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

Weekend Pairing 5/7/09

In keeping with out theme this month we are going local. Pairing Indiana, Michigan and Illinois.

The cheese this week is Old Kentucky Tomme. It comes to us from Judy at Capriole in Greenville, Indiana.  This is a raw goat's milk cheese aged for five to six months.  It has a very clean slightly sharp acidity to it, and is creamy on the tongue.  Capriole is a farmsteading company.  Their goats are raised there, milked there, and the cheese is all made on-site.  A lot of care goes into the goat's livelihood, and into the cheese.

We're pairing an apple wine from Hickory Creek with the cheese.   Apple wine is an old time Michigan treat, made from heirloom apples, but don't confuse this with a cider.  There is a slight sweetness to the wine without being cloying.  It is well balanced with flavors of juicy apple and a slight spiciness.

To make the pairing complete is a little bit of honey from Blooming Tree farmstead honey from St. Joseph.  Honey loves goat cheese, and gives the apple wine a great kick!  Come in this weekend and give them a taste then take some to enjoy on your picnic.

-Agela

Meet the Maker

This Sunday (4/26) come to our Lakeview store between 1-4 and meet Leslie Cooperband from Prairie Fruits Farm in Champaign, IL. Some of you might remember meeting Leslie, her goats, a chicken and a little steer during the field trip we took to her farm last fall. Well, this time, she's making the trip up to us.

What will we be tasting? Some Moonglo? Perhaps a fresh goat cheese with edible flower garnish? Little Bloom on the Prairie? Who knows what lovely cheeses she'll bring with her. You'll have to come in Sunday and see for yourself!

Weekend Pairing 4/10

This weekend we are celebrating spring with goat cheese! After months of the Chicago cold, snow and general yuck we know the good weather is coming because goat cheeses are entering the cheese case. This weekend we are pairing Zingerman's Creamery cheese with a lovely Pinot Noir from Hinman Vineyards in Oregon.

Jan declares that a big strawberry, jammy, vanilla easy to drink wine like our 2007 Oregon Pinot is a perfect match with goat cheese and she's right! This wine is fruity without being sweet, and big in flavor without being tannic. Perfect for ushering the new season.



The Lincoln Log is from our friends at Zingerman's in Ann Arbor, MI. This is a perfect cheese (IMHO). Creamy, and crumby, milky, goaty, and with that slight undercurrent of citrus that you get with a fresh goat cheese. This is a perfect introduction to spring!


The Detroit St. Brick is named for the street Zingerman's is on. This cheese is combined with green peppercorns throughout. Not only is this a great fresh goat cheese, but it's a wonderful way to experience a flavored cheese. Well balanced, acidic, sharp and scrumptious!


-Agela