Although none of my top three made it in the expert category, my second choice (#5: Alp Vals from Seewis, host village of the Alp Spektakel) made it in the top three of the people's choice category. In fact, #5 appeared on Isaiah's top three list as well as our two friends' lists. Since this cheese was the only one Isaiah and I both agreed was top-three-worthy, that's the one we chose to take home with us.
Alp Vals cheese is creamy and buttery with a little kick to it. Although a bit funky-smelling, the odor isn't too strong and actually enhances the cheese's rich, distinguished flavor.
Bottomline: Scrumptious enough to please the both of us and make it on the people's choice list -- that's quite an accomplished cheese!
Interesting that the experts and the people would have such different opinions on what makes a good cheese!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog and am now following it for all things Queso! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis looks great...and interesting how different people's opinions were.....
ReplyDeleteChantal - you'd think the consumers' opinions would matter the most, but I imagine cheese manufacturers assume that Swiss consumers would rather go for a cheese lauded by the experts before anything else...
ReplyDeleteMandy - Thanks! I enjoy your blog as well and look forward to reading about your travels!
JennyMac - It really was a great event, and I hope to find more like it while we are living here. As for the cheese, I never knew how much cheese could vary in its flavor, texture, and stench until I moved here. With that variety comes equally as many opinions. Some of the cheeses I tried and thought were amazing were ones that repulsed my husband...