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Harbison for Breakfast

“So what’s your favorite cheese?”

I’d say I get this question at least three or four times a day, every day. And do you know what? It is a freaking hard one to answer. I mean, I get it – customers want to know what their monger thinks is the best of the best. Sure, fair enough. But I always end up launching into a spiel about different cheeses tasting better at different times of year… Different cheeses being more or less appropriate in varying situations… The fact that my mood changes and with it, my “favorite” cheese… The fact that the words “best” or “favorite” are completely subjective.

But more often than not, I receive a reply along the lines of, “Yeah, yeah, yeah…

But really. What’s your favorite cheese?”

And that’s when I turn to my dear friend, Harbison. Named for Anne Harbison, affectionately known as the “grandmother of Greensboro”, this wonderful little cheese hails from Jasper Hill Farm in Vermont. And while I stand by the fact that I crave different cheeses at different times, different cheeses are good for different things, (I’m sure you get the picture…), this is the cheese that I turn to time and again as my tried-and-true, year-round, no-qualifiers-needed favorite.

So what makes this particular wheel my go-to? Well, let’s count the ways – first, it’s a straight-up beautiful cheese. Whenever people come to my counter looking for something “different” or want to impress at a party, I always point them to the Harbison. It’s striking – modeled on the famous Vacherin Mont d’Or from Switzerland, Harbison is a 9oz circle of ooey gooey cow’s milk covered in downy white mold, which has been encased in a ring of spruce bark, mottled with blue, white, and green.

harbison-2In addition to the fact that it looks gorgeous as soon as you unwrap it, the best way to serve it is also a bit different than your average cheese. Instead of cutting it into wedges as per usual, I usually advise that customers use a butter knife to slice off the top rind, thus turning it into a self-contained cheesy dip. Believe me – it’s something that’s going to stand out from your average hunk of cheddar or a wedge of brie.

And finally, let’s talk flavor – while not, in my opinion, a real stinker, Harbison is chock full of flavor, making it ideal for a wide range of people. I always find tons of meaty, mustardy flavors hiding beneath it’s surface, along with a silky, spreadable texture that just won’t quit. True story – the year that I discovered Harbison, I brought a couple of wheels home for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately for my family, one of those wheels didn’t quite make it to the holiday table – I ate an entire wheel by myself for breakfast. That whole self-control thing goes right out the window when you get a perfectly ripe wheel of Harbison.

I’m so happy to announce that Harbison will be Via Umbria’s Cheese of the Month for January! We’ll be exploring this decadent, savory, umami-filled cheese next Wednesday, January 4th at 7:30pm at our Monthly Cheese Party. You may still feel full from the holidays, but believe me, you won’t want to miss it!

 

Alice Bergen Phillips
Alice Bergen Phillips

What's YOUR favorite cheese? Read more

"So what's your favorite cheese?" I'd say I get this question at least three or four times a day, every day. And do ...

Photo Diary: Dream of Italy Party

 

Via Umbria owner Bill Menard helps with a wine selection
Via Umbria owner Bill Menard helps with a wine selection

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Two weeks ago, Via Umbria lifted a glass to celebrate the premiere of the six-episode travel series Dream of Italy on PBS. In the series (watch a preview of the series), host and Via Umbria friend Kathy McCabe visits six areas of Italy, meeting the expressive locals — chefs, artisans, historians — who are deeply connected to their land, carrying on and preserving the traditions of their ancestors. While in Umbria, McCabe and her team stayed our Farmhouse La Fattoria del Gelso, which is centrally located, and thus perfect for filming all over Umbria.

Pours of sparkling Brut got us ready for toasting.
Pours of sparkling Brut got us ready for toasting.
Via Umbria owner Suzy Menard chats with Italian guests
Via Umbria owner Suzy Menard chats with Italian guests

Lucky for us, we had arranged for a DC visit of our friend Chef Simone, chef/owner of Le Delizie del Borgo restaurant in Bevagna (Umbria) to provide the day’s refreshments.  Chef Simone prepared a host of authentic Umbrian dishes for the celebration, and treated guests to a peek behind the scenes with live cooking demonstrations throughout the afternoon.

Fresh salads from Simone
Fresh salads from Simone
Simone gets his hands dirty at the cooking demonstration
Simone gets his hands dirty at the cooking demonstration

Shredding parmesan

Fresh Pasta
Fresh pasta from Chef Simone was a crowd pleaser
Chef Simone talks with a guest
Chef Simone talks with a guest

Yesterday, the Umbria episode was released online! Hop on over to the Dream of Italy website to see Kathy explore our very own Umbria. Drooling over the footage? There are still a few weeks left at the Farmhouse this summer that can be booked!

Suzy Menard Dream of Italy Party

Kathy McCabe Dream of Italy
Kathy poses with fans of the series

— Via Umbria

With Chef Simone's Authentic Umbrian Dishes Read more

  Two weeks ago, Via Umbria lifted a glass to celebrate the premiere of the six-episode travel series Dream of Italy on PBS. ...

PBS Dream of Italy comes to DC

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Via Umbria is rolling out the red carpet in our Galleria to celebrate the premiere of the six-episode travel series Dream of Italy on PBS.

 

Dream of Italy, the PBS series, is based on the award-winning subscription travel newsletter, Dream of Italy. In the series, McCabe visits six areas of Italy, meeting the colorful locals — chefs, artisans, historians — who are deeply connected to their land, carrying on and preserving the traditions of their ancestors. The regions covered in the series include Rome, Tuscany, Puglia, Piedmont/Lake Iseo, Naples/The Amalfi Coast and of course, Umbria.

 

Our special guest will be Chef Simone Proietti-Pesci, owner and master chef at La Delizie del Borgo in Bevagna. Chef Simone will conduct a cooking demonstration of traditional Umbrian delicacies and of course there will be plenty to taste. Plus, sip on some of Umbria’s best wines and watch clips from the series.

 

The crew of Dream of Italy stayed in La Fattoria del Gelso, while filming in the region. Watch a preview of the series here.

 

Join host Kathy McCabe and Via Umbria owners Suzy and Bill Menard at the store on Saturday, May 30th at 5 p.m. for a celebration of all things Italian and Umbrian. To attend the Dream of Italy party, RSVP to Elsa at elsa@viaumbria.com. See you there!

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Join us at Via Umbria to celebrate the premiere ! Read more

Via Umbria is rolling out the red carpet in our Galleria to celebrate the premiere of the six-episode travel series Dream of ...