Bayonne Ham is made in the Basque area of France. It is sweet tasting, air-dried, boneless ham that doesn’t need cooking. You use it as you would prosciutto, though it is sliced a bit more thickly. Only one breed of pig is used, a Basque breed called “Pie Noir” (“black food”) that is mottled black…
Basque Food
Bleu des Basques
Bleu des Basques is a semi-firm, slightly crumbly, blue cheese. It has bluish-grey veins, and a rind, and is milder and less salty than other blue cheeses.
Etorki Cheese
Etorki is a Basque sheep’s milk cheese. The rind on the cheese is thin and orangish. Inside, the cheese is supple and light-yellow, and feels just a bit oily from the high butterfat content. The flavour is somewhat sweet; some people detect notes of burnt caramel.
Ossau-Iraty Cheeses
Ossau-Iraty cheese is made from sheep’s milk. The inside may have a buttery texture when young. When older, the cheese can be grated. The cheese is often served with cherry preserves as a dessert.
Pérail de Brebis
Pérail de Brebis is a soft, strong-tasting cheese made from raw milk from sheep. It is pale yellow with a soft rind, and a soft texture like that of thick, almost runny cream.