Gruyere is one of my favorite cheeses. The reason is simple: few cheeses come close to the versatility of Gruyere. It gives fondue its body, onion soup its elegance, and Quiche Lorraine its flavor. In fact it can handle any
Gruyere
Best Buys 2019
Re-Printed from the November 2019 issue of Ink Magazine It seems hardly the time to be writing about best Cheese buys when at the time of writing this the United States cheese purveyors are about to be hit with a
Enjoying the Blues
When it comes to the blues, there does not seem to be any middle ground. Either you love them, or you really dislike them. Fortunately for me, I love them.
Summer Cheese
Let’s put the number one appetizer to work for the summer. We know how easy and how enjoyable cheese is the rest of the year.
Cheese Shop’s 2019 Top Ten Cheeses
The Cheese Shop’s Top Ten Cheeses are determined by volume sold, which means they have great customer satisfaction, heavy repeat business, and they have stood the test of time. Although there is a vast selection sold of excellent popular small
Best Buys 2018
It is time once again for another edition of our best buys list. My definition of a best buy is simple. The cheese must be of great quality and at a good price. Some of this year’s selections have been here before and some are new.
Stilton and Friends
Many of us have long adored a well-known cheese called Stilton. It has been a favorite of mine since first introduced to me in the late sixties. At that time, Stilton had the reputation of being the “King of Cheese.” Brie was the Queen. Stilton defies its first impression of rough, textured rind and crumbly texture to become quite creamy and spreadable when allowed to sit at room temperature for a while. This is the magic…
Great Wine and Cheese Pairings
One might think that the subject of pairing wine with cheese would be an easy subject to address, but it seems to be a rather controversial one. In addition to my own opinion, I researched what other connoisseurs find to
Not All Cheeses are Created Equal
Oftentimes, a customer tastes a cheese and falls in love with it. But a problem can arise when that same customer tries to buy that same cheese again. The new purchase simply may not taste the same. The reason for
Best Buys 2017
By Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop of Centerbrook It is time once again for our annual fan favorite, the 2017 edition of Best Buys, where we publish the current best bargains in cheese that are available in our shop right
The 12 Families of Cheese – Part 2
By Paul Partica I hope by now you were able to read my last month’s column, which was Part 1 of The 12 Families of Cheese. Together, these two parts make up the basis of my Cheese 101 class, which
Soft-Ripening Cheeses and the New D’Affinois Triple Crème
By Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop Of Centerbrook One of the most popular cheeses in our store is Fromage D’Affinois Double Crème (60% butterfat) cheese. Of all the soft-ripening cheeses, it is one of the most consistent in quality, providing
Popular Sheep Cheeses – Part 2
By Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop Of Centerbrook In my previous blog post, I discussed some of the popular sheep cheeses from France and Holland. Part Two continues with Italy, Spain and the United States. For some of you, the
Popular Sheep Cheeses – Part 1
By Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop Of Centerbrook When I mention cheese made from sheep milk, I am often amazed that so many people still balk in fear of what they perceive as the taste and smell of nasty old
My Top 10 – An Updated List
By Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop Of Centerbrook It’s hard to believe that a whole year has gone by since my last article on “Top Ten Cheese Favorites.” So I believe it is time once again to put my taste
Chef Jay’s Starlight Gardens Spring Salad
Occasionally, guest chefs will share recipes with us for our readers. Here’s a great spring salad by Chef Jay Groton of nearby Gabrielle’s Restaurant that incorporates crumbled gorgonzola – a favorite cheese topping on salads – with Applewood smoked bacon
Choosing Cheddars
By Paul Partica, The Cheese Shop Of Centerbrook One of the most common and well-known cheeses in the world originated in England, in the village of Cheddar in Somerset. Cheddar still represents about half of the cheese consumption in England,
Bries and Other Soft-Ripening Cheeses
By Paul Partica One of the most popular of all cheese families, and probably the most misunderstood, is the soft-ripening type. Often, when describing a certain cheese to a customer as “soft-ripening,” many nod their head in polite agreement but
How Old is Cheese?
By Paul Partica There is really no concrete evidence as to when or where the first cheese was made. The art of cheese-making dates back thousands of years, long before recorded history. It is also not known whether it started
Our 47th Annual Trip to the Fancy Food Show
By Paul Partica (as seen in the August issue of Ink Magazine) I’m not sure that we have fully recovered from our annual visit to the huge international food show called Fancy Food, and I know I’m still a few