If lovin' Ewe is wrong...

...I don't wanna be right. Yes, I suppose that sounds a bit cheesy. And indeed, it is! I am of course, speaking of the Brebirousse d'Argental - a lovely ewe's milk cheese from the Burgundy region of France. It first charms the eye with its beautiful orange, bloomy rind and pure white paste. On the tongue it is pure heaven, rich and velvety like thick cream, tasting of fresh milk, newly mowed hay, butter and a light tang. Absolutely heavenly.

I shamelessly devoured nearly a quarter of a pound of this over two nights with a little white Bordeaux. It was a pretty perfect pairing but this cheese is soooooo special I think I might have to go for a bottle of Claude Riffault Sancerre for the next time. And perhaps a Chenin blanc after that...

...and speaking of cheese,

please excuse our dust, as we are in the process of re-vamping our lovely cheese areas. Don't hesitate to ask if you have trouble finding something...our friendly and knowledgeable staff is always happy to assist. Thank you for your patience, while we work hard to make our gourmet cheese displays look smashing!

Another Wine Bar/ Open Air Market Visit

This time to see my girlfriend in Baltimore. What looks to be a former train depot has been restored by a public-private partnership to an open air farmer's market on top, and an indoor market below. All owned and occupied by independent merchants.
I was in heaven.




There was everything from a bread maker, to a produce stand that also made juices and smoothies, to an Italian market and much more. I went nuts and bought all kinds of goodies.
Even better attached to this market is a wine bar/shop where we sat down and had a glass of wine and this cheese plate.



The wine bar is called Grand Cru. I liked it well enough, it had a nice casual vibe, and lots of happy-looking people. The layout was a little haphazard, and my Niagra Falls Riesling was not all that great. Not bad, but a little thin. So thin, it made me wonder if the bottle had been opened the previous day (not good). Their food menu was delightful and included such options as pheasant sausage. We opted for the cheese plate above and it was quite good.
I would highly recommend any foodie visiting Belvedere Square as it is a wonderful experience, and a reminder of how important it is to foster locally owned, quality businesses. The results can be spectacular.

Robiola Bosina, A Delectable Italian Cheese

Robiola Bosina, the Italian cheese that started me on a long love affair with Italian cheeses. A prefect square of runny, delicious paste that has a hint of mushrooms, and an almost floral taste. Pictured here with a bit of baguette and some roasted red peppers. Now in stock.

What to drink on a warm January day?

I agree it seems pretty crazy to be even asking such a question, but here we are. With the weather hovering around 60 degrees every day I find myself veering back to my summertime staple, rose wines.
My pick right now is the Muga Rioja Rose. It is ripe and juicy with bright flavors of cherry, raspberry and grapefruit. I love it paired with a creamy goat cheese, especially the Nettle Meadow Farm garlic and olive oil ones we currently have in stock. So delicious.