Sunday, December 20, 2009

The First Events of 2010

For the fourth consecutive year, The Joy of Cheese will devote January to blue cheeses. This year's series, Everyday...I have the blues, is split into several separate and complimentary themes. Here's the sked.

NOTE: THE JANUARY 26TH EVENT IS NOW AT THE CLERKENWELL, 49 CLINTON ST.

January 12 at 7 at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 North 7th St. (between Berry and Wythe): Classic Blues and beers to match.
This tasting will pair five blues two non blues and seven beers that stand up to the pepperiness of great blues like Roquefort Mons, Colston Bassett Stilton and others. Tickets are $20 and the link to Brown Paper Tickets is http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/93499
January 19 at 7:30 at Stella, 213 Front St. (between Beekman and Peck Slip near the Seaport): New Blues and Belgian Beers to match.
This tasting will pair several of the best new blues from here and abroad and pair them with the sweeter beers of Belgium. Tickets are $40 and the Brown Paper Tickets link is http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/93500.
January 26 at 7:30 at The Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St., we will do some classic and some contemporary blues in a presentation called Deep Blues and wines to match. There will be eight resonant blues with wines and beers chosen from the Clerkenwell menu to match. Tickets are $25, (you pay for your drinks separately) and available via Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/94285

Also, join The Joy of Cheese Facebook Page where you will find links to interesting stories on cheese and a Fromage of the Day!


-MJ

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

We finish the year with beer

We will close the year with two beer and cheese tastings. The first will be December 8 at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 N. 7th St. in Williamsburg. We will pair six cheeses with six holiday ales. Tickets are $20 and available at Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/89125

The very next night, we will take the beer and cheese vibe to the 92nd St. Y where a noted beer expert and I will present eight beers and cheeses. Tickets are $50 and available via this link, http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.asp?productid=T-LP5FW01

-MJ

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Joy of Chese is Built for Comfort: The November Tastings

No, I'm not talking about my waistline.

In November, The Joy of Cheese will present two tastings built around the theme of comfort cheeses. We're tumbling into autumn and what with cooler, if not downright colder weather, thoughts turn toward heartier cuisines. Our tastings will spotlight rich, full flavored cheeses that melt well or on their own pair with fruitier wines or stronger beers. Here are the details.

November 3rd at 7 at d.b.a Brooklyn: Comfort Cheese and Beers to Match
Please join us at 7 at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 N. 7th St. (between Berry and Wythe, one and half blocks east of the Bedford Avenue L Stop, just out of Manhattan) for a tasting of six cheeses six beers that are perfect for autumn. Expect sweet Italian mountain cheeses, nutty alpine numbers, and crumbly aged goudas. Ray Deter will choose beers to match and discuss them. Tickets are a mere $20 and available at Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/86873

November 17th at 7 at Stella: Built for Comfort
Please join us at 7 at Stella, 213 Front St. (between Peck Slip and Beekman) for the final Joy of Cheese event at Stella in 2009. for two hours, possibly longer, we will sample and discuss nine excellent autumnal cheeses and Peter Jamros will present and detail the pleasures of four spectacularly full wines. Tickets are $40 and available via Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/86874

For further details, I'm at TheJoyofCheese@gmail.com.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Joy of Cheese Presents a Local October

The early October schedule will feature three tastings in 15 days, all focused on cheese made within a few hours drive of NYC.

October 6 at 7 at 10 Degrees, 121 St. Mark's Place in the East Village
We will present Farmer's Market, a sampling and discussion of ten of the best cheeses available at the nearby Greenmarkets. Once, a venue primarily for produce, some of the best nearby creameries showcase their wares at farmer's markets. We'll explore. There will be fruit (guess where from!), mystery cheeses, program notes, et al. Tickets are $25 and available at Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/83184

October 13 at 7 at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 N. 7th St. in Williamsburg, between Berry and Wythe
We will present the Local-Local Connection, seven cheeses made nearby and seven beers brewed nearby to match. Tickets are $20 and available via Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/83188

October 20 at 7 at Stella, 213 Front St. near the South St. Seaport between Peck Slip and Beekman
We will present In the Vicinity, a tasting of nine local cheeses (including some from Brooklyn) and they will be paired with four incredible wines (which won't be made in the five boros). Peter Jamros will discuss the wine; I'll discuss the cheeses. Fun will ensue.
Tickets are $40 (it's typically a two-hour event), and available via Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/83189

Beyond these tastings here's what's up

October 21 a Wine and Cheese pairing class at the 92nd St. Y
http://www.92y.org/shop/event_detail.asp?productid=T-LP5FW76

Then comes the Built for Comfort series, several tastings highlighting the best autumn cheese.

