Irish Cheese Plate

When most people think about cheese from Ireland, the first and often only cheese they think about is Cheddar. Although other types of Irish cheeses are slightly harder to find in the states, these unique and complex cheeses are worth seeking out.

• Place the cheeses on the plate in the order below, from mildest to strongest
• The sweet taste of soda bread contrasts nicely with cheese. Slice it thinly and serve next to the cheese plate
• Pair this platter with Irish beer
• Serve with Chutney. Either make your own, or try one like McQuade's Celtic Chutney
  Irish Cheeses
  
  
  1. Coolea - County Cork, Ireland
     The Irish version of Gouda, this raw cows' milk cheese is sweet and sharp and usually fairly mild.
     
     
  2. Dubliner - Ireland
     This sweet and pleasant cows' milk cheese is aged 1 year and is the easiest to find; most regular grocery stores now sell it.
     
     
  3. Durrus - Country Cork, Ireland
     The cows' milk is raw and the rind is washed, but this cheese isn't overly pungent unless it's over-ripe. The flavor is fruity and slightly musty.
     
     
  4. Gubbeen - County Cork, Ireland
     Another washed rind with slightly more punch. A cows' milk cheese with a pinkish colored, unevenly shaped rind. This cheese tastes like the fields Irish cows graze on: earthy, grassy and mushroomy.
     
     
  5. Cashel Blue - County Tipperary, Ireland
     A raw cows' milk cheese that is creamy and almost runny if left at room temperature long enough. The mild and slightly sweet flavor makes it the perfect blue to end a cheese plate.