World's Best Brie: Rouge et Noir — Made in the U.S.A.

France is still reeling from the aftershock of the results of last month's International Food and Drink Exhibition Top Cheese competition.

It's almost as bad as the day that has gone down in infamy in French wine circles: May 24, 1976.

That was the day a blind tasting of French versus American wines by French wine critics in Paris resulted in the American wines being deemed "clearly superior."

The French have never gotten over it.

Rouge et Noir Brie (above), which breaks all the rules of traditional French Brie, won the award for top cheese at the London event.

Rouge et Noir's Brie is very small — a wheel is a mere eight ounces compared to the classic wheels of French Brie, which are a foot across and weigh about five pounds.

Rouge et Noir is also pasteurized, unlike French Bries, and the American product has more butterfat than French Brie.

The best part of all is that you can buy three wheels of the world's best Brie for $35 here (including shipping).

Rouge et Noir is made by Marin French Cheese in Petaluma, California.

Back when I lived in LA, you could buy it — and I did — at any supermarket.

And it was delicious then too.

Bon appetit.

[via Florence Fabricant and the New York Times]