October 27, The Five Best Cheeses in NYC plus some runners up at Nectar Wine Bar
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/86783

November 17 at Stella and some dates in between t.b.a

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Preview of October

More details up by week's end, but here's the lineup for a busy busy October.
The theme is Local Cheese (or at least made by cheesemakers in the near vicinity).

October 6, Farmer's Market at 10 Degrees (cheeses all from nearby greenmarkets).
October 8, The 8 Best Local Cheeses in NYC at Nectar Wine Bar
October 13, Local-Local. Local cheeses and local brews at d.b.a. Brooklyn
October 20, In the Vicinity, 9 local cheeses and four great wines at Stella

Finally, one that won't be local at all,
October 21, Cheese and Wine pairing class at 92nd St. Y.

-MJ

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Joy of Cheese Presents a Sheepy September

September 2009 is a bitch of month to try and schedule events. Labor Day is very very late, and Rosh Hashanah is somewhat early. That leaves a teensy tiny little window to schedule tastings. But every problem is an opportunity, so we're going to focus the entirety of our tasting themes on sheep cheese this month. Everyone knows Manchego, Roquefort, and Pecorino, but there's so much more to the story. We'll tell it in three separate events.
September 15 at 6:30 at Nectar Wine Bar: The 8 Best Sheep Cheeses in New York City
The 8 on the 8th series returns from summer hiatus with a survey course of great sheep cheeses from France, Italy and Spain (of course) as well as those from less renown ports like New Jersey, Portugal and England. Tickets are $25 and you pay for your wine as you go. There will be a flight of wines chosen by Jai Jai Greenfield, owner of Nectar Wine Bar. Nectar Wine Bar is at 2235 Frederick Douglass Blvd (121st St.) . Advance tix are available at Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/79470
September 17 at 7 at d.b.a Brooklyn: Cheeses of Spain & Portugal, Beers from ???
Okay, not all the cheeses here will be from sheep's milk but most of them will be. The Iberian peninsula is a fantastic epicenter of sheep cheese production and we will investigate some cornerstone cheeses and several exotic ones as well. Ray Deter will present six beers to chosen to match our six cheeses. There will also be fruit, a mystery cheese and program notes. Tickets are $20 (it's a one hour tasting) and available via Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/79469
September 22 at 7 at Stella: Not Cheap Cheese, Sheep Cheese!
One of the most underrated--okay Frank Bruni, overlooked--aspects of sheep's milk cheese is its companionability with a wide variety of wines. This will be our focus at the next Stella tasting. We will present nine extraordinary sheep's milk cheeses with four superb wines. I'll talk about the cheese and Peter Jamros will detail the deep dark secrets of the wine. Tickets are $40 (it's a two hour event) and available via Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/79468

For more information, contact me at thejoyofcheese@gmail.com.

-MJ

Sunday, August 2, 2009

The August Events

August 11 at 7 at 10 Degrees, 121 St. Marks Place in the East Village

More Good Cheese for Hard Times, the latest in our exploration of inexpensive hand crafted cheese. We will sample and discuss 10 cheeses made on small farms run $25/pound or less. In it the process, we will go over how cheese is made, where to shop, and good pairing strategies. In addition, there will be fruit, a mystery cheese, and dark chocolate. The tasting will run from 7 until around 8ish. Tickets are $25 but you pay for your drinks separately, though it's 2-4-1 happy hour at the bar till 8. Advance tix are available at Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/76508

August 18 at 7 at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 N. 7th St.,
Cheese and Beer, a summertime potpourri. I'm going to pick six cheeses (well seven including the mystery cheese) and Ray Deter, the owner of d.b.a., will pick six beers to match. It's a recipe for a very happy hour. The tasting runs till about 8. Tickets are $20 and available at Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/76511

For more information contact me at thejoyofcheese@gmail.com

-MJ

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

The July events part one

Lots of events in lots of places!

