The Joy of Cheese October Events

Lots to report. Here’s the rundown.

October 5, 5-7:30 Cheesy Happy Hour at In Vino, 215 E. 4^th St.,

In Vino is bringing back the concept of the fromagier for a day, or well, for a Happy Hour. Starting October 5^th from 5-730 and hopefully becoming a regular event, we are starting a Cheese Plate Happy Hour. Cheese Plates of 3 will be half off, and I’ll be around to sample and discuss delights off of our fantastic list of Italian and contemporary American cheeses (I’ll probably hand out a few surprise cheeses too).

October 18 at 7:30 at The Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St. The New Stuff.

What’s new? Please join us October 18 at The Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St., as we will answer that question with nine of the most interesting cheeses that are new to the New York City market. Some will be domestic and others will be from Europe; all will be outstanding. Tickets are $25 and you pay for your drinks as you go. Tickets can be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/203833

October 19 at 7 at Premier Cru, 1163 Madison Avenue. The Cornerstones

Please join us October 19 at 7 at Premier Cru, 1163 Madison, for a wine and cheese event called The Best Gruyere Ever and Five Other Cornerstone Cheeses. This tasting nwill focus attention on the work of leading European affineurs (masters at aging cheese) and the difference they make in familiar cheeses like Gruyere, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Stilton and others; for those unfamiliar with the work of Rolf Beeler, Marcel Petite, Neal’s Yard and others, it will be like having these cheeses for the first time again. We will sample and discuss six cheeses and they will be paired with six superb wines chosen by Premier Cru owner Michael Eigen. Tickets are $45 and available via Premier Cru, 212-534-6709.

October 26 at 7:30 at Breukelen Bier Merchants, 182 Grand St. Beer and Cheese Rules

The complex flavors and salty finishes of great, hand-crafted cheeses are a perfect match for the cane like sweetness that underpin so many of the best Belgian beers. Multiply those matches times seven and you have a very lucky evening. Please join us Wednesday October 26 at 7:30 at Breukelen Bier Merchants, 182 Grand St. in Williamsburg for a very special tasting featuring cheese from The Joy of Cheese and beer from 12% Imports. The Joy of Cheese is Martin Johnson’s roving cheese party; since 2005, he has held events all around the tri state area that focus on the wonders of the new wave of hand crafted cheese that is available to New Yorkers. Maggie Fuller from 12% Imports is one of the leading authorities on beer. She is a graduate of the University of California at Davis Brewmasters program and her company focuses on the work small producer Belgian and Scandinavian breweries. Tickets are $30 and available at Brown Paper Tickets, http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/203767

April at The Joy of Cheese

April 5 at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 N. 7th St. Hard Goats and Beers to Match

It might be a cheesemonger's stretch to imagine a goat singing to a cow the Irving Berlin classic Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better," but it wouldn't be inappropriate for a goat diary farmer to sing it to a farmer with a herd of cows. In the last two decades, "goat cheese" has transformed from meaning a soft squishy, fresh cheese perfect for a beet salad into a myriad of forms, flavors and textures. Please join us Tuesday April 5 at 7:30 for a tasting of seven exceptional firm goat's milk cheeses and seven beer 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.

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/163427

April 12th at Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St. The Best Soft Chevres in NYC

Oozy, lean and delicious and the three best adjectives to describe the best soft goat's milk cheeses available to New Yorkers. The amazing thing is that not all of them are from abroad. Many of them come from Maryland and Illinois as well as the usual domestic suspects like Vermont, California, and the Pacific Northwest. Please join us Tuesday April 12 at 7:30 at The Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St. for a sampling and discussion of eight of these sumptuous wonders. Tickets are $25 and you pay for your beverages separately.

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/163619

By all means you’re welcome to attend these events without advance purchase, just e-mail me to alert me of your intentions and I’ll reserve space for you.

And in addition these?

April 7 Cheese and Wine at 92nd St. Y with a very special guest wine instructor.

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