TJ's Get's Rustiqued... Again!

I like cheese - this is a known fact.  I think it's safe to say that you like cheese as well.  Good then I'll continue.  Trader Joe's is known for their interesting cheeses at affordable prices.  I'm pretty sure that TJ's introduced many staple cheeses to the world: the cheddar like Dubliner Irish, the trendy blue brie Cambozola, and the TJ's Stilton is a big favorite of mine.  Not too many people, however, had ever come across this lesser known gem of a cheese.  And my, oh my, oh my - what a wonder of a cheese it is!  I could go on and on about this lovely, nutty, just barely intrusive Camembert Le Rustique - and I probably will.  On top of all of this who can deny that the balsa wood container makes you feel like you know your cheeses?  No one, that's who!  Until recently, thoguh, it had mysteriously disappeared off the shelve...

I had latched onto this Camembert pretty early and - aside from eating it in the traditional bread and wine fasion - I began experimenting with it in my recipes.  That creamy texture with the well-rounded bite it has went to make one of the best pasta sauces I have yet to create.  2 bacons rendered, a cup of ultra rich and ultra reduced Japanese Tonkotsu.... wait a minute - I think I'll save this recipe for another story.  Anyway, it made the most rich, gooey, and lustful catalyst for a serving of simple spaghetti I have yet to come across.  But my love for this cheese was heart-broken when I stopped seeing it in the TJ's cold section.  Was it a seasonal cheese?  Did they run out?  Was TJ's reverse engineering it to make their own TJ version (they would never do that)?  Well, lucky for me, the cheese just went on vacation for a while because it's back.

Not only is Le Rustique back but there's also another wanna-be stow-away that came back with it.  Apparently - and I've tasted for myself - TJ's has succeeded in producing a very similar strand of cheese to our Rustique friend.  It's decent too - richer color, more of a sting to the taste, obviously their attempt to one up the brand name.  In all honesty this TJ version reminds me more of what it tasted like than actually tasting the real thing today... hmmmm!  I can't remember the name of the TJ version but it's in a similar wood casing with only half a wheel.

Bottom line: Le Rustique is the 'dizzle and I suggest you pick some up with your favorite baguette or those awesome Just Crisps that they sell there.  Don't be afraid to let it sit out a while before you get into it - and it seems to me that this cheese ages quite well.  It would go lovely with some slighty exotic jam or tomato chutney.  All this and at TJ's prices you can't go wrong.  I think I'll run tot he fridge and have some now, by Joe!

If you know why it went away for a while let me know by emailing me or just leave a comment.

--J.O'Ly.