July 7 at 7 at 10 Degrees, 121 St. Mark's Place, (bet 1st Ave and Avenue A)
The Joy of Cheese Presents Good Cheese for Hard Times vol. 2. Great cheese need not cost a great amount of money. We will present the second in our three part series of cheeses that cost $25 per pound or less with a focus on the soft cheeses in that price range. Tickets are $25 and you pay for your beverages as you go. Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/70923

July 16 at 7 at Stella, 213 Front St. (bet Peck Slip and Beekman)
The Joy of Cheese Presents The Stella Seven: Francophile's Delight. It's durn near impossible to think about Cheese without France coming to mind. Francophile's Delight will offer nine affineur aged French Cheeses and four wines to match. I'll discuss the cheeses in terms of their geography, production style and flavor. Peter Jamros will reveal the deep dark secrets of the wine. Everyone will leave with smiles on their faces and Paris on their minds. Tickets are $40 and available via Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/70918

July 21 at 7 at d.b.a. Brooklyn, 113 N. 7th St. (bet Berry and Wythe)
The Joy of Cheese Presents The JoC dba six pack. In the second of our series on cheeses and beers we will focus on the glories of French Farmhouse Ales. These lovely dense and refreshing beverages pair beautifully with cheese and to prove we will focus on six of each. In addition, weather permitting, the tasting will take place in the outdoor patio area of the bar.
Tickets are a mere $20 and available from Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/70926

For more info, find me at thejoyofcheese AT gmail.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Have a beer, and upcoming tastings

It's only recently come to light, but beer and cheese are more compatible together than wine and cheese. The reasons for this are complex and have to do with the hops and sweetness of beer balancing out the complexities of cheese. Still not convinced? Come to The Joy of Cheese/d.b.a Six Pack, a new series at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 North 7th St. in Williamsburg (a block and half west of the first L stop into Brooklyn, Bedford Avenue). This summer we will offer hour long tastings that feature six cheeses and three beers. There will be program notes, dark chocolate, fruit, and plenty of discussion about both cheese, beer and their pairings. Admission is $20 and space is limited so act now!
Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets.

Sneak preview of July
July 7 at 10 Degrees: Good Cheese for Hard Times vol. 2

July 15 at Nectar Wine Bar: The 8 Best Vermont Cheeses in NYC
July 16 at Stella: The Stella Seven presents Francophiles Delight
July 21 at dba Brooklyn: Cheeses and I.P.A.'s

-MJ

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Late May and early June Tastings

After five tastings in eight days, I'm going to use the weeks leading up to Memorial Day to catch my breath and get ready to launch into our summer series. Here's the lowdown

May 28 at 7 at Stella, 213 Front St (between Beekman and Peck Slip or just north of the South Street Seaport, due east of the Fulton/B'way Nassau stop of the 2,3,4,5,A,C,J,and M trains), the third edition of the Stella Seven will focus on Italian Cheeses. No, not any ole Italian cheese, but rare Italian cheeses, Foglia Di Noce, Cinerino, and several that are just starting to make it to these shores. In addition to nine cheeses (seven plus two mysteries), there will be four wines presented and discussed by Peter Jamros (former Wine Director of Babbo and Otto), and of course there will be fruit, dark chocolate and program notes. Tickets are $40 and available via www.brownpapertickets.com (use Stella as a search criteria) by May 8.

June 2 at 7, the Joy of Cheese returns to its home base, 10 Degrees, 121 St. Mark's Place (between First Avenue and Avenue A) for the start of a new series, Good Cheese for Hard Times, 10 cheeses all under $25/pound. Admission to the event is $25 and you pay for your drinks as you go. Tickets will be on sale at www.brownpapertickets.com after May 8, use 10 Degrees as a search criteria.

June 8 at 6:30 at Nectar Wine Bar, 2235 Frederick Douglass Blvd, (121st St.), we will present the next edition of our 8 on the 8th series, The 8 Best Cheeses of the American West. The tasting will feature great obscure cheeses of California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. In addition there will be a suggested flight of wines from Jai Jai Greenfield owner of Nectar Wine Bar and Harlem Vintage. Tickets are $25 and available after May 8 at www.brownpapertickets.com (yep, use Nectar Wine Bar as a search critieria).

For more information hit me at thejoyofcheese@gmail.com

-MJ

Friday, April 3, 2009

The Joy of Cheese partial April sked

April is coming together slowly at The Joy of Cheese.

However......there will be cheese!

April 8 at 6:30 at Nectar Wine Bar, 2235 Frederick Douglass Blvd (121st. St.), we will explore The 8 Best Italian Cheeses in New York City. Tickets are $25 and you pay for your wine as you go. Advance tickets are at brown paper tickets dot com. Use Nectar Wine Bar as the search criteria.

April 29 at 7 at The 92nd St. Y, I am team teaching a wine and cheese pairing class. We will investigate 8-10 wines and 8-10 cheeses and discuss. Tickets are $50 and advance sales are at the 92StY.org box office.

