements.

Isigny Sainte-Mère was a cooperative established in 1909 in the Manche departement, and which merged in 1980 with Isigny-Sur-Mer, which operated in nearby Calvados from 1932. They combined with an ambition to ensure quality and to remain faithful to traditional methods, in respect to both the terroir and the people.

Storage Instructions

Cheeses (except brined ones in jars) should be stored in the crisper or the butter drawer of a refrigerator, not on the shelves themselves. This is to help regulate their temperature and humidity levels—and prevents the formation of mold. Once opened, they should not be kept in their original packaging. This fresh cheese should be stored in a lidded plastic or glass container in the refrigerator. Kindly pay attention to the best before date label when you receive your cheese. Consume prior to date indicated.