{"id":780,"date":"2014-10-22T16:00:24","date_gmt":"2014-10-22T14:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/wordpress\/?p=780"},"modified":"2018-02-20T14:13:48","modified_gmt":"2018-02-20T13:13:48","slug":"beaufort-cheesemaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/summer\/mountain-living\/beaufort-cheesemaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Beaufort Cheesemaking"},"content":{"rendered":"
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U<\/span>nless you\u2019re a keen skier the Beaufortain may not sound instantly familiar, but this tiny area of Savoie, tucked away between Albertville and Mont-Blanc, is without doubt one of the most beautiful corners of France. Its peaceful Alpine valley setting is hardly the kind of place that you\u2019ll stumble upon by chance unless, like me, you decide to follow the legendary Route des Grandes Alpes, Europe\u2019s grand touring route par excellence. Beaufort feels in both spirit and scale much more like a village than a town, with a resident population of around 4,000 \u2013 roughly equal to that of the dairy cattle who graze the surrounding pastures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\n…there\u2019s simply nothing to compare with the complex flavours of cheeses created on the mountains themselves by a handful of artisan producers.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\n\"Walker<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\"Long\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A taste for the good things…<\/h2>\n

Despite which, Beaufort has achieved global celebrity among food-lovers as the production centre of the nutty, Gruy\u00e8re-style cheese which in 1968 was awarded the coveted AOC (Apellation d\u2019Origine Control\u00e9e) status. Praise indeed. Most of the annual output is produced in Beaufort\u2019s imposing Laiterie Co-operative, which represents no fewer than 130 local dairy farmers and employs traditional methods to create a range mature of cheeses. AOC accreditation assures the quality and authenticity of the product, as well as its place of origin \u2013 if the label says \u2018Beaufort\u2019 then it can only have come from right here in the Beaufortain.<\/p>\n

For the most demanding connoisseurs, however, there\u2019s simply nothing to compare with the complex flavours of cheeses created on the mountains themselves by a handful of artisan producers. Cheeses produced in the mid-mountain pastures (or montagnettes) between June and October qualify for the official title of \u2018Beaufort Alpage d\u2019Et\u00e9\u2019 and have subtle variations in their flavours, influenced by herbs and wildflowers flourishing among the grass on which the cattle graze. Most highly-prized of all is \u2018Beaufort Chalet d\u2019Alpage\u2019, produced by time-honoured traditional methods in remote settings above 1500 metres altitude. The most celebrated artisan producer is Jean-Pierre Blanc, who received the ultimate accolade of a Gold Medal in Paris for his own lovingly-crafted \u2018Beaufort Chalet d\u2019Alpage\u2019.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The quest for l\u2019authentique…<\/h2>\n

My return to the Beaufortain has been carefully timed in late-August to allow me to visit Jean-Pierre at work in the very highest of his mountain chalets \u2013 Conchette, at the head of the tiny Vall\u00e9e de Treicol (alt. 2100m). So remote is the setting that simply finding him will be a something of a challenge.<\/p>\n

The adventure begins with a steady climb from the village of Ar\u00eaches, past the cluster of large mountain chalets which alone constitute the tiny hamlet of Boudin, en-route to the Col du Pr\u00e9 (1703m). Beyond the Col the road descends to the southern shores of the vast turquoise-blue Lac de Roselend, before eventually joining the main route from Beaufort for the rugged climb to the spectacular Cormet de Roselend. My journey, on the other hand, takes me onto an inconspicuous, unsurfaced track just beyond the lake. Before long I cross the first of a series of mountain streams and arrive at Treicol, a group of ancient chalets with a small parking area in a hauntingly wild and beautiful setting. From here the track (a deservedly popular route for walkers) becomes impassible for vehicles with low ground-clearance. It\u2019s also the sole means of access for anyone planning on visiting M Blanc, so I press on, climbing through difficult, uneven terrain for a full twenty minutes or so. Eventually my determination is rewarded when a rugged-looking stone outline comes into view, set wisely in a sheltered dip in the landscape. By now the afternoon sun is low and there\u2019s a gnawing chill in the lengthening shadows, but for now at least there\u2019s no turning back.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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The life of an Alpagiste<\/h2>\n

