Day 766 : Here's to the Four Leaf Clover and the Luck of the Irish

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Were you on 5th avenue watching the parade? Or perhaps on the banks of a green river in Chicago or maybe just at a raucous bar in South Boston? There's something about St Patty's Day that brings people out in droves, Irish or not -- corned beef and hash, Guinness, or Jameson, everyone chooses their own way to celebrate. Maybe yours is staying as far away from the madness but still wanting to do something festive?

Well then I recommend grabbing some Cashel Blue - my absolute favorite Irish Blue crafted by the Grubb family in County Tipperary. The Grubb family originally settled in the region in the 1700s but it wasn't till the mid 20th century that they began manufacturing dairy products and it wasn't till 1984 that Cashel Blue came into existence.

Cashel Blue is a semi soft farmstead cow's milk blue that is aged for anywhere between two and four months. This cheese is simultaneously round, unctuous and approachable yet spicy, piquant, tangy, biting, and dynamic -- the best of both worlds. It appeals to the amateur blue cheese palate as well as the developed one. It truly is an Irish born Blue that sets itself apart from the crowd in all the best ways. Not really perfect with a beer, but perhaps a nice Jameson on the rocks or even a glass of Sauternes.

On this St Patrick's Day, I wish to share to all of you a classic Irish blessing of luck:

May you always have...
Walls for the winds
A roof for the rain
Tea beside the fire
Laughter to cheer you
Those you love near you
And all your heart might desire.

Happy St Patty's Day!

Day 762 : In time for St Patty's -- Murray's Cavemaster Reserve

Looking forward to celebrating the luck of the Irish? In the mood for some green beer or maybe whiskey is more your speed? Well if so, I recommend you getting yourself to Murray's Cheese this week to try out their extra special cheese crafted for St Patrick's Day and strictly for your enjoyment -- Across the Pond infused with Wrassler's Oyster Stout.

Step one : What is Across the Pond?

Across the Pond is an Irish inspired, New York crafted, washed rind raw cow's milk cheese hailing from Keeley's Cheese Company in King Ferry, NY. It's a semi soft stinky washed rinded cheese that is barnyardy and ripe on the exterior but creamy, luscious, unctuous, and slightly pungent on the interior. Think Taleggio mixed with Tomme de Savoie but with that "je ne sais quoi" of New York state cheesemaking.

So Murray's has taken this fantastic round of cheese and washed it in Wrassler's Oyster Stout to give it this lactic, roasty, toasty, malty, bent that just dials the cheese up quite a few notches to make it absolutely perfect for St Patty's Day.

Don't forget to grab a morsel and a bottle of Jameson and celebrate the luck of the Irish on Saturday or today or tomorrow, whenever you feel like it!