Friday evening, a long week behind us, and a cheese worth slowing down for. This Vacherin St-Alexis cheese review comes with a very enthusiastic recommendation from both Mom and me.

I pick up Alexis de Portneuf’s Vacherin St-Alexis a couple of times a month. It has become one of those cheeses we look forward to enjoying together over a drink.

Tonight, Mom has her Nova 7 wine, and I have a gin and tonic.

The cheese? Equally tangy and salty, wonderfully firm and springy, with a ripe aroma and flavor that make me very happy.

Meet Vacherin St-Alexis

Made in Quebec by Alexis de Portneuf, Vacherin St-Alexis is described on its package as a firm, surface-ripened cheese with a washed rind.

The package calls its character “aromatic & robust,” with medium intensity.

That gives you an introduction. Taking a bite gives you the rest.

You can also explore Vacherin on the Alexis de Portneuf website.

Vacherin St-Alexis Cheese Review: Firm, Springy and Smooth

I love the firmness of this cheese. There is a lovely spring to it, along with a smooth, slightly waxy texture.

The pale interior has a close, even appearance, and the texture is a big part of why I keep coming back to it.

Firmness and smoothness work beautifully together here. As a result, each bite feels very satisfying.

That Delightfully Ripe Character

Let us talk about the smell.

It is ripe. So is the flavor.

My description? Smooth “stinky feet” — in the most delightful and entirely expected way. LOL.

If you love that character in a cheese, you know exactly what I mean.

To my palate, the tanginess and saltiness are equally present. Meanwhile, Mom put it simply: just the right amount of salinity.

Together, that balance, the smooth texture and the ripe character make this a cheese we love eating.

The Rind Is My Favorite Part

I love a cheese with a rind.

In fact, the rind is my favorite part to eat.

Vacherin St-Alexis has that ripe rind character I enjoy so much. For me, it belongs in the bite, right alongside the firm, springy interior.

It is part of the pleasure of this cheese, and another good reason to keep buying it.

A Friday Evening Cheese With Mom

Tonight’s drinks are Nova 7 wine for Mom and a gin and tonic for me. After a looooong week, we finally have a chance to sit down together and enjoy something delicious.

A familiar cheese we love, a drink in hand, and a little time to appreciate both.

Perfection.

These small moments around food are worth remembering, too. You can explore more stories in Real Food Memories here on Cooking With Kimberly.

Would I Buy It Again?

I already do.

Vacherin St-Alexis earns its place in our regular rotation with its firm, springy texture, smooth mouthfeel, tangy and salty balance, and delightfully ripe rind.

If those are qualities you enjoy in a cheese, this one deserves your attention.

And if you are a fellow rind lover, you understand why I am smiling.

Are you a rind lover, too?

Which cheese do you keep coming back to for a quiet evening treat?