tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58197968711768052422024-03-05T09:08:35.918-06:00Pastoral Artisan UpdatesHere is where you will find news about all the comings and goings at Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine. New cheese arrivals and wine pairings, classes and events. We'll keep you in the know-now.Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-12037072539302864012010-10-18T16:58:00.003-05:002010-10-18T17:00:43.794-05:00The Blog is Moving!From now on we will be posting to our new fancy, schmancy, super-rad new blogspace. Please click on this link to stay updated with all the Pastoral news-now.Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-4911110498347174492010-10-18T10:16:00.004-05:002010-10-18T10:24:58.870-05:00Cheese of the Month ClubFrom the mind of Lucy:Once a month, our small shop's shipping table overflows with boxes upon boxes of well insulated cheese, ready to be shipped nation wide to Cheese of the Month members, eagerly awaiting its arrival. Each shipment includes two cheeses, both favorites from our storefront and others we procure in limited quantities especially for our members, as well as a short card of Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-61125674331148667782010-10-15T08:35:00.005-05:002010-10-15T14:12:02.430-05:00Parmigiano-ReggianoWhen most people think of Parmigiano-Reggiano they think of it as a cheese from grating onto pasta or salad. While we love the "king of cheeses" on top of a nice bowl of gnocchi or in a Cesar salad it's also fantastic as a snacking cheese.Our cheese comes from the world-famous Cravero family affineurs in the cradle of the slow food movement in Bra, Italy. The cheese is made using raw milk from Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-26834762735448634672010-10-04T19:27:00.012-05:002010-10-06T17:28:52.226-05:00A Fromage-filled visit to Alsace When I first mentioned to my chef friend Andrew that I wanted to come visit him in Luzern, he said “Oh, perhaps we could drive to Alsace and visit my affineur…” Perhaps we could drive to Alsace and visit your affineur? I booked my plane ticket pronto and asked him to arrange that visit. We hopped in the car at 10 am on a Monday morning and after yet another scenic drive through Pastoral Artisan staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08213101491590433726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-49376839227734671102010-09-26T09:50:00.013-05:002010-10-04T19:18:13.173-05:00Cheese Lover’s Dream Day in Switzerland On the Sunday afternoon of my recent vacation visit to Luzern Switzerland, my hosts packed me and the kids in the car and drove 30 minutes to the postcard-worthy town at the base of Mount Titlis, a beautiful resort called Engelberg. We passed para-gliders and senior citizens frolicking in the glorious September sunshine. Our destination: the Cheese Factory at Engelberg Monastery. Now, I Pastoral Artisan staffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08213101491590433726noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-80986305244394794372010-09-24T09:34:00.003-05:002010-09-24T09:40:03.999-05:00New cheeses in the case, new pairing for your tummy.Q: How do you know when it's fall?A: Rogue River Blue is back in stock!That's right, after too many months of waiting the BIG DADDY of the Rogue Creamery line is finally back in the stores! This raw milk blue is made only in autumn, and wrapped in grape leaves that have been soaked in pear brandy. Stephanie and Agela think that in addition to the flavors of berries, hazelnuts and mushrooms that Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-47340271779916179752010-09-22T15:08:00.001-05:002010-09-22T15:19:39.957-05:00Have a four day weekend with PastoralThis coming weekend is the Chicago Gourmet at Millenium Park. This coming Saturday and Sunday we will be offering deliciously cheesy samples at our booth in the NASFT pavillion. As a bonus, we're also going to have a few cheesemaker guests.On Saturday 9/25 from 12-2pm Leslie Cooperband of Prairie Fruits Farm in Champaign, IL will be offering up samples of her delicious farmstead goat cheeses. ButPastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-4615069452247745472010-09-17T09:41:00.003-05:002010-09-17T11:06:27.999-05:00Spring Brook Farm TarentaiseWe've kidnapped cheesemaker Jeremy Stephenson for the day. At the ACS conference last month Tarentaise, made on Spring Brook Farm won first place in the farmstead cheese category and third place in the all-around Best of Show competition. For your tasting pleasure, we've kidnapped cheesemaker Jeremy Stephenson for the day. Starting at noon today you can stop by the shops, meet