April 30 at 7 at Stella, 213 Front St. near the South St. Seaport, we will hold the second edition of the Stella 7, Nine cheeses four wines $40. More information on that soon.

More information in general? E-me at thejoyofcheese on gmail.

Monday, March 2, 2009

More March Cheese Tasting Madness

March 11, The Joy of Cheese launches a new series, The Stella Seven, at Stella, 213 Front Street. The venue is near the South St. Seaport, a five minute walk from the Fulton St/B'way Nassau stop of the A, C, J, M, 2, 3, 4, and 5 trains. The tastings will take place in a separate salon room accessible via the bar.
Our first tasting there will focus on cheeses of Spain and Portugal. As part of the $40 admission ($45 at the door), there will be sample sizes of four absurdly good Iberian wines served and discussed by Peter Jamros from Regal Wines. Of course in addition to the seven cheeses, there will also be two mystery cheeses, fruit, dark chocolate, and of course program notes.
You can buy tickets in advance at Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/57728

For more information, try me at The Joy of Cheese aT Gmail.

-MJ

Friday, February 13, 2009

Swiss and Cheddar in March

No, it's not our response to the economy. The dead of winter is a great time to investigate the alpine cheese tradition and it's a fine time to delve into the wonderful world of cheddar.

Sunday March 8 at 1:30 at Nectar Wine Bar, 2235 Frederick Douglass Blvd (120-121st. St.)
The Joy of Cheese Presents the 8 Best Swiss Cheeses in New York City.
No, I don't mean Finlandia v. real Swiss Emmenthal or Jarlsberg v. Leerdammer, we're talking Hand-Crafted cheese! We will have the best Emmenthal on the planet and a fab Gruyere but there will also be two or three rare firm cheeses from Switzerland as well as several soft gooey ones (but no Vacherin, sorry). Of course, there will be mystery cheeses, fruit, dark chocolate, program notes, and wine recommendations from the fantastic team at Nectar Wine Bar. Tickets are $25 (you pay for your wine as you go) and available either at the door or more safely via Brown Paper Tickets
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/54883

Tuesday March 10 & Wednesday March 18 at 7pm at 10 Degrees, 121 St. Mark's Place (1st Avenue and Avenue A)
The Joy of Cheese Presents Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Cheddar But Were Afraid to Ask
We'll have Old World Cheddar, New World Cheddar, and everything in between. They've been making cheddar for nearly a millennium now and there are more offshoots and flavors from this cheese than you might imagine. You'll never take it for granted again. We'll sample six or seven absolutely off-the-hook wonderful cheddars as well as six or seven potent variations on cheddar.
The optimal pairing is whiskey, but we understand if you have to go to work the next day. The 10 Degrees bar is well stocked with red wines, beers and other fine alternatives. As always there will be mystery cheeses, fruit and dark chocolate.
Tickets are $40 ($35 via Brown Paper Tickets) and you pay for your drinks as you go.
The Brown Paper Tickets direct link is http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/56938

Contact me at thejoyofcheese at gmail.

-MJ

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

The Joy of Cheese Presents The 8 Best French Cheeses in NYC

The Joy of Cheese Presents the 8 Best French Cheeses in New York City

Later for governing a nation with more than 750 cheeses (yes Charles DeGaulle was off by more than half in his famous comment "how can you govern a nation with 325 cheeses"), how do you even get a grip on all this fromage?

The Joy of Cheese will try. On Sunday afternoon February 8, at Nectar Wine Bar, 2235 Frederick Douglass Blvd, we will conduct a tasting featuring eight true cornerstone cheeses of this fantastic cheesemaking superpower. Ideally, the tasting will focus on the work of France's leading affineurs, masters of aging cheese, and one of the talking points will be how France became such a fromage haven.

Our roster of cheeses will include fantastic Loire Valley chevre, wonderful Pyrenees Sheep cheese and a great blue, as well as better Roquefort, St. Nectaire, and Tomme De Savoie than you can get in most Parisian fromageries.

The tasting is the latest in our series of 8 on the 8th at Nectar Wine Bar, in which we introduce people to eight varieties of cornerstone cheeses in different themes. Next month we will tackle Switzerland and in April, we will focus on Italy.

The February 8th tasting begins at 1:30 and is expected to last 75 minutes. Admission is $25 and attendees pay for their drinks as they go. There will be a roster of suggested wines chosen by Nectar Wine Bar owner, Jai Jai Greenfield as well as fruit, dark chocolate, mystery cheese, and program notes.

Tickets are available via http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/54300 and reservations and questions can be fielded at thejoyofcheese@gmail.com.bbb