Jean-Pierre Blanc is a true alpagiste, who still follows the age-old pattern of working established by his forebears. In winter the climate at high altitudes is harsh, so until the snow has melted and the grass reappears the cattle live safe and snug in barns on the family farm, on the valley floor. Cheeses produced during this period (typically between November and May) are simply termed \u2018Beaufort\u2019. When the springtime thaw begins the cattle are herded to pastures higher up the valley sides where they can enjoy the fresh spring grass (the fertile seasonal grazing areas being known as alpages).
\nAccompanying his herd, or troupeau, is Jean-Pierre, who from now until the autumn will live and continue making his cheeses in a succession of chalet-style stone buildings owned by generations of his family.
\nAs the snow-line continues to retreat the cattle are moved to successively higher locations up the mountain, and Jean-Pierre transfers to his next chalet, perpetuating the old tradition of la transhumance which is still common in mountain areas including the Alps and Pyr\u00e9n\u00e9es.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Welcome to Conchette<\/h2>\n

Jean-Pierre has been expecting me, and greets me with a firm handshake, an easy smile and an invitation to step into his mountain refuge. Inside, as befits its ephemeral function of a living and a working space, things are every bit as basic as I\u2019d suspected when I\u2019d first caught distant sight of the unpretentious stone building. But Jean-Pierre is well used to the rigours of true mountain living, and in any case has little time to enjoy the luxuries of a modern lifestyle, as I\u2019m about to discover. First, though, we take advantage of a moment of calm and seat ourselves around a small pine table to enjoy a warming coffee and sample his renowned cheese. The intense flavour is unlike anything I\u2019ve ever tasted, and I find it hard to believe that it could have been produced in this wild and remote setting. <\/p>\n

The character of the cheeses is down to what the cows graze on,\u201d explains Jean-Pierre. \u201cDifferent grasses, wildflowers, as well as exposure to sun and winds, even the soil itself, all add complexity to the flavours of the cheese.<\/p>\n

Jean-Pierre\u2019s 125-strong herd are a mix of the Tarine and Abondance, both local and hardy breeds known for their milk. They are milked twice a day at a nearby mobile milking parlour, the churns of milk then transported to Jean-Pierre\u2019s chalet where he and his two assistants, one of which is a trainee, start their well rehearsed routine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\n\"Jean-Pierre\n<\/div>\n
\n\"Jean-Pierre\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The work begins…<\/h2>\n

First the milk is poured into a vast copper cauldron or chaudron capable of holding around three thousand litres and heated to 33\u00baC by means a simple ring-shaped burner connected to a large gas cylinder. After filtering and further gentle heating, the milk receives a small amount of natural calf-rennet, and the action of the enzymes triggers a process of coagulation. After about thirty minutes the resulting curds are sliced into small pieces, to eliminate much of the water, using a multi-wire cutter known as la tranche-caill\u00e9. The cauldron is then heated to 52\u00baC, while the contents are stirred continuously. \u201cThe important thing is to maintain the temperature \u2013 I keep checking the texture by hand for the curds gradually dry out until eventually I can feel the texture I\u2019m looking for. It\u2019s something you learn by experience.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

During this crucial stage (known as brassage sur le feu) Jean-Pierre checks both texture and colour repeatedly until he\u2019s satisfied that the precise moment has come for the heating to stop and the \u2018cooked\u2019 cheese removed for pressing. Doing so is a delicate exercise requiring two people, who pass a muslin cloth supported by a pliable wooden hoop beneath the heavy cheese mixture, to scoop up the contents. This is then hoisted on a pulley to allow the liquid to drain through the muslin, after which the remaining cheese solids are ready to be placed, still in the muslin, into timber moulds, pressed under heavy weights and allowed to solidify. The process continues until all the solids have been removed, and between six and eight of the distinctive, convex-sided cheeses or tommes have been produced.<\/p>\n

The work isn\u2019t over yet, however. The remaining liquid is poured into milk churns (to be fed to the appreciative pigs which Jean-Pierre rears), the copper cauldron scrupulously cleaned and the muslin sheets washed and hung out to dry. Once the cheeses have hardened they can be removed from the moulds and carried out to a nearby stone building where the maturing stage or afinage can commence. It\u2019s physically demanding work, not least since the cheeses can weigh up to 70kg, but Jean-Pierre is by now well accustomed to carrying his precious creations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Parting thoughts…<\/h2>\n

