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Monday 24 Sept 2018    The Cheese Guide

Cheese of the Month - Maroilles

Discover our cheese of the month for October 2018!

Hello fall, hello Maroilles - our fromage du mois for October! 

It's far from mellow and hails from the northern regions of Picardy and Nord-Pas-de-Calais. It's a real stinker but we love it for it's fantastic flavor and versatility in all kinds of cooking!

This is the best known washed-rind cheese in the whole of France. As far as cultural stereotypes go, Frenchies from outside this northern area of the country like to joke that those living there love this cheese so much that they'll even eat it for breakfast with their morning cup of coffee! To understand this better a French film to watch would be Bienvenue chez les ch'tis...

First off and back on topic, how to pronounce its name (these tricky French spellings never get easier!): MAHR-wahl and this cheese is named after the village where this was originally produced. It is said to have been created by French monks in the later half of the 10th century, and became popular among several of the Kings of the era, so we won't argue with this royal seal of approval. And, of course, it has also gained protected AOP status too making it the only one to be recognised in this way in the north of France... 

Somewhat unusually, Maroilles can be made with either raw or pasteurised milk (the tendency for most cheese in France is raw milk for a fuller flavor) and undergoes a ripening process of around 5 weeks. 

The manufacturing process begins in earnest once rennet has been added to the milk being used for the cheese, and this is then poured into moulds. The producers have a basic white cheese as their starting point. Next, the newly born Maroilles squares are removed from their moulds before being salted or brined, then covered in a fine natural flora which will develop throughout the ripening process to give the cheese its distinctive flavor and pungent smell. During this process the cheese is stored in special cellars which provide the perfect environment for maturation, with the farmers lovingly checking in on them over a period of two to five weeks to ensure optimum conditions. 

Maroilles has an easily recognisable orangey-red crust with fine lines running across it. Inside the cheese is a soft, pale yellow colour with few holes  and a slightly chalky centre: The unique smell? Well, there's no denying it even if it's wrapped up! It has a lingering flavour beyond the initial creaminess and makes a great addition to a plateau de fromage at the end of a meal. It's at it's best in late spring and across the summer but luckily can be found and enjoyed year round. 

Strong, hearty ales and ciders make an excellent drinking choice to accompany the delicious flavor of Maroilles, and this would have been one of the traditional choice. Additionally, crack open a beautiful bottle of eau-de-vie for an end of dinner tipple that pairs brilliantly. 

Be brave, this is a cheese with a bark much worse than its bite - it's well-loved across the country with good reason! Let us know what you think! 

Central Paris Location

Last Minute Course Places

29 Jul 2025

  • French Pastry / Les Choux, éclairs and more : Technical Choux Pastry
  • Intensive everything Choux Pastry, from Savory to Sweet! From the tempting and delicious éclairs and Paris-Brest to delicate savory Gougères!

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 9:30 - 12:30
  • Price: €119.00     Availability: 1 place left

29 Jul 2025

  • French Technical Classes / Le Soufflé
  • Le Soufflé

    Au menu:

    a traditional savory Soufflé au Fromage (cheese soufflé)

    plateau of fromage (a selection of fine French cheeses)

    salade with a traditional French vinaigrette

    a delicate and sweet Soufflé au Chocolat (chocolate soufflé)

    After all that hard work (and fun), enjoy lunch with your classmates and a glass of wine while admiring wonderful views across the Seine to Notre Dame.

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 10:30 - 13:00
  • Price: €119.00     Availability: 5+ places left

30 Jul 2025

  • Evening Classes / Marais Tour and Cooking Class
  • Explore the most dynamic area of Paris, Le Marais and visit some of the finest food stores in Paris. Then, enjoy a hands-on cooking class creating a Traditional 4 course French meal.

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 16:00 - 20:00
  • Price: €189.00     Availability: 2 places left

30 Jul 2025

  • French Pastry / The Best of French Pastry
  • The perfect three hour experience for those that love the ‘best of’ classic French Pastries. Enjoy creating the delights you find adorning the windows of your favorite Paris Pastry boutiques.

  • La Cuisine Paris, 80 Quai de l'Hôtel de Ville, 75004 Paris     Time: 14:00 - 17:00
  • Price: €119.00     Availability: 1 place left

How to make the perfect Mayonnaise!

Saturday 22 Mar 2025

La Mayonnaise is the « Mother » sauce of the Cold Emulsion family.
Here we look at how to fix a common problem that you may face when making mayonnaise, and what to do to get your mayonnaise back to its former glory!

Read more

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