So, if you haven't gleaned this from the posts yet, some really big changes have been going on in this bird's nest (are you sick of the bird references? It's ok, I'll run out eventually). The largest is, Mr. Littlebird has flown the coop (sorry). Not permanently, mind you, but for the next seven weeks he is back and forth between our beach-y town and DC doing some intense technical training...after which, WE ARE MOVING! Here is the awesome fun kicker...we have no idea where yet! Adventures (of any sort) rank into my top ten, this qualifies as the second crazy move made in adult life. Wilmington has been my home since moving here from the chilly northeast in 2001, fourteen years and lots of memories later, fully prepared to NEVER challenge another vacuum to suckupeverygrainofsand (btw, you can't, not possible).
Oh, the experiment. So, in light of the challenges faced in packing a home solo, the bar has been raised and the vegan experiment has begun. Not too far a stretch, after a near 20 year stint as a home cooking vegetarian, veganism sounded like a fun endeavor (also, the legumes are taking over my home so, they need to get in someone's belly). Like a dolt, my camera charger was left in the luggage packed for Mr. Littlebird, leaving you with no pictures for now. But this news had to be shared...I found the most delicious vegan cheese in all of the land and you need to know of it!!
Quick backstory...cheese is delicious...cheeseboards with fancy jams and accouterments are the go to on fancy vacations...the next day is pure agony...like, praying for death, intestines in sailors knots and writhing like eels (again, sorry). Until now, if you haven't yet meet this amazing company!!
http://stemartaen.com/
As a person who has studied animal science (thanks, Perdue and NC State), I really admire small scale agribusiness and think that if you are a consumer of meat, cheese, and eggs you can do no better. Truly, these types of establishments put their all into their animals. After interviewing a few (if you'd like to know more, let me know) and befriending many, you can tell the difference, passion and love for their products really shine. This is precisely what I experienced with this vegan product. Family owned and run, this seems to be a small batch company and foodtruck, They are self taught chefs and a couple raising a family...that's a lot of spinning plates in the air at once.
The cheese tested here was their pepperjack. The consistency reminded me of a semi soft cheese and was used only for snacking but, before impulse control kicked in, a quarter of a block disappeared in one sitting. Spicy, tangy, a nice bounce and non-grainy mouth-feel, it comes vacu-sealed and can be ordered directly from their website. Immediately, said website was hunted down and these eyes are scoping hard at the Olive (which, as a wee bird, would have elicited serious side eye) and smoked gouda. Ok, getting a bit carried away here. A full review after the entire block o cheese has been devoured. And a rating system must be employed...carrots? The Pepperjack from stemartaen would get : 8.5/10 carrots
What do you think? Have you ever tried a vegan cheese ? Which is your favorite?
~m
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