Camembert Lanquetot

Camembert Lanquetot 

Cheese is a complicated thing. No really, sitting here learning about it i never realized exactly how complicated it really is to make. I mean you first have to process it through the cow...you know milk then add all the fixings to it, then let it fester for a few weeks to make it into the yummy gooey concoction we call cheese....see that's complicated. Complicated and delicious! 

I have found a cheese called Camembert Lanquetot which is a soft, creamy, surface-ripened cow's milk cheese. It was first made in the late 18th century in Normandy in northern France.

Camembert is one of the most famous cheeses in France. Although the cheese dates back only to the 18th century. The origin of the cheese known today as Camembert is more likely to rest with the beginnings of the industrialization of the cheesemaking process at the end of the 19th century. In 1890, an engineer, M. Ridel invented the wooden box which was used to carry the cheese and helped to send it for longer distances, in particular to America where it became very popular. These boxes are still used today. 

Camembert is named after a Norman village where there is a statue of its creator (Marie 

Harel). In 1855 the cheese was presented to Napoleon, introduced as from the village of Camembert. He enjoyed it very much and from that moment Camembert became known everywhere by this name. Specially made in Camembert France ever since the late 1800's.

Brie cheese is a similar soft cheese, also made from cow milk. However, there are differences, as brie originates from the Île de France and camembert from Normandy. Traditionally, brie was always produced in large wheels and thus ripened differently. When sold, Brie typically has been cut from a larger wheel and therefore its side is not covered by the rind. By contrast, camembert is ripened as a small round cheese fully covered by rind changing the ratio between rind and inner part of the cheese (this affects the taste). It thus tends to be sold in thin round wood containers. I personally prefer the ooey gooey Camembert over brie....any day of the week!! :)

-Emily O