Day 1053 : The most unique cheese pairing, period.

Apologies about the radio silence on my end, it has been a whirlwind of a few weeks. London for five days, Paris for ten, but I am back to stateside with plenty of cheese stories and experiences to share.

The first of which is the most creative cheese pairing Fromagical has enjoyed in long time. In France and elsewhere, cheese is typically served after a meal as a precursor to dessert or as a substitute. Most times there is a selection of a few cheeses or even a tray to choose your own melange from. Not here at Akrame, in Paris' 16th arrondisement. 

Here, they offered a mushroom and Comte pairing that was served as though it was a sliver of cake bathed in an herb mushroom broth. This was umami at its best. Decadent and savory, fragrant and delightful, unique and absolutely lovely - an expansion of the idea of the cheese plate that's for sure.

Akrame

19, Rue Lauriston

Paris 75016

Day 1052 : Bocca Di Lupo

Gosh my dear friends it has been a while, what a whirlwind of a few weeks! Back in Londontown since this previous Wednesday, I have had the grand pleasure of trying some fabulous eating establishments that I look forward to sharing with you all in the coming days.

So let's start with the highlights of Bocca Di Lupo, located on Archer Street, just removed from the Friday evening madness of Soho. Highly rated for its wine list and with a focus on obscure and delectable food highlights from all of Italy's regions, it was the perfect place to catch up with old friends.

Chianti Classico, check! An excellent and extensive selection of reds, whites, and sparkling wines was on offer.

I liked how the menu provided the diner with the option of ordering the small or the large portion of many of the shareable starters - allowing us to cater to the size of our group. 

There was a spectacular burrata served with roasted Aubergine, cherry tomatoes, chili and mint that was out of this world. The burrata melted in your mouth and was complimented by the rustic earthiness of the eggplant and the bright juiciness of the tomatoes and the aromatic punch of the mint and chili. Overall an excellent dish and the perfect beginning to the meal.

Next up a raw watermelon radish, celeriac, pomegranate and shaved pecorino salad topped with a truffle dressing that just delighted. An excellent melange of flavors that highlighted the freshness of the ingredients in an elegant harmony. 

And for mains - some had pastas, some had meats, some had fish, but everyone was truly pleased with the rustic elevated cuisine.

And last but not least their cheese selection served with a muscat wine jelly - Zaffero, Rocco al Carbon and Lingotto d'Oro. Truly unique Italian cheeses hailing from Fattoria Corzano and Paterno. What a true treat!

Overall - a delectable meal with some of my dearest friends - what could be better?

Not much!

Bocca Di Lupo

12 Archer Street 

W1D 7BB

Day 1051 : Hype

You know when everyone tells you have to try that new restaurant, see that fantastic movie, check out that awesome show and so on? Then you go and the talk is better than the experience?

I had one of those moments this morning at Good Enough to Eat. Classic Upper West brunch place. Been around since 1981, always a line out front. Supposed to be amazing. But was it?

No, in one word. It was good, but not great and definitely not worth the hype. Their brunch cocktail list was surely one of the most extensive and it always excites me when a brunch place has my absolute favorite brunch cocktail on the list -- bubbles, Aperol, and grapefruit juice. Check in that department. And what of the food?

I ordered their Little Italy omelette but with a few amendments. Supposed to be -- roasted mushrooms, sundried tomatoes and fresh mozzarella; I had egg whites with the same filling except instead of mozzarella, gruyere cheese. It was served with their homemade biscuits and strawberry jam -- no salad, homefries, fruit or anything of the sort. The omelette was loose -- allowing you to taste all of the ingredients which was nice. Not too much cheese, good mushrooms and sundried tomatoes as well. A solid meal, but it didn't blow me away. Sure I would go back and enjoy it often but maybe I didn't order the right dish to merit the hype. If I had walked in without the hype, who knows, I would have probably said, that was a lovely neighborhood brunch place worth coming back to. Interesting to see what hype does right?

Hype fuels fads but doesn't necessary make places and experiences better. Sometimes it is nice to go into an experience blissfully unaware and be surprised.

Day 1050 : My newest cheese crush

Yesterday was the New Amsterdam Market's Cheese market featuring a series of local and artisanal creameries along with breads, prepared foods, plenty of end of summer produce, small production chocolates and pickles and much more. 

