It’s almost a cliche: what’s grown in season will go well together on your plate. Most recently, we proved this rule with chèvre and raspberries.
I hear the question you’re asking: is chèvre seasonal? I’ll argue that it is, since it’s influenced by the taste of the grass the goats eat, especially in the spring and summer, and especially when it’s made at a small scale, like the farmstead chèvre made by Lost Peacock Creamery.
As I was researching this point, I came across an article by Chef Collective, that further explains the seasonality of chèvre: goats are particularly good at finding flowers, herbs, and other aromatic plants that are abundant in spring and summer. These flavors are expressed in their milk and ensure that the cheese produced pairs well with the seasonal produce available at the same time.
All of this to say that when a friend showed up for dinner with a very cute log of Lost Peacock chèvre and a pint of fresh raspberries, both from Olympia, there was only one thing to do: create a cheese plate featuring both, along with whatever crackers we had in the cupboard.
Cheese name: Chèvre
Producer: Lost Peacock Creamery
Purchased from: PCC market
About Lost Peacock Creamery
Lost Peacock Creamery produces multiple styles of cheese, all made from goat milk produced by the herd that pastures on their farm outside of Olympia, WA. In addition to the chèvre we tried, Lost Peacock also produces a Halloumi and Baby Golden Child, a gouda-style, semi-soft cheese. I look forward to tasting these cheeses soon!
The Lost Peacock Chèvre is a fresh goat milk cheese that’s sold in small logs, called ‘chubs’ and is soft and spreadable – exactly what I look for when searching for chèvre at the store. For more on what makes a goat cheese a chèvre, check out this excellent post by The PhCheese.
Tasting Notes & Pairings
We found the Chèvre’s taste clean and the texture creamy. It was very mild, and not at all goaty. I’d recommend it as a gateway goat cheese to anyone who is hesitant about this type of cheese. The chèvre was mildly tangy, but not overly acidic and the lemony herbaceous notes paired well with the tart raspberries.
Looking for additional pairings for your chèvre? Lost Peacock Creamery also provides lovely recommendations on their website.
Where to purchase
You can find Lost Peacock Chèvre at markets and grocery stores throughout the Puget Sound; the chub we ate was purchased at a local PCC Market. Pricing and availability vary seasonally, given the artisanal nature of the cheese.