The Joy of Cheese in March: Only the Strong Survive

Unless you're a big college basketball fan, then March's 31 days represent the dog days of winter. Thus, it's a good opportunity to indulge in strong cheeses and appropriate counterparts in accompanying beverages. The Joy of Cheese offers four opportunities.

March 2 at 7 at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 N. 7th St: Make It Funky!!
Perhaps that should be Funkee!!!! Washed rind cheeses or in the common parlance, stinky cheeses will be the focus of our monthly cheese and beer pairing. We will present seven wonderfully aromatic and soft wonders and Ray Deter will present seven beers chosen to match them. Tickes are $20 and available at Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/100048

March 9 at 7:30 at Stella, 213 Front St.: The Cheese Crunch
Nope it's not Rice Crispies but some cheeses have a certain snap and crackle to them. The long story involves bonding of amino acids and sodium; the short is that it's a component of the best Reggianos, Gruyeres, Aged Goudas and Cheddars, and those will be our focus for this tasting. I'll present eight cheeses, and noted wine geek Vanessa Conlin (Harlem Vintage, Pour) will select and discuss four wines that match them. Tickets are $25 and available via BPT, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/100065

March 16 at 7:30 at The Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St.: Cheddar Smackdown
It's time to take a stand in this face off of old world cheddars versus new world ones. We will offer four head to head match ups and take a vote. Why wait for World Cup for England and the United States to do friendly battle? Tickets are $25 and you pay for your drinks as you go. Tickets are at BPT, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/100071

March 30 at 7:30 at d.b.a Brooklyn, Cheddars and Whiskeys.
Once upon a time the conventional wisdom held that cheddars were not worthy of great wine and instead should be paired with beers and whiskeys. We now know better (cheddars and earthy Bordeaux pair wonderfully) but at this tasting we're going to go old school and pair six or seven cheddars with whiskey or beer. I'll discuss the cheddars and Ray Deter will discuss the beverages. Tickets for this special event are $30, and available at BPT, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/100077

In April, All About Chevre, our annual survey of the world's best goat's milk cheeses.

For more info try me at The Joy of Cheese at either gmail or at yahoo.