On the creamery front there was Jasper Hill with their new release Alpha Tolman, an Alpine style firm aged cheese and of course their classics like Bayley Hazen Blue. There was Vermont farmstead with perfectly delectable Lille and their always wonderful Governor's Cheddar. Edgwick Farm had their wonderful goat's milk cheeses - in particular their Idlewild and of course their Feta and their fresh infused goat's milk cheeses. 

On top of my local favorites, present was a new creamery for me -- Cherry Grove Creamery based out of Lawrenceville, NJ. Their raw cow's mik aged Alpine style cheese -- Havilah blew me away. Nutty and buttery with that classic aged crystallization tang and notes of grassy, farmsteady delight. Aged for a minimum of six months, this is an honest and truly wonderful local new cheese discovery. 

A versatile pairing partner, my top choice would be with a glass of medium bodied fruit forward red wine but a nice pint of Sixpoint's Autumnation would also go wonderfully.

Day 1049 : On the note of Vermont Farmstead....

Looking for an opportunity to try their line of cheeses and meet the folks behind this wonderful cheesemaking operation, well stop by the New Amsterdam Market this Sunday between 11am and 4pm to sample, chat, and purchase their wonderful cheeses.

This will be one of four special Fall New Amsterdam Markets!

Also on hand will be Campbell Cheese, the Cellars at Jasper Hills, Cheese Pops, Cherry Grove, Edgwick Farm, Kriemhild Dairy Fair, Quinciple, Sprout Creek Farm, Twin Maple Farm, and of course our friend at Vermont Farmstead!

The Market takes place at Newmarket Square, fronting the New Market Building of the old Fulton Fish Market. This unique structure is the last Riverfront Market House constructed in the City of New York, dedicated to public service by Mayor LaGuardia in 1939.

The Market is held outdoors, under cover.

Walk, bike down the East River bike path, or take:
the A/C to Broadway Nassau
the 2,3,4,5,J to Fulton Street
or the M15 and M15 Select to the Seaport / Fulton Street
New York Water Taxi to Pier 16 / South Street Seaport
East River Ferry to Pier 11 (Wall Street)

Day 1048 : My favorite early Fall pairing

Happy First Day of Fall!
It's time for apple picking, Oktoberfest, leaves changing color, crisp air and much much more.

Why not grab some of Vermont Farmstead's Governor's Cheddar, crisp apples, pecans, honey and a nice bottle of red wine to ring in the new season?

Governor's Cheddar is aged for over a year and is nutty and buttery yet warming and full bodied. This cheddar has that classic crystallization and a nice butterscotchy caramelly fruity tang. The Governor's Cheddar is the perfect welcome to Fall cheese.

Served with crisp fresh apple slices, pecans and maybe a drizzle of local Wildflower honey, this will be an excellent Autumnal pairing.

I'd suggest a nice glass of French Cahors -- medium bodied, fruit forward and great with the Cheddar!

Enjoy!

Day 1047: Glasserie

Located in an abyss of warehouses, factories, lofts, and artist studios sits Glasserie. Named aptly for the building's prior tenant -- a glass factory, this middle eastern inspired restaurant opened earlier this summer. More recently however, they rolled out a brunch menu which I had the pleasure of trying this past Sunday.

The space is light and airy; the menu Middle Eastern inspired with a sense of creativity; and the cocktails were definitely not of your typical brunch sort.

So what did I have?

The poached eggs in tomato stew. Was this going to be their version of eggs in purgatory, the traditional Italian brunch dish? Or was it going to be something completely different? It was warm chopped up heirloom tomatoes, basil, sautéed onions, spices all in a wonderfully comforting simple broth with two poached eggs at the center. On the side were two pieces of bread lathered with tahini and paprika. Warming and filling yet not heavy, this was flavorful and dynamic -- a lovely brunch dish.

And a cocktail to go with?

How about white wine, aperol and fresh squeezed orange juice?

Refreshing and a little bit different from all those other brunch cocktails.

Overall a lovely meal in Northern Greenpoint, a really nice addition to the neighborhood.

Glasserie
95 Commercial Street