What I talk about when I talk about cheese

A whole bunch of cheese landed on our doorstep this week.  Also this week there have a couple of mention of our sandwiches on the interweb and in print.  Since the new St Paul shop has opened it seems that most of the recognition we've received has been for our sandwiches. 

Of course I'm not going to complain about positive response to any of our offerings.  We work  hard to source great ingredients to put together on delicious sandwiches.  Nothing makes me happier than a good sandwich and we're incredibly pleased that people seem to enjoy them.  But I've got to say that I am a little puzzled by the reaction by some to our cheese case.

First I should say that there are lots and lots of folks who come to our shops and purchase cheese.  We're cheese shops who make sandwiches, not the other way around.  There seems to be an obsession out there with the size of a shop's selection.  I'm not sure what exactly this is about but I'm sad to report we don't have any immediate plans to increase the size of our selection.  More will never be better in my mind.  I don't say this to be defensive, only to clarify our philosophy.  If you want a huge selection there are many places in town who will be happy to take your money.

So what are we after?  Our goal is to source delicious cheese.  If Song and I don't think a cheese is delicious we're not going to sell it.  I don't care if it's local, cheap, popular, made by magical gnomes, will save humanity (okay, maybe then) we're not going to sell it unless we think it is yummy.  First and foremost cheese is a food that needs to taste awesome.  It doesn't have to always be something I would take home--it's not totally about me--but it needs to be well made.

Of course there are many other factors that go into the cheeses we select.  For example we don't sell cheese with BGH.  We look for pastured based dairies.  Variety is important--flavor, country of origin, texture, price.  Also I'll admit that we look to sell cheese that no one else does--that's fun for us.

Folks who come into our shops with their heart set on one particular cheese might leave disappointed.  But anyone who comes in with a flavor in mind or a kind of cheese will leave happy.  Our case is full and varied enough to find a cheese for any taste.  I don't need 300 cheeses to find you your cheese.

That being said, we have some yummorama cheese in our case right now.   Easily our best case since before Christmas.  Come on down and we'll show you what we do best.

On love and cheese and surprises

Valentine's Day is this weekend and I'll admit up front that I am a jaded ex-restaurant worker who has no love for the holiday.  I don't think I am shattering any innocence by stating that Valentine's Day at restaurants is often over hyped and over priced.

In my retail life I want to be the opposite of that.  Now I understand that sitting at home in the living room with a nice cheese plate isn't quite as romantic as a dimly lit room with service abound, but I think with a little imagination you could find some spectacular treats in our shops.

There are cheeses in my case that I know very well that are a constant revelation to me.  Not to sound overly dramatic, but there are some cheeses that I taste and taste again and am amazed by how delicious they are.  Every time I pop a piece of Sweet Grass Dairy Green Hill in my mouth I can't help but think "Hot damn that's delicious".  Cheese can be one of the most savory mouth watering foods I can think of.

So if I were composing a Valentine's treat for my beau and I it'd probably go a little something like this (don't forget we do cheese Bento boxes for two people for $20): a little wedge of Green Hill, a couple of nice wedges of Comte, a dollop of Stickney Hill Chevre de Terroir, Rogue River Blue, a handful of hazelnuts from Piedmont, and a nice wack of Ames Farm Honey Comb.  I'd probably slice up some Jamon Serrano just in case I was feeling a bit weak or anemic.  On hand for dessert we always have Rogue Chocolatier chocolate in the house but I might bring home a Cake Eater cupcake just in case we need even more sugar.  Even with cupcake, the chocolate and some of the other fanciness I could easily feed two of us for $40 or less.  Now that's sexy.