Jeremy, taste Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-36110430616392635972010-09-13T09:01:00.000-05:002010-09-13T09:04:25.036-05:00What Is a Cheesemonger?This year during the conference held in Seattle the ACS held their 2nd annual Cheesemonger competition. Cesar, our senior buyer and head fromager and myself-Cristi, the store manager at our French Market location- paired up to represent Pastoral.The competition is modeled on the internationally recognized Caseus Competition held every other year in France. Some of the other retailers involved Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-85226655637802235722010-09-10T09:40:00.004-05:002010-09-10T10:34:15.834-05:00New Additions to the StoresComing straight off of it's 1st place win in it's category for aged goat cheese and 2nd place Best of Show win at the ACS conference we're tasting the Bonne Bouche from Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery and pairing it with a Viogner blend from South Africa. Bonne Bouche is a young ash-ripened cheese that first made it on the scene in 2001. Translated the name literally means "good mouthful" Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-78797347956995107542010-09-03T10:01:00.005-05:002010-09-03T11:09:02.573-05:00Family Farmed Cheese and BeerWe've got two great products this week with Belgian traditions and American twists. Read on!The Cheese, Bridgid's Abbey is from the mother and son duo at Cato Corner farm in Colchester, Connecticut. This Trappist-style monastery cheese has a smooth consistency and an irresistibly rich, and mild taste. The flavor is slightly milky, with a nice balance of acidity and sweetness.Originally this Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-83434938426318649092010-08-27T13:31:00.004-05:002010-08-27T21:21:19.942-05:00Pairing and ACSThis week the annual ACS conference is happening in Seattle. In addition to the fantastic seminars, meet-ups, book-signings and Festival of Cheese there was a Cheesemonger competition that took place on Thursday. While the official results won't be revealed until tomorrow we're immensely proud of Cesar and Cristi for the fabulous job they did representing Pastoral. We've got our fingers crossed Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-83870028898032983482010-08-20T09:17:00.004-05:002010-08-20T09:55:13.769-05:00The Importance of Having Good ChocolateThis week we're pulling from three of the most important food groups, chocolate, cheese and wine.The chocolate comes to us from Antica Dolceria Bonajuto in Sicily, Italy. Founded in 1880 by Francesco Bonajuto, Antica Dolceria, has been recognized world-wide for it's chocolate production. The chocolate begins with a mass of semi-ground cocoa that still contains its cocoa butter. The mass is Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-71638680334707934682010-08-13T10:19:00.002-05:002010-08-13T10:52:04.116-05:00Belgium+Wales=Yummy in Your TummyHave you met Xian yet? In addition to his duties as Assistant Manager of our Broadway location over the past few months he has taken our small beer program and turned it around 180 degrees. Interesting craft beers both domestic and international have been popping up on our shelves lately and it's all due to our beer-passionate Xian. After you try this particular pairing you may want to take a Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-87353496298963074992010-08-06T09:03:00.005-05:002010-08-06T16:40:16.721-05:00Virginia Meets FranceUsing the Taleggio-styled Grayson with the Rhone berry nuanced Plume Bleue is a pairing that will take your taste buds on a fantastic journey through both the Old and New Worlds.Washed-rind, seasonally-made and ACS award-winning Grayson from Meadow Creek Dairy is one of our staff and customer favorite cheeses.Meadow Creek Diary is a family farm in the mountains of southwest Virginia. At an Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-36440625639055995432010-07-30T10:04:00.003-05:002010-07-30T11:07:36.663-05:00Bees and CheeseThis week we're doing a great cultural pairing of Old World wine and New World innovative cheese. Domaine de Beaurenard is a family run estate that has been producing wonderful Chateauneuf du Pape and Cotes-du Rhone Villages wines for 7 generations. The estate was originally called "Bois Renard" (wood fox) but the name slowly transformed in Beaurenard over the years, although the Coulon family Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-33869901899537632472010-07-15T22:33:00.008-05:002010-07-16T13:30:40.759-05:00AOC protected Morbier Is Hard to FindYou asked for it and we've finally gotten in Morbier. This raw cow's milk cheese is superb and has a very interesting history as well.Named after the small village of Morbier in the Jura region-the same region as Comte-and