So What Happened to The Joy of Cheese?

The short answer is nothing. The just slightly longer answer is Con Edison. The long answer is probably more informative. Late last year, I took a job with a soon-to-open upscale retail market and cafe on the Upper West Side. By the time the holidays rolled around, construction was nearly done and as long as we could cut through the bureaucratic red tape, we would open soon. I decided not to schedule any Joy of Cheese events until the new joint was open for fear of unnecessary schedule conflicts (say having an event on the evening that just happens to be friends and family night).
Now, do you see where the slightly longer answer enters the picture? The red tape portion of getting the place open has taken far longer than anyone except the utility might have imagined. I thought I was the pessimist by planning for a January 25 opening date.
Anyway, the place will open soon (seriously, it will!) and The Joy of Cheese will resume regularly scheduled events in late April or early May. See you then!

The Joy of Cheese January Events

January 17 at 7:30 at Kupersmith, 49 Clinton St. (bet Stanton and Rivington): Kind of Blue

It's a Joy of Cheese January tradition, the blue tasting. There will be firm crumbly blues and oozy, creamy blues. There will be easygoing blues and mouth-numbing blues. We'll cover all bases with seven blues and two non blues for some semblance of balance. Tickets are $25 and you pay for your beverages separately. Tickets are available via Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/218884

January 25 at 7 pm the 92nd St. Y Uptown (92nd & Lexington): A Cheese and Wine Class

I love the 92Y's droll titles. Here's the deal: 8 awesome cheeses paired with 8 amazing wines. I'll discuss the cheeses and Beau Rapier of Uva Wines and Spirits will talk about the wine. Fun will ensue. Tickets are $50 and available via the 92nd St. Y, http://www.92y.org/Uptown/Event/Wine-And-Cheese-Pairing.aspx

For more details, try me on thejoyofcheese@gmail.com

The Joy of Cheese December Events

The Joy of Cheese has a busy December in the works.

December 6 at 7:30 at Kupersmith, 49 Clinton St.: The Best of 2011

It's time for end of the year wrap ups, so why not sample the nine most interesting cheeses of 2011 that are available presently. Please join us Tuesday December 6 at 7:30 at Kupersmith (the gastropub formerly known as Clerkenwell), 49 Clinton St., for The Best of 2011 (I know, I know, not the most original title). Tickets are $25 and you pay for your drinks separately. Highlights should include Rush Creek, Rogue River Blue, some fantastic Belgian goat cheeses and much much more. Tickets are available via this link, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/213097

December 7 at 7 at the 92nd St. Y, 92nd and Lexington: Cheese and Wine

It's that simple, eight phenomenal cheeses eight stellar wines, two hours of discussion about each separately and the eight pairings we choose. Tickets are $50 and available via the 92Y site, http://www.92y.org/tickets/production.aspx?pid=72983

December 15 at 7 at the 92nd St. Y, 92nd and Lexington: Cheese and Whiskey

Hey, why not live a little dangerously? At this event, we will offer one cheese and beer pairing, one cheese and wine pairing and four cheese and whiskey pairings. You've been warned. Tickets are $40 and available at the 92Y site, http://www.92y.org/tickets/production.aspx?pid=73106

The Joy of Cheese November Events

Tuesday November 8 at 7:30 at The Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St. The Swiss Cheese Conspiracy

It’s time for fondue (I know for some it’s never not time for fondue, but I digress), and that’s a good time to explore the nutty wonders of alpine cheeses, some from alpine regions and some not. In addition there’s a lot more to the Swiss cheese and firm cheeses that melt well; we’ll explore some of the best soft cheeses from this tradition as well. Overall, we’ll explore eight or nine cheeses. Tickets are $25 (you pay for your drinks separately) and available via Brown Paper Tickets,http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/209707.

Wednesday November 9 at Premier Cru, 1169 Madison Avenue (85th St.): The Six Best Cheeses for Holiday Entertaining.

Yes, it’s that time again too. Please join us at Premier Cru, one of the Upper East Side’s most gracious wine boutiques, for a stellar tasting of six cheeses that will pair nicely with holiday beverages. Each of these six cheeses will be paired with a wine chosen by Premier Cru owner Michael Eigen. The fun begins at 7. Tickets are $45 and available via Premier Cru, 212-534-6709.

