Much Tommes Much, Much Too Soon (Tommes)

Member Name: debod

Product:	Tommes
Date:	01/05/01 (54 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Impressive to look at, great texture and taste

Disadvantages: Maybe too unnerving in appearance, taste and texture need to mature, quite expensive

Tommes (pronounced Tom) is a rather unappetizing-looking cheese. I had some recently in a restaurant, among a selection from a huge platter that made up the third course of a splendid Parisian meal. I have to say, its grey, withered skin made me hesitate, but I went for it out of sheer curiosity. And it was the best thing there.

Like most cheeses, it probably benefits from being left out to mature a little. After the restaurant experience I bought some in a supermarket (it was the most expensive cheese on display, but, determined to repeat the culinary bliss, I made it my luxury item in that day's shopping). However, I was disappointed when I tucked in at home. The consistency was chewier and the flavour milder than it had been in the restaurant. But once it had been abandoned on the kitchen table for a couple of days it began to take on the smooth, creamy, elastic texture and salty, mushroomy, smoky, tanginess that had seduced my tastebuds a few days earlier.

So, don't be put off by the colour of the outer layer... this can (and should, I imagine) be discarded. What you're left with is a flavoursome and more exciting alternative to Camambert or Brie, with none of that nasty, floury texture in the middle.

Summary: