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CHEESE TYPE BOARDS (for Cheese Lovers and Cheese Makers) => ADJUNCT - Washed Rind & Smear Ripened => Topic started by: Boofer on March 19, 2013, 04:15:39 AM

Title: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Boofer on March 19, 2013, 04:15:39 AM
Well, I wasn't sure if this should be placed in the blue section or stay here with its siblings. So I decided it should stay here since it's going to be a washed rind cheese anyway...and bleu/blue too!

This little cheese started life here (http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,11164.msg85532.html#msg85532). Now it continues its life all alone, creating its own blue character.

We'll see how it goes.

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Schnecken Slayer on March 19, 2013, 05:21:06 AM
That is going to be an interesting make. I look forward to following the little guys progress.
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: hoeklijn on March 21, 2013, 10:34:20 AM
Boofer, perhaps I missed something in the original post, but how is this little one getting blue?
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Tiarella on March 21, 2013, 12:03:48 PM
Boofer, perhaps I missed something in the original post, but how is this little one getting blue?

You have to click on his link in his first post to learn about the gestation of this cheese.  it's a sort of leftover curd, "what should I do" sort of cheese that he dosed with a PR slurry to blue it up.  But I like your smurf pic and I think the cheese name could be Bleu Pont-l'smurfeque.
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Boofer on March 21, 2013, 02:12:24 PM
Thanks for filling in the blanks, Kathrin. :)

Yeah, that's about it, Herman. I'll take this little guy to some point with the rind development, along with his two big siblings. Then, at some point, I will dose it with some Blue Castello I just happened to have. Interesting point, the Blue Castello has a butterfat content of around 75%. That should be close to where this little guy will end up.

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Boofer on March 26, 2013, 04:07:43 PM
Tomorrow will mark 2 weeks for this cheese. Hoping for a little more shrinkage and more Geo & linens before I dose it with the Blue Castello slurry.

This will be a different blue effort. Ordinarily a blue cheese is dosed with the milk in the make or at moulding time. I've done both. This will be after-the-fact bluing. I don't know if it will take or what the outcome might be. Eh, it's a grand experiment. ;)

What I expect and am driving for is an extra creamy mild blue cheese. Should be very rich and delightful (Put away the diet!).

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: JeffHamm on March 26, 2013, 05:29:13 PM
Hi Boofer,

I think your post-blue application should work fine.  I took a cheesemaking course a couple years ago (which is what got me hooked on making cheese) and one trick we were told was to go buy a cheap edam or mild cheddar, and take our favorite blue, smear some over the cheap cheese, poking holes in it, etc, then wrap with foil, put in the veggie crisper, and leave it for a month or two.  Then, we would end up with a kilo of blue cheese.  I've not tried it myself, but someone on the board did and it worked fairly well for them.  So, with your far superior cheese, this should be a star!  A cheese to you for trying yet another approach.

- Jeff
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Boofer on March 27, 2013, 06:05:14 AM
Thanks, Jeff.

I do have some prior experience that underscores my possible success. Here's an earlier effort (http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,9508.msg70810.html#msg70810).

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Boofer on April 04, 2013, 12:33:34 AM
The rind had stayed pretty much low-key Geo. Not much linens action...and that's good for this particular cheese. I decided today would be a good time to make it bleu.

I sprayed my dedicated knitting needle with Star-San and set it aside.

I cut off the outer surfaces of my Blue Castello wedge and took about a tablespoonful of inner paste with bluing. I added a little distilled water and mixed up the slurry.

I held the cheese and gently poked holes through to the opposite flat side, twisting the knitting needle as I pierced the cheese. After piercing, I dribbled the slurry into the holes. I wanted it in the holes more than on the surface, but I didn't make any effort to clean off the surface. Once I had put the slurry in the holes, I looked at the other flat side and saw that the holes hadn't really come all the way through. I pierced shallowly through this side and turned the cheese back upright. That seemed to allow the slurry to more easily enter the holes I had made in the top. So I added some more slurry to the holes.

While I was piercing the cheese, it seemed that the paste was creamy. I didn't get a chance to taste any of it so it will be a grand surprise in several weeks. ;)

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Boofer on April 05, 2013, 07:58:07 PM
Checking on the cheese this morning I found that the temp/humidity levels were off...50F/80%RH.

I added a small dish of water with salt to bring up the humidity and turned the controller temp up a bit.

The two Pont l'Eveque squares shared space in the same cave, but after the innoculation they were placed in their own cave.

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Schnecken Slayer on April 05, 2013, 11:37:48 PM
Hmmm, if you had one, you could use a brining needle/injector to get the slurry inside easier.
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Boofer on April 06, 2013, 12:12:49 AM
Hmmm, if you had one, you could use a brining needle/injector to get the slurry inside easier.
Hmmm, if only.... (http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,9484.msg70349.html#msg70349)

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Schnecken Slayer on April 06, 2013, 12:52:58 AM
Hmmm, if only.... ([url]http://cheeseforum.org/forum/index.php/topic,9484.msg70349.html#msg70349[/url])

-Boofer-


exactly!  ::)
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Boofer on April 18, 2013, 02:10:13 PM
This little cheese is surprising me with its development. Unlike its larger square siblings, this cheese has developed its rind properly and has the characteristic white grittiness from the Geo. It also shows a little linens color.  Perhaps it is correct because it is smaller and the inner paste has dried a little earlier, whereas the larger square Pont l'Eveques contain more moisture and they subsequently are having a difficult time losing that moisture. The taller form factor of this little cheese also allows it more exposure to the air. Of course, poking it with holes didn't hurt either. ;)

The blue slurry I painted on has been assimilated and is no longer an obvious standout from the cheese.
 
Currently, affinage is around ~90%RH and ~53F. The moist paper towel contributing to RH can be seen in the pic.

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Schnecken Slayer on April 19, 2013, 01:21:59 AM
That is looking good even if it does look like a Salvador Dali picture.
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Boofer on April 25, 2013, 05:52:45 AM
One week later and a little more shrunken. I may have to trier this tomorrow or this weekend.

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: george on April 25, 2013, 10:33:47 AM
You just like saying "trier this".   ^-^
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Tiarella on April 25, 2013, 11:18:06 AM
You just like saying "trier this".   ^-^

Boofer, she's got your number!   ;D. No where to hide!

Hi Mary, Nice to see you up to your lovely sassiness!!!!  Love it when you post.   :D
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Boofer on May 07, 2013, 11:34:42 PM
I had cut the square Pont l'Eveques this morning. I decided to cut this little puppy this afternoon. You can see I already cleaved it a while back, but then closed it back together again when I saw that the progress wasn't nearly complete.

Cutting today, I saw that the slurry hadn't really become a factor at all. Perhaps if I do a blue any time soon I'll use the PRB15 that I've been holding onto.

Tasting this little cheese was very pleasing...creamy, with a slight tang. This actually seems more like what a Crottin or other lactic should be. Overall, not very blue at all, but still very tasty. I wrapped the remaining pieces in cheese wrapping cellophane and put them in the cold fridge.

-Boofer-
Title: Re: Bleu Pont-l'Évêque
Post by: Tiarella on May 08, 2013, 11:18:37 AM
What a beautiful creamy cheese!!!!!