Also on November 17 at 7:00, Maggie Fuller and I will lead a Beer and Cheese class at the 92nd St. Y. We will pair eight small producer Belgian and Scandinavian beers with eight exceptional cheeses and sample and discuss each. Tickets are $40 and available via this link, http://www.92y.org/Uptown/Event/BetterThanWine-Beer-CheesePair-1.aspx

Three for Three: The Joy of Cheese September Events

Three for Three: The Joy of Cheese September Events

After a quiet late summer, The Joy of Cheese will launch headlong into the fall season with three events on consecutive nights.

September 20 at 7:30 at Culturefix, 9 Clinton St (near Houston): Cheese and Beer Rules!

Cheeses and beers pair exceptionally well together, but what are some rules of thumb for matching them? What cheese balances the hoppiness of an IPA ,or what beer goes best with a earthiness and pepper of a classic blue? Please join us September 20^th at 7:30 at Culturefix, 9 Clinton St., as we celebrate the marriage of grains and curds with six wonderful cheeses accompanied by six New York state beers. This New York City Craft Beer Week event starts at 7:30. Tickets are $25; for tickets please visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/196694

September 21 at 7 at Premier Cru, 1163 Madison Avenue (86^th St.): The New, New World Classics

The exceptional quality of American cheeses like Humboldt Fog, Rogue River Blue, and Pleasant Ridge Reserve are old news by now. What are the next great American made cheeses? Please join us at 7 at Premier Cru, the exceptional wine shop on the Upper East Side; In the first of a three part monthly series, I'll sample and discuss six cheeses from America and perhaps Canada and down under. Premier Cru owner Michael Eigen will pair these six cheeses with six wines from his shop's stellar inventory. Tickets are $45 and available via Premier Cru, 212-534-6709.

September 22 at 7 at The 92^nd St. Y (92 & Lex): Better Than Wine, a Cheese and Beer Pairing.

Cheeses are often a good match for Belgian beers, and at this event Maggie Fuller of 12% Imports, a company that specializes in small producer Belgian and Scandinavian beer will pair eight of her favorite beers with eight of my favorite cheeses. We'll discuss the fromage and brews individually and why they work together. Tickets are $40 and available via the 92^nd St. Y box office, http://www.92y.org/Uptown/Event/BetterThanWine-Beer-CheesePair-1.aspx

The current Joy of Cheese schedule is always up at thejoyofcheese.blogspot.com and my daily musings on cheese including Fromage of the Day is at thejoyofcheese.wordpress.com

Any questions, feel free to contact me at thejoyofcheese@gmail.com

August 16th Event is Cancelled

Unfortunately, the August 16 Joy of Cheese Event at The Clerkenwell has been cancelled. Joy of Cheese events will resume in September.

August at The Joy of Cheese

Tribute and Choice: The Joy of Cheese August Events

In two August events, the Joy of Cheese will range the spectrum of emotions. One event is a tribute to a recently deceased colleague; the other will be programmed by requests made at the Joy of Cheese Facebook page. Both will be interesting.

August 2 at 7:30 at d.b.a Brooklyn: Summer cheeses and Beers

It’s simple; shortly before this event, I’m going to buy the eight best cheeses I can find; we’ll pair them with four superb beers (all four will be favorites of Ray Deter in tribute to our fallen pal) and we’re going to do a tasting. Join us, it’s fun. Tickets are $25; for tickets please visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/185911

August 16 at 7:30 at Clerkenwell: By Request!

All Joy of Cheese events have a mystery cheese, but at this one the audience participation level will go way higher. I'm allowing people to choose the themes by posting what they'd like to investigate at The Joy of Cheese Facebook Page. Once I settle on the themes, it will be my task to make a logical sequence of the cheeses and an intelligent presentation. It should be fun. Tickets are $25 and available via Brown Paper Tickets,https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/189159

By all means attendees are welcome to attend these events without advance purchase, I just that they e-mail me to alert me of their intentions at thejoyofcheese@gmail.com.

The current Joy of Cheese schedule is always up at thejoyofcheese.blogspot.com and my daily musings on cheese including Fromage of the Day is at thejoyofcheese.wordpress.com

Any questions, feel free to contact me at thejoyofcheese@gmail.com

The Joy of Cheese Summer Events

No grand themes, just some fun times over cheeses and beverages.

