THOUGH STILL AVAILABLE ONLY IN THE CAROLINAS,
Clemson Blue Cheese, produced in relatively small quantities on the campus of Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina, is one of the South’s best-kept secrets. Compared favorably by professional turophiles (cheese lovers) with Iowa’s famous Maytag Blue and many distinguished European blue-veined cheeses, Clemson Blue is strictly artisanal, not machine-made and highly favored by Louis Osteen, Ben Barker, and many other renowned Carolina chefs. After I first tasted the rich, smooth, complex cheese, I wasted no time substituting it for English Stilton in my blue cheese soup, and eventually replaced port wine with Southern Comfort, with amazing results. Now, if only the folks down at Clemson University can figure out some way to market the cheese outside the region,
great cheese making might well be recognized as still another landmark in the South’s evolving culinary heritage.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3/4 cup minced celery
• 1/2 cup minced carrots
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons minced onion
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1/2 pound Clemson Blue (or other top-grade natural blue cheese)
• 4 to 6 tablespoons Southern Comfort

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In a saucepan, combine the chicken broth, minced celery, and minced carrots. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the vegetables are tender, which takes about 10 minutes.
2. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add the minced onion to the saucepan and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes.
3. Add the all-purpose flour to the saucepan and continue cooking, stirring, for an additional 2 minutes.
4. Gradually add the chicken broth mixture to the saucepan, while increasing the heat to moderate. Cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until it becomes bubbly and thickened.
5. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the Clemson Blue (or other blue cheese). Stir the mixture until the cheese is melted and well incorporated.
6. Serve the soup in bowls and add 1 tablespoon of Southern Comfort to each bowl.