Boursin
Boursin is a commercial brand of herbed/garlic soft cheese, but in French cheese shops you can find non-packaged versions of this garlic-lover's delight. The key word when asking a shopkeeper for this type of cheese is ail (garlic). Or, simply purchase 'Boursin' at a French supermarket; if you've ever bought it in America, you'll be joyously surprised by the French price tag! Brie Brie is one of the most famous of the French cheeses, perhaps alongside camembert. These two are two of the most commonly exported cheeses; many variants of brie and camembert can be found in supermarkets around the world. Of course, getting a fresh brie in France from a fromager and getting a world-class baguette at a nearby boulanger is the perfect start to a perfect picnic evening. Don't forget the wine! Camembert While brie varieties come from the region around Paris, camembert cheeses are native to the region of Normandy. Camembert is aged for less time than brie, so if you've ever tried brie and found its flavor to be too strong, giving camembert a try is a good idea. Neufchâtel This soft cheese native to the northern regions of France is the original cheese from which cheesecake was first made. Of course, it's also tasty on bread!
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