Earlier this month, we had one of those rare dips in temperature that tricks you into believing fall has arrived. I immediately lit every candle in the house, pulled on a sweater, and curled up with a big latte (and posed for a photo op of course). It felt like such a relief after weeks of humid Chicagoland heat (though I know I’ll be wishing for warmth soon enough when I’m freezing in a month!).

For breakfast, I treated myself to a flaky croissant paired with a favorite: Saint André, a decadent triple cream cheese often labeled as “brie.” A spoonful of jam and a few pieces of fruit rounded everything out.

Interestingly, Saint André isn’t technically a brie. True Brie comes only from the Brie region of France and has protected designation status (like Champagne). Saint André is actually made in Normandy, so while it’s in the style of brie, purists would argue it’s not the real deal.

Cheese History Spotlight: Unlike the centuries-old tradition of Brie de Meaux or Melun, Saint André is actually a fairly modern invention. It was created in the 1970s by a Normandy dairy cooperative that wanted to make something even richer and creamier than brie. By adding extra cream to the milk, they crafted a decadent, approachable triple cream designed with export markets in mind. It quickly became popular in the U.S., where calling it “brie” helped it catch on as the go-to indulgent version of the style.

And, unlike the gooey, molten brie you might picture, Saint André often has a firmer, almost pasty texture when young.That’s because it’s a triple cream: extra cream is added to the milk, boosting the butterfat content and giving it that dense, spreadable consistency. If you let it ripen longer (and bring it to room temperature before serving), it does soften and ooze more, though triple creams never get quite as runny as their double-cream cousins.

So while I was savoring my little autumn morning fantasy, I also got a bite of cheese history along with it. A reminder that even something as simple as breakfast can turn into a delicious learning moment!

-Danielle

---