Cheese & Hard Cider Pairing
92nd St. Y, 07.12.12
Instructors: Martin Johnson (The Joy of Cheese, Gastronomie 491) and Dave Herman (Grand Tsar of Malt)
Round 1
Keen’s Cheddar: The classic clothbound cheddar from Somerset England.
Cider: Doc’s Draft Hard Apple Cider – New York
Classic English-style draft cider.
Round 2
Monte Enebro: A blue rinded, soft goat’s milk cheese from Spain.
Cider: Fox Barrel Pacific Pear Cider – California
Tastes & smells just like a fresh pear, with a hint of woodiness in the finish. Sweet, simple & light. Mild carbonation.
Round 3
Comte Le Meunier: A Comte from the latest newsworthy French affineur.
Cider: Sarasola Sagardoa Basque Cider – Astigarraga, Spain
Sharply tart start balanced by sweetness underneath. Finishes dry. No carbonation.
Round 4
Point Reyes Blue: A sweet cow’s milk blue from California.
Cider: Foggy Ridge First Fruit Cider – Virginia
Light, tart & crisp. A hint herbal. Made from early-season apples. Medium carbonation.
Round 5
Camembert Tremblaye: As close to the real thing as you can get here
Cider: Original Sin Newtown Pippin Single Heirloom Varietal Cider – New York
Slightly funky & acidic, definitely a green apple flavor. Almost champagne-like in flavor, but carbonation is soft.
Round 6
Cabot Clothbound Cheddar: An American spin on the classic clothbound concept..
Cider: Farnum Hill Extra Dry Cider – New Hampshire
Rich & very dry. Acidic, astringent & even tannic. Well carbonated & long finish.
Round 7
Canestrato: Buttery, nutty and slightly sweet, this sheep’s milk cheese is from Casa Madaio in Castelcivita Italy.
Cider: Etienne Dupont Cidre Bouché Brut – Normandy, France
Intense and complex, long finish. Slightly farm-yardy. Hints of cooked apples (they claim Tart Tatin and caramel). Champagne carbonation.
Round 8
Winnimere: A soft, bark-round cheese from Vermont that is washed in a lambic ale. .
Cider: Etienne Dupont Pommeau – Normandy, France
Think a tawny port made from apples instead of grapes. Rich & sweet, no carbonation. A little nutty. FYI- this is calvados & cider blended together.
Shopping
These cheeses are available for retail sale at Gastrnomie 491, 491 Columbus Avenue (83rd-84th). Other great places to shop include The Bedford Cheese Shop, Murray’s on Bleecker St., Whole Foods Bowery, Dean and DeLuca in Soho, Whole Foods Tribeca, Eataly, Saxelby Cheesemongers and Formaggio Essex, Stinky Bklyn, and Artisanal.
Reading
The Atlas of American Artisan Cheese by Jeffrey Roberts
Cheese: A Connoisseur’s Guide to the World’s Best by Max McCalman and David Gibbons
Mastering Cheese by McCalman and Gibbons
The Brewmaster’s Table by Garrett Oliver
For more on upcoming Joy of Cheese events visit thejoyofcheese.blogspot.com or e-mail Martin at thejoyofcheese@gmail.com
For more wonderful cheese information please visit thejoyofcheese.wordpress.com
Next 92nd St. Y class: In the Fall.
Very interesting – we live very near Cheddar and were there today in fact enjoying a local cheese, Draycott Blue! You’ve reviewed a lovely selection here – I could just fancy a little taste with a nice port and some high-baked water biscuits!