Day 1057 : A highlight in our Thanksgiving cheese selections

First off, Happy Thanksgiving! Let's all take a moment to be thankful for those around us -- our loved ones near and far. It is a day to be grateful, grateful for others, grateful to be alive, grateful to be enjoying a meal with friends and family. It is a day to pause and stop and reflect but also to celebrate and enjoy. 

Later on today I will head over to my family's for what promises to be a wonderful meal, my mother always seems to outdo herself, each year is better than the last and of course we all know my contribution takes the form of cheeses. Rather than spoil the selections in full before the meal, I thought I would share with you all my highlight cheese of our cheese course this evening -- Queso de Mano from Haystack Mountain Goat Dairy. This firm aged raw goat's milk cheese is elegant and sophiscated. Subtle milky brightness arrives on the tongue paired with a faint hint of grassy sweetness and an inherent smoothness. This is one of those cheeses that you have to stop and appreciate. It is not going to wow your socks off like a piquant blue but it is truly wonderful. A versatile pairing partner, this cheese could find its beverage partner in a hefeweizen or a medium bodied juicy red wine. On a day of giving thanks, this beautiful and simple yet refined and delectable cheese is surely a highlight in our cheese selections.

Happy Thanksgiving one and all!

Day 1056 : Of fairy tales and blue cheese

Looking for something that is only available for purchase at three stores worldwide? Well look no further than at Bedford Cheese Shop in Williamsburg for Lady's Blue -- a raw goat's milk blue cheese hailing from the Drente Province of the Netherlands. The cheese is crafted on one of those farms that exists only in dreams, fairy tales, and fantasies -- completely idyllic in the best of ways. Anya Groenwald's farm boasts one hundred and fifty goats whose milk creates this decadently wonderful cheese. This is a cheese that is all about terroir and you can only imagine that if the farm is fairy tale-esque then the cheese can be nothing short of out of this world. Fluffy and decadent with a round sweetness, this blue cheese is one of the most unique blues out there and would surely be a splash on your Thanksgiving table.

So stop into Bedford Cheese Shop and grab a morsel of this unique blue cheese before you miss out on the chance!

Bedford Cheese Shop
229 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY

Day 1055 : Brunch at Corkbuzz

Located a block off of Union Square, this space dedicated to wine enjoyment and education has been a destination since it first opened a few years back. Founded by one of a handful of female master sommeliers worldwide, it received instant acclaim. 

Now - a few years later, Corkbuzz has started Sunday brunch. All bottles of champagne are 50% off and any wine from their "bucket," is $40 a bottle. A simple yet inventive seasonal brunch menu of classics like poached eggs served with Swiss chard and ricotta accompanied by a green salad; your Benedicts of course; creme brûlée French toast and more comprise their breakfast options. And what of their lunch options? A lobster salad served with chimichurri, citrus, frisée and endive and a bone marrow brisket burger to name a few.

So what did I have?

Their spicy carrot salad served with broccoli rabe and garlic anchovy dressing and a side of scrambled egg whites. Highlighting the root vegetables and dark leafy greens of the season, this pairing of flavor profiles was the perfect autumnal salad. Roasted morsels of rustic and earthy carrots were enjoyed side by side with the bright, vegetal, bitter greens and the aromatic tang of the garlic anchovy dressing brought everything together. Overall a wonderful salad that allowed each ingredient to shine. 

A place to return to for brunch - communal tables, delish food, a lovely selection of wines and much more.

Corkbuzz

13 East 13th Street

NYC

Day 1054 : The most fantastic pairing

As the temperatures drop, my mind wanders to warming drinks, fires, and cozy evenings. What better than a glass of port to fulfill those desires?

How about a glass of 50 year aged vintage Port - Taylor's Vintage Port from 1963? A gift and a huge treat. Smooth and full of warming berry notes on the nose, a sophisticated and elevated balance of flavors designed to delight. This was special.

How to live up in terms of cheese pairing?

How about a morsel of Blu do bufala?

An aged buffalo milk blue that is spicy and tangy yet round and milky and decadent. The balance of piquance and weight that stands up to this wonderful Port.