June 29 at 7pm at the 92nd St. Y, 92nd and Lexington

8 Cheeses and 8 Wines. I've chosen eight fantastic cheeses and Keith Beavers of Alphabet City Wines will pair them with eight superb wines. We'll present and discuss our choices, and solicit your views on the pairings. Tickets are $50 and available via the 92Y website, http://www.92y.org/Uptown/Event/Summer-Wine-And-Cheese-Pairing.aspx

July 12 at 7:30 at The Clerekenwell, 49 Clinton St. on the Lower East Side

Since it's 48 hours before Bastille Day, let's do 9 French cheeses in some theme or another. I'll present the nine best that are available in NYC and we'll discuss. Attendees pay for their beverages separately. For advance tickets, please visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/185153

July 14 at 7 at The 92nd St. Y, Cheeses and Hard Ciders

Come celebrate Bastille Day with us at the 92nd St. Y. I'll present eight either French or French-inspired cheeses and Kat Kelly will pair them with eight exceptional ciders including some from Normandy and some from the Basque regions in France. If we're lucky, we may have some locally made cider too. Tickets are $40 and available via the92Y website, http://www.92y.org/Uptown/Event/Hard-Cider-And-Cheese-Pairing.aspx

August 2 at 7:30 at d.b.a Brooklyn: Summer cheeses and Beers

It's simple shortly before this event, I'm going to buy the eight best cheeses I can find and pair them with four amazing beers and we're going to do a tasting. Join us, it's fun. Tickets are $25 and available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/185911

Questions? drop me a line at the name of this blog at gmail.

Fromage Americain: The Joy of Cheese June Events

Fromage Americain: The Joy of Cheese JuneEvents

It's old news that American hand crafted cheeses can stand alongside any in the world, but are there really two dozen of them that could be sold in any French Fromagerie without condescension or caveat. I think there are, and I'm going to present my choices during three Joy of Cheese events in June.

June 7 at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 N. 7th St. Fromage Americain

Please join us Tuesday April 5 at 7:30 for a tasting of seven exceptional American cheeses with a slight emphasis on firm cheeses and seven beers chosen specifically to match them. I'll present the cheese; Ray Deter will present the beers. We'll both talk about why we think the combination works. Tickets are $25. For more information, visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/177507

June 14th at Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St. Fromage Americain Part Deux

Same deal, nine superb American cheeses, this time with a slight emphasis on softer cheeses. I'll present the cheese and attendees can buy the beverages of their choice separate. Tickets are $25; for more information visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/178626.

June 22^nd at Culturefix, 9 Clinton St. Fromage Americain Part Trois

La meme chose, nine superb American cheeses, this time with a slight emphasis on newer cheeses. I'll present the cheese and attendees can buy the beverages of their choice separate. Tickets are $25; for more information visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/17863

By all means attendees are welcome to attend these events without advance purchase, I just that they e-mail me to alert me of their intentions at thejoyofcheese@gmail.com.

And in addition these?

June 23 Cheese and Beer at the 92Y and June 29^th Cheese and Wine at the 92^nd St. Y.

In July, our theme will involve French cheeses; I don't know how yet.

Funkee!! The Joy of Cheese May Events

Funkee!! The Joy of Cheese May Events

Note the two e's and more importantly the two exclamation marks.

May is not a month for shy, subtle and gentle cheese. It's the month when the sun becomes a regular part of our lives again. It's when the coats become optional apparel during the day. It's the time when outdoors is the place to be. Yes, in May the funky days are here again.

And so is the cheese. We'll do what we do in three separate events.

May 3rd at 7:30 at d.b.a Bklyn, 113 N. 7th St. (between Wythe and Berry), Funkee!!

Seven aggressive cheeses, seven delicious beers. Commentary from yers truly on the cheese and special guest beer geek AJ Eckstein on the brews. The event last from 7:30-8:45, but the good times go on and on and on... Tickets are $25.

For tickets visit, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/172724

May 17th (note, new date) at 7:30 at Clerkenwell 49 Clinton St. Classic Funk

Where did all this funky cheese begin, where is it going. I'm a big believer in core curricula and here we'll apply to the cheese. Please join us for a survey of eight cornerstone washed rind cheeses. Tickets are $25 and you pay for your beverages separately. For more info, visit

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/172777

May 18th at 7:30 at Culturefix, 9 Clinton St. American Funk

Insert your own George Clinton joke here. It took a while for the new American cheesemakers to embrace the European tradition of washed rind cheeses, but over the last few years, we're showing we can get down with the best of the aromatic fromages from abroad. Please join us Wednesday May 18th at 7:30 at Culturefix, 9 Clinton St, for a sampling and discussion of the very best funky American cheeses. Tickets are $25 and you pay for your beverages separately. For more information visit https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/172784

As always, attendees are welcome to pay at the door, just notify me of your intentions at thejoyofcheese@gmail.com and I'll reserve space for you.