Love cheese? I do! Pre-pandemic, I’d spend a good chunk of my time looking for good cheeses… but that has been increasingly difficult with how things have been going ever since COVID-19 came into our lives. Fortunately, I work for a website where we learn all about the best things in the Metro – and I was recently introduced to Blackbird Farms.

Blackbird Farms is a small goat farm located in the rice fields of Bulacan that started back in 2011. Rico Ocampo de Guzman, the owner, decided to focus on the breeding and selling of goats for his college thesis and after a series of discoveries and realizations along the way, Blackbird Farms evolved into a business focused on the production and sale of French-style cheeses.

If you’re looking for cheeses that can be delivered to the comfort of your home, Blackbird Farms delivers all around the Metro through delivery services like Grab Express and Lalamove. And don’t be intimidated by how they look. They may look like the “ultra-strong” types of cheeses, but they are actually more on the milder side. According to Rico, “That is what most people on the local market seem to appreciate the most.”

A lot of trial and error went into producing these cheeses, too. Rico’s supportive mom, relatives, and friends all gave him honest feedback on them, which helped him refine his recipes. What makes them stand out, though, is the type of cheese they produce. Although feta and kesong puti are popular (Rico used to make them before), he decided to challenge himself and make Loire Valley cheeses. Most people know the region for their world-class wines, but Rico thinks their cheese is underrated. “I wanted to introduce a different “cheese experience” to Filipinos,” he explains – and we’re so glad that he did.

They also avoid the use of GMO products, antibiotics, harsh chemicals, and highly processed feeds to ensure that their goats only produce the best milk which, in turn, produces the best cheese.

Once you receive your orders, it would be highly advisable to refrigerate them right away if you don’t plan on eating them just yet. Just make sure you keep them in their original packaging. If you plan on consuming them within the day, you may leave them at room temperature for an hour or two to really let the aroma and flavor of the cheese “wake up” from the lower temperatures. Then, you can enjoy them with a glass (or more) of white wine. For leftovers, Rico shares that he usually mixes them into his pasta sauce (try it!).

If you want a taste of French-style cheeses that are very seldom seen locally, then you should definitely try Blackbird Farms cheeses. “I can guarantee that the cheese comes from the milk of my very own happy, healthy, and pampered goats,” Rico says. Time to stock up for all of the wine nights you are sure to have at home this upcoming ECQ!

Blackbird Farms

blackbirdfarms@yahoo.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeLoveBlackbirdFarms/

Instagram: @blackbirdfarmsph

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