Lunar Landing

In my quest to savor the fine cheeses of the world I was directed to one in particular that has captivated me. Provisions Northampton, new favorite cheese shop, does it right. I tell the cheesemonger what I’m looking for and they do a wonderful job of filling me with information and guiding me to the perfect specimen: Jasper Hill Farm’s Bayley Hazen Blue “has developed a loyal following because of its fudge-like texture, toasted-nut sweetness, and anise spice character. The paste is dense and creamy, with well-distributed blue veins. The usual peppery character of blue cheese is subdued, giving way to the grassy, nutty flavors in the milk.” – JH

Side note: a cross section of this cheese resembles the moon AND it has made a solo flight to outer space! Was I high up in space when I made this? Maybe, but this is surely how it got named.

I combined the blue into an über-creamy ganache with Valrhona’s Guanaja – a bittersweet, floral and elegant 70% dark chocolate.

Lastly, I mixed in a splash of Sempé Armagnac V.S.O.P. – Armagnac, traditionally distilled once, is a more fragrant and flavorful spirit than cognac, where double distillation takes place. Aged longer than many other V.S.O.P. Armagnacs, Sempé contains a strong concentration of fruit on the nose with a slight hint of prune and a fine amber color.

Prepare for lift-off.​​