The Joy of Cheese Presents East v. West, a comparative tasting

The Joy of Cheese Presents East v. West

American hand crafted cheesemaking has roots in both the East Coast and the West Coast. 30 years later, which coast does it better? Let’s hold a taste-off and find out.

In the second of a six month series of comparisons and contrasts called Taking Sides (which isn’t entirely accurate, you can choose to like both), we will investigate pairs of cheeses from each coast. In this manner, I hope we can begin to gain a sense of the flavor properties that each region exerts on a cheese.

There will be several interesting contrasts including goudas from Oregon and Connecticut , bloomy chevres from California and Massachusetts , and washed rind cheeses from Virginia and (hopefully) Washington state.

There will be dark chocolate (probably from a foreign country), fruit (west coast) and two mystery cheeses (which will be from one coast or the other). I am happy to answer questions about these cheeses and about cheese in general

The tastings are Tuesdays May 13^th and 20^th as well as Thursday May 15^th

As always the tastings run from just after 7 until around 8:30 at 10 Degrees, the wonderful wine and high end spirits bar at 121 St. Marks Place in the East Village . Admission to the tasting is $30 and you pay for your drinks as you go (but it’s 2-4-1 Happy Hour till 8).

Reservations are a must. Contact me at thejoyofcheese@yahoo.com

The Joy of Cheese blog is up at http://thejoyofcheese.blogspot.com

Next tastings: June 22^nd, 24^th, and 29^th, Taking Sides part three, the cheeses of the American South versus those from the Midwest ..

-MJ