St Julien / Rambol Mini Cheese

Description

St Julien (Rambol) Cheese

About St Julien

St Julien is a little different from most of the French cheeses on our counter.

There’s no natural rind, no months spent maturing in a cellar and no complicated PDO rules. Instead, this is a wonderfully creamy fresh cow’s milk cheese studded with pieces of walnut.

And I have a real soft spot for it.

It’s smooth, mild and incredibly easy to eat, with the walnuts adding just enough crunch and nuttiness to make things interesting. It’s also one of those cheeses that people sometimes overlook in favour of the grander French classics — until we give them a taste.

Then it tends to sell itself.

A Rather Modern French Cheese

Cheese and walnuts might feel like a combination that’s been around forever, but this particular style is surprisingly modern.

Its story begins in Rambouillet, just outside Paris, where a cheese blended with walnuts was developed in the 1960s. The idea proved popular and production later moved to nearby Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines, where Rambol with Nuts was launched commercially in 1970.

So while France has cheeses with histories stretching back hundreds of years, this one is very much a product of the twentieth century.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

Not every cheese needs a Pierre in its backstory.

St Julien / Rambol – Jen’s Tasting Notes

St Julien is made from cow’s milk and has a soft, creamy, almost whipped texture.

The flavour is fresh and milky with a gentle savoury note, while the pieces of walnut bring a lovely earthy nuttiness and a little crunch.

It’s certainly not a strong cheese. In fact, that’s part of its charm. The creaminess and walnuts do most of the talking, making it particularly good for people who prefer their cheese on the gentler side.

For me, it’s a summer cheese. There’s something about that combination of creamy cheese, walnuts, crusty bread and a glass of something cold that just works.

Although I’d happily eat it in December too. I’m not that strict about these things.

How to Serve and Pair Rambol

• Make sure you take it out of the fridge before serving. It doesn’t need to become as warm as some of our harder cheeses, but taking the chill off really helps the flavour.
• Classic pairings: For me this cries out for a crisp, dry Rosé. Fresh, summery and very easy to drink alongside the creamy cheese.
• Something a little different: A dry cider is lovely too. Apple and walnut are natural partners, and the acidity cuts nicely through the richness.
• On the plate: Spread it generously onto crusty bread or sourdough. Fresh pear or apple is particularly good alongside it, and a few dried figs wouldn’t go amiss either.
• In the kitchen: It’s lovely stirred through pasta or mashed potato, or used to stuff a chicken breast. Add it towards the end of cooking so you keep as much of that creamy texture and walnut flavour as possible.

Jen’s note: This cheese is super lovely, unless you’re allergic to nuts…

Buying St Julien

• Brand or Producer: The Rambol Company
• Product name: St Julien
• Milk: Cow
• Country: France
• Region: Île-de-France
• Strength: Mild
• Vegetarian: Yes (vegetarian rennet)
• Suitable for pregnancy: No
• Allergens: MILK

Sizes and Prices

• Whole cheese, £6.50

Storage Advice

• Keep refrigerated
• Wrap in waxed paper or cling film
• Remove from the fridge before serving
• Consume within 10 to 14 days of opening

Delivery and Collection

• UK wide courier delivery
• Click and collect from our Pangbourne shop
• Free local delivery available for selected postcodes

Ingredients (Allergens are listed in capitals)

Water, Cheese (cow’s MILK, salt, LACTIC ferments, microbial rennet, colouring E160a), BUTTER, WALNUTS 8%, MILK proteins, WHEY powder, starch, emulsifying salt (E452/E450), HAZELNUTS, thickener (E407), acidity regulator (E331/E339), salt, natural flavour (including CELERY, WALNUTS, ALMONDS). May contain traces of other nuts.