Last week, Dan and I bought a cheese called Red Dragon. I had seen it at the cheese counter before, and was always drawn to it because of its name and because of the bright red wax that coats it, which makes it stand out against the forest of white and yellow cheeses. I had been hesitant to get it in the past because it is made with lots of mustard seed, and I am not always a fan of mustard.
We finally decided to give it a try and I am so glad we did! It is absolutely delicious. As it turns out, the mustard taste is not overwhelming at all. The cheese is a light yellow, soft paste speckled throughout with the mustard seed. It is also made with ale. The combination of the ale and mustard flavors adds a nice bite to the background of Red Dragon, but the base cheese stands up to these added flavors nicely. At room temperature the cheese is just spreadable but also sliceable, and the robust nature of the cheese lends itself well to a hearty bread or cracker. No need for delicate wafers with this cheese.
The look of Red Dragon makes a striking conversation piece on a cheese tray. I imagine it would be accented nicely with a dry white wine, but a hard cider or (obviously) a beer is even better. Even a porter would not overwhelm this hearty cheese. I am so happy that we decided to finally give Red Dragon a chance!
Happy eating!
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