shares an intimate history with Comte as well.Traditionally after making Comte the cheesemaker would have curd leftover, but not enough to make another wheel. They would take Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-75720922766825095162010-07-09T10:04:00.005-05:002010-07-09T16:28:22.104-05:00Georgia On Our Mind-and In Our TummiesOur current pairing is already going gangbusters at all three stores this week. For the cheese we have a new-old addition to our case. Green Hill from Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville, Georgia. This cheese is a little delicious disk of creamy goodness. Made in the style of Camembert, this double cream cheese is made from the rich buttery milk that comes from happy Jersey Cown raised on pasture. Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-7615126803655735792010-07-05T08:44:00.003-05:002010-07-09T09:18:31.634-05:00Cheesemonger Competition in NYCTwice a year the NAFST puts on the Fancy Food Show. In the winter it's held in San Francisco and in the summer, New York. It's three days of aisle after aisle of deliciousness.This was my first time going and I have to tell you, it's a bit overwhelming. Held at the Jacob Javits center every kind of food you could want to try is represented. I tasted all sorts of deliciousness while there. Jam, Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-29155911088930624012010-07-02T10:59:00.003-05:002010-07-02T14:12:51.245-05:00Pecorino and PecorinoOur wine for this week is a Pecorino from Barone di Valforte in Abruzzo, Italy. No, that's not a misspelling. The Pecorino grape is a legendary story in the wine world of a variety that has been brought back from the brink of extinction. Not too long ago, just a few vines were discovered in a nearly wild state in a narrow canyon in Italy's Marche region. Clippings were cut, and identified as the Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-16358307862806542882010-06-25T10:47:00.004-05:002010-06-25T11:20:45.346-05:00Comte-A Brief HistoryThis week our featured cheese is Comte in honor of our friends at Essex St. Cheese Co. and Fort San Antoine that visited us yesterday. Essex St. Cheese Co. has a fantastic video on how they select Comte. Although the number of wheels has changed, the process remains the same. Definitely worth a look.Comte is truly one of the ancient cheeses in our case. Not in age, but in it's rich history.Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-67860984678856954822010-06-17T10:21:00.004-05:002010-06-17T11:06:32.843-05:00A Pairing Fit for Father's DaySunday is Father's Day and we've got a pairing perfect for all the dads and beer lovers out there.The cheese is Coolea. The current cheesemaker is Dicky Willems whose parents, originally from Holland moved to Coolea, Ireland back in the 1970's and started making a fantastic cheese that highlights the best of two cultures. The flavor of the Irish countryside, lush grass and sweet milk in a Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-62277126017586938182010-06-10T09:55:00.009-05:002010-06-10T12:04:43.492-05:00Perfect Pairings, Portfolio Pours and Pie.I fibbed. There is no pie.We are continuing our "Perfect Pairing" special through June. Today, and every Thursday in June at our Broadway location when you buy cheese and wine (or beer) together on one receipt you will get 10% off your total purchase.This coming Saturday at our Lake Street location we are hosting our quarterly portfolio wine tasting. This quarter we're focusing on summer and Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-82373319344260449282010-06-03T16:56:00.004-05:002010-06-03T18:33:01.531-05:00It's Summer Portfolio Time!The first week of the month means free wine tastings at Pastoral. Our location at the French Market is having theirs as I type. Don't worry if you missed out, tomorrow we've got a free wine tasting at our Lake St. location from 5-7. Letizia from Colterenzio will be pouring a red and a white for your delight. Next Saturday is our quarterly wine portfolio. Our theme this time around is "Summer Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5819796871176805242.post-46179374673929342192010-05-21T09:28:00.003-05:002010-05-21T10:08:50.516-05:00Mmm...buffalo milk cheeseThe most famous cheese using water buffalo milk is Mozzarella di Bufala, but did you know that water buffalo milk is used to make quite a few other cheeses? If you're a lover of blue cheeses you should try the Blu di Bufala in our case, and if you like your cheese a bit strong and earthy, you have got to come in for this week's pairing.Quadrello di Bufala is a washed rind cheese that many people Pastoral Artisanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03394988435713267532noreply@blogger.com0