By now the sun has disappeared, an almost-full moon is hanging in the deepening dusk and temperatures are falling fast. It\u2019s a long, long way back down to the valley. I therefore say a reluctant goodbye to Jean-Pierre, and leave him to make the most of the precious few hours which remain until the next cheese production process begins during the early hours of the morning. In summer Jean-Pierre makes 350 cheeses and the work is relentless. Surprisingly little has changed since his grandfather\u2019s day. Mobile milking parlours, transported by tractor and powered by generator, have replaced hand-milking and the cauldron is heated by a gas-burner instead of a wood fire, but otherwise the cheesemaking process, and the toughness of the work, is the same.<\/p>\n

There again, the potential rewards are far greater now. Beaufort Chalet d\u2019Alpage cheese sells for a premium price – and, of course, Jean-Pierre can take pride in the knowledge that his name is now revered by countless cheese-lovers throughout the world who appreciate the Prince de Gruy\u00e8res. \"MountainPassions<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Recipes<\/h2>\n

Tarte au Beaufort<\/h3>\n
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This is a classic Beaufort cheese recipe, a deliciously rich cheese tart <\/strong>with a melt-in- the-mouth buttery pastry. Serve with a green salad and a glass of dry white Vin de Savoie for a perfect light lunch.<\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/h4>\n

250g plain flour
125g butter
3\/4 glass of water
Salt
Filling:
100g Beaufort, grated
200ml cr\u00e8me fra\u00eeche
1 glass of milk
3 eggs
Nutmeg
Salt, pepper<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Method<\/h4>\n

Sieve the flour into a large bowl, add a pinch of salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the flour. Rub together with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add a dessert spoon of water at a time, kneading the mixture until it comes together in a soft dough. Alternatively, put the dry ingredients into a food processor, whiz to breadcrumbs then add two or three dessert spoons of cold water until it forms a ball of dough. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate while preparing the filling.
Preheat the oven to 200\u00b0C.
In a bowl, whisk the cr\u00e8me fra\u00eeche with the eggs and milk. Season with salt and pepper, grate a little nutmeg, add the grated Beaufort and mix well.
Roll out the pastry dough and line a buttered flan tin \u2013 one with a removable base is easiest. Prick the bottom with a fork. Pour in the filling and put in a hot oven for 30 \u2013 35 minutes.
Remove the flan from the tin and serve hot.\"MountainPassions<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Souffl\u00e9 au Beaufort<\/h3>\n
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Beaufort makes a beautifully tasty souffl\u00e9<\/strong>. You can vary the recipe by adding girolle mushrooms or steamed broccoli to the sauce before folding in the egg whites.<\/p>\n

Ingredients<\/h4>\n

200g Beaufort cheese (grated)
50g butter
50g flour
40cl milk
4 eggs
Salt, pepper
Freshly grated nutmeg<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Method<\/h4>\n

Preheat the oven to 220\u00b0C (200\u00b0C fan oven). Prepare a souffl\u00e9 dish by greasing with butter then lightly flouring the inside.
Prepare a B\u00e9chamel sauce: melt the butter in a saucepan, add the flour, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Beat the mixture together to form a roux then gradually add the milk.
Stir constantly over a low heat until you have a smooth sauce. Mix in the grated cheese and remove from the heat. Separate the eggs and put the whites into a clean bowl. Add the yolks to the sauce and mix well.
Whisk the egg whites until they are stiff. Fold them gently into the sauce, keeping in as much air as possible.
Pour the mixture into the souffl\u00e9 dish and cook for 30 minutes (don\u2019t open the oven door during cooking or the souffl\u00e9 will drop). Serve immediately.\"MountainPassions<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the high alpages beside Mont-Blanc we go in search of an award-winning producer of Beaufort, one of the most highly-prized of all mountain cheeses.","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":6764,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[18,67,139,141,142,148,150,152,153,154,155,156,157,158],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBeaufort Cheesemaking - Mountain Living - MountainPassions<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In the high alpages beside Mont-Blanc we go in search of an award-winning producer of Beaufort cheese, one of the most highly-prized of all Alpine cheeses.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mountainpassions.com\/summer\/mountain-living\/beaufort-cheesemaker\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Beaufort Cheesemaking - 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