Libation of the Week: Mezzo Mix

Name: Mezzo Mix

 

Brand: Coca-Cola

Place of Purchase: Wegman's in Clay, NY

Country/Region of Origin: Germany

Tasting Conditions: Chilled in the can

Price in New York: $1.49 for 12 oz.

Description:  Cola kissed by orange.

Flavor:  A mild, natural orange flavor with the crisp bite of Coca Cola.
 

Mouth-feel: Refreshing.  Almost cleansing and astringent.

Aroma: Hard to describe.  Not cola.  Not orange soda.  Not even a mixing of the two.  A unique citrus and herbal sparkling soda.

Notes:  Mezzo Mix is a Coca-Cola product popular in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.  As a European product, the product is pretty simple: real cane sugar, orange juice, cola flavors.  I wasn't sure what to expect with this beverage and I was pleasantly surprised.  The taste was striking.  I drank it very cold, and it actually refreshed me with a clean, delightful melange.  With orange juice being a primary component, the citrus flavor is in the foreground.  The cola flavors remind me of old Coke in a bottle (pre-1990).  In the end, it's a nice summer drink.  It will probably make an excellent mixer for cocktails or ice cream, as well.

Cheese of the Week: Colosse Cheese Store

Central New York has many secrets.  One of those secrets is the greatest Ponderosa Steakhouse in the country is located in Pulaski.  Also found in Pulaski is a family-owned artisinal cheese company.  Colosse Cheese has been made by the Raiti family in what is now Mexico, NY since the early 1900s.  The retail store is centrally located in nearby Pulaski. 

Specializing in New York Cheddar and cheese curds, Colosse Cheese has some of the longest aged cheddars that I have ever sampled.  The oldest being a 12-year aged cheddar that barely resembles the mother cheese.  The sharp dairy flavor is accentuated by the protein crystals that form in this ancient cheese.  Most people stop by to pick up a Razor-Sharp 5-year Cheddar, some fresh curds, and perhaps a Horseradish River Cheese.  There are also other fine New York-made products and an ice-cream shop.  The town of Pulaski is famous for the salmon run and attracts thousands of fisherman every year.  It is also on the way to the Thousand Islands Region, a beautiful collection of wild and occupied islands in the St. Lawrence River.  So, if you're on your way to a salmon fishing expedition, or up to a time-share in the 1000 Islands, stop in Pulaski and try some authentic and unique Colosse Cheese.

Cheese of the Week: Heluva Good Cheese Factory

No cheese this week.  Well, actually, I tried a lot of cheeses this week, but I didn't want to focus on any one cheese.  Since I live in Central New York now, there are several cheese factories all within an hour drive.  So, for the next few weeks, I will be talking about what this region has to offer besides some of the best cheddar in the world.

This week, I visited the Heluva Good Cheese Store in Sodus, NY.  The store and factory are of NYS RT 104, in between Oswego and Rochester.  The company was founded in the basement of Perry Messigner, a hobbyist making curd for the locals.  The legend goes that in 1925, a traveling salesman sampled a wedge of Messigner's cheese and proclaimed "That's a hell of a good cheese."  And thus the brand was born.

Today, Heluva Good is part of Hood and make a variety of excellent colby, jack, cheddar and swiss cheeses.  These cheeses are made with a high standard of quality and can be found all across the Northern US.  However, if you come to the store, there are a few specialty cheeses that might delight and intrigue the fromagophile.  While the Special Reserve Cheddar sold in the store is aged for at least 15 months, the store has special longer aged cheddars that are "heluva good."  Tours are not standard, since the plant is a packaging plant, but the store does have a full selection of Heluva Good products; as well as other regional treats to tempt passing travelers.

So, if you're traveling to Oswego for Harborfest, or visiting the Finger Lakes, this would make an excellent pit stop off Route 104.

Cheese of the week: Casatica di Bufalo

Name: Casatica di Bufalo

Brand: Quattro Portoni

Place of Purchase: Wegman's in Liverpool, NY

Country of Origin: Italy

Price in New York: $19.99/lb.

Milk: Italian Water Buffalo

Processing: Technically, a double-cream cheese, soft-ripened and aged three to five weeks.

Texture: soft

Color: cream white

Rind: Bloom

Aroma: mild dairy, butter

Taste: Cream.  Butter.  Heaven.

Mouth-feel: Creamy and buttery.

Notes:  This is the best cheese I have ever eaten.  Imagine if it were proper to eat fresh butter.  Then if that butter had a smooth, spreadable, but cohesive paste.  That only begins to describe this cheese.  I don't know how the Gritti brothers have created such a delectable cheese, but you should probably go get some, NOW.  I may have already bought the whole wheel from my Wegman's.  Just saying...