First July Pairing

It's officially summer! I know that it doesn't feel like it today, but I have Tom Skillings' assurance that the sun will shine once more.

This week we are pairing some summery staff favorites. For the cheese, we have the Leonora, a goat's milk cheese from Leon, Spain. This cheese is bright and exciting with a creamy interior and an explosion of citrus and earthy flavors. One taste of this cheese and you'll be hooked!

For the wine we have the 2008 Chateau Haut Sarthes from Bergerac, France. You don't drink pink? This wine will change your mind. Medium bodied with a citrus zest kind of fruitiness. This wine is dry, not sweet or cloying making it the perfect wine for cheese, sipping on the patio, or a welcome guest at your July 4th celebrations.




Don't forget our catering promotion at Broadway is still going strong. Order and fulfill any catering order out of our Lakeview location through July 31, 2009 and get 10% off of your order. We do ask for 24 hours notice for catering trays, and at least 6 hours notice for picnics for two. Both our Lakeview and Loop locations will be closed on July 4, 2009 for the holiday so make sure you get all of your cheese, wine and beer needs in advance. Happy 4th!


Agela

Weekly Pairing 6/26

The event on Wednesday with Daphne Zepos and Giorgio Cravero was awesome! Cheesemonger extraordinaire Marty opened up a huge wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano with his lovely assistant Adam. More on that coming up this week complete with video and photos.

For the present it's time to get into this weeks Perfect Picnic Pairing. Grayson, Demolition, and Pineapple.

First up is the cheese. Grayson is a washed rind cows milk cheese from Meadow Creek Dairy in Virginia. This cheese won second place in the ACS competition last year and is a staff favorite. The great thing about this cheese is that it truly is seasonal. The cows at the dairy are pasture fed giving this cheese's paste a bright yellow hue. The milking starts in the spring with the first wheels from that coming out in June. The wheels we have now are buttery, creamy, and mild compared to wheels we get as the seasons progress. Later in the season when you try this cheese again you'll be tasting a beefy, fruity and definitely stinkier cheese.

So you've got the cheese, but what are you going to drink with it? Our suggestion is Demolition from Goose Island right here in Chicago. Demolition is a dry Belgian style ale with grassy notes that enhance the flavors found in the cheese.

If you're looking for a spread we recommend the pineapple penja pepper confit from L'Epicurien. The penja pepper is a white pepper originating in Cameroon and has a delicate aroma to it along with a strong flavor. The assertiveness of the pepper, combined with the sweetness of the pineapple make for one complex confit. Sweet without being cloying, spicy without being hot. A great addition to any cheese plate (we even have it as an ingredient on a new sandwich.)



In other news, this Sunday is the pride parade here in Chicago which runs right down Broadway and past our Lakeview shop. We will be open our regular Sunday hours which are from 11am-6pm. Our advice is to call ahead for your picnic, leave the car at home and enjoy a fun and free I might add event complete with a box full of Pastoral goodies!

-Agela

New Pairing

Before we get into the pairing, I wanted to let you know of a special we have going on. The spring and summer seasons mean more entertaining. A great way to keep it no fuss, no muss is to have someone else do the food. Here at Pastoral we have a great catering menu and if you order a tray by July 31, 2009 you will receive an 10% discount.

This promotion is only valid with orders placed at our Broadway location (sorry Loopers) and your order must be placed, and fulfilled by the expiration date. Be sure to tell us that you want to take advantage of this discount by saying the magic words, "summer promo 09". As always we do ask for a 24 hour notice for any trays that you need.

This week we're showcasing two of our newest additions to the shop. First up is the Creminelli Salame Tartufo from Utah. Creminelli Fine Meats is one of our favorite artisan companies. The salami is handcrafted using techniques and spices that only Cristiano can master. Most products with truffle added taste just like truffle, but this salami finds the right balance between truffle and delicately spiced pork. Italian tradition right here in the U.S.

Jan has chosen one great Rose to pair with the salami. 2008 Zepaltas Rose from Santa Rose, CA is the perfect choice. This Rose is made from pinot noir grapes, so you'll find some similar aromas and flavors. A dry wine with a little bit of a musty thing going on and citrus notes is a perfect compliment to a picnic with some charcuterie.



-Agela