Baumgartner's Limburger Sandwich
In this year's SAVEUR 100, we take stock of our favorite things: recipes, people, places. We consider every last one a new classic.
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Credit: Beth Rooney
Baumgartner's Cheese Store and Tavern
(608/325-6157; baumgartnercheese.com)
7023 16th Avenue
Monroe, Wisconsin 53566
I originally tried limburger after reading so many terrible things about it, and so I wanted to try it. My first block was a 4-month old - I didn't know a thing about the aging process of limburger at the time, and so in reality, I was taking a big leap! I should have bought a 2-month, which is actually what I buy these days.
At first, it was a love-hate relationship. I appreciated the strength of the flavor as much as I hated it. Its strong pungency was a welcome break from the boring world of McDonalds and Applebee's. I have really grown to have a general "disdain" for the flavorless "American" cuisine that we consume via fast food and mainstream restaurants, needing more adventure for my tastebuds.
What began as a strange prank became a subject of discovery - the amazing limburger transforms in flavor with age. I later purchased a 2-month old block, and found that it was the right level for my liking. With my last block, I bought some small multigrain crackers. I can slice the cheese 1/8", cut it into 4 small squares, and put one piece of cheese on a cracker. The slightly sweet cracker with the cheese is euphoric in its harmony - definitely recommend!!!