Thursday, July 22, 2010

The Joy of Cheese August Events: Soften

Soften: The Joy of Cheese August Events

Most of the time we get a summer punctuated by heat waves; this year it seems like we have a heat wave occasionally punctuated by summer.
There is only one thing to do: soften. Getting all uptight isn't going to beat the heat. The only solution is to relax and acclimate to it. Our immodest suggestion is to eat soft cheeses. They are more luxurious, refreshing and in many ways, they are adult ice cream. This month, The Joy of Cheese offers four chances to soften with cheese.

August 3 at 7:30 NOTE NEW START TIME at d.b.a Bklyn, 113 N. 7th St. Softies & Saisons
We will launch our monthlong celebration of softer cheeses by pairing seven of them with saisons, farmhouse ales that are light, refreshing and occasionally fruity in the finish. I'll discuss the cheeses and Ray Deter will select seven saisons to pair with the fromage and discuss them. The event will run about 75 minutes and tickets are $25 and available via Brown Paper Tickets,
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/120824
You can also pay cash at the door, but please let me know to expect you.

August 10 at 7:30 at Stella Manhattan Bistro, 213 Front St. (South St. Seaport) Buttery cheese n' Belgian beers
Buttery cheeses, Belgian beers (for the msot part). Need we say more? I'll select and discuss nine cheeses, and Maggie Consor Fuller will detail the joys of five brews she's selected from the Stella menu. The event will run about 75 minutes. Tickets are $25 and available via Brown Paper Tickets https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/120829
Again, you can pay cash at the door, please let me know to expect you.

August 12 at 7:30 at Culturefix, 9 Clinton St. Joy of Cheese Workshop, A Brand New Series Debuts. with Soft Comparisons
Please join us at 7:30 at a lovely new cafe, Culturefix, Clinton near the corner of Houston, for a new series, Joy of Cheese will debut a new event, Workshop. At Workshop (yes, capital W) events we will take more of a seminar approach and discuss several issues within the cheese world. At this first one we will deal with shopping for cheese, exploring the contrasts between 12 cheeses some from highbrow boutiques, some from middlebrow retailers and some from lowbrow outlets. Class size is limited, so reserve early! (You can always cancel a BPT purchase if something comes up). Tickets are $25 and available at Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/121266
Cash at the door is fine too; just let me know to expect you.

August 17 at 7:30 at The Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St. Luscious.
Nine melty, oozy, totally sumptuous cheeses will be the focus of this tasting. Nuff said, right? Tickets are $25 and attendees pay for their beverages separately. This event usually last just over an hour. Tickets are available via Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/121096
Cash at teh door works too; just let me know that you plan to attend.

Questions or for more information about these events or perhaps hosting one at your home or office and even having private event at a public venue (an alumni association gathering or some such), contract me at thejoyofcheese aT gMail dotcom.

-MJ

Sunday, June 27, 2010

The July Events

Our July theme is Yes, Mr. DeGaulle, Way More: A Celebration of Fromage.
The tasting schedule is this.
July 13 at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 N. 7th St. in Williamsburg: Fromage et Bier. 7 French cheeses and 7 (French or French inspired) beers to match. I'll discuss the cheese; Ray Deter will talk about the beer. Tickets are $25 and available via Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118464
July 20 at Stella, 213 Front St. near the South St. Seaport: Fromage et vin. 9 French cheeses and 5 wines to match. I'll run my mouth about the cheese and Jason Springarn will run his about the wine. A good time will ensue. Tickets are $25 and available via Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118467
July 27 at Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St. on the Lower East Side: Les huit meilleurs fromages à New York City. 8 Great French cheeses you pay for your beverages separately.
Tickets are $25 and available via Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/118469

For more information on these tastings or having a private event, contact me at The Joy of Cheese AT G Mail.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

The Joy of Cheese June Events

The Joy of Cheese Presents Born in the U.S.A.

It's really nice. You can talk about American cheese these days without referencing Kraft. American hand crafted cheeses are gaining international renown both for their high quality and for their fearless experimentation. Many cheeses blend elements of two or more national traditions. There's a nice parallel to our national identity there.
Anyway, we are going to hold two tastings this month (Stella fans state your case and we'll do a third) built around the theme of American hand crafted cheeses. Here are the details.

June 15 at 7 at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 N. 7th St. Dial V for Vermont
The title of this tasting is more than a Hitchcock reference. Vermont's tradition of culinary excellence is not a recent phenomenon. It dates back decades, even centuries. Small wonder there are over the 1000 dairy farms in a sate with fewer than 10,000 square miles. Please join us June 15 at 7 for a tasting that will celebrate the cheesemking prowess of Vermont. We will sample seven awesome Vermont cheeses and Ray Deter will select, pour, and discuss seven amazing beers to match them. Tickets are $25 and available via Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/114524
You can also pay cash at the door, but I prefer some notice to expect you as I'm also the prep guy.

June 22nd at 7:30 at The Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St. Way Out West
Best Western indeed. The rise of American hand crafted cheese took root fastest on the west coast and pioneers like Mary Keehn and Laura Chenel created fine cheese and innovative business models in the early '80s that set the template for the wonderful world of American cheesemaking that we know and love today. Please join us June 22 at 7:30 for Way Out West, The Joy of Cheese's annual celebration of western hand crafted cheeses. If all goes well, we'll have fine cheeses from Oregon, Washington, Colorado, California and maybe just maybe, Idaho. The event is hosted by The Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St. (between Stanton and Rivington). Tickets $25 and you pay for your beverages as you go. To purchase tix, please visit BPT, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/114529
Again, you can pay cash at the door; just let me know to expect you.

I can be contacted at a gmail account for thejoyofcheese.

-MJ

Thursday, May 20, 2010

June at The Joy of Cheese

The theme for the tastings in June is Born in the U.S.A.

The tastings will be on June 15 at d.b.a Brooklyn and June 22nd at Clerkenwell.

I will think out the specific tasting themes later this week and post ticket sales details over the weekend or thereabouts.

-MJ

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

The Joy of Cheese in May

May marks the fifth anniversary of The Joy of Cheese.
We will celebrate with tastings of Italian cheese. Here are the details.


May 11th at 7:30 at Stella, 213 Front St., It's a Robiola World... (i.e. softer Italians with wines to match)
Ooozy, sumptuous, and tangy soft Italian cheeses will be the focus of this tasting. We will pair eight (more really, it's fifth anniversary!) incredible Italian cheeses with five wines to match. Vanessa Conlin will choose and present the wines. Tickets are $25.
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/109224

May 18th at 7:30 at The Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St., The 8 Best Italian Cheeses in NYC
Soft, hard and in between, I will present the eight best Italian cheeses (and probably a runner up or two) as of the morning of May 18 when I do my shopping. Tickets are $25 and attendees pay for their beverages separately.
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/109225

For more information, the joy of cheese AT Gmail.

June is All American!

-MJ

Sunday, March 21, 2010

The Joy of Cheese Presents All About Chevre

The Joy of Cheese Presents All About Chevre

It's a simple equation: warming weather calls for lighter, leaner cheese. The Joy of Cheese will celebrate the first full month of spring with a three week celebration devoted to goat's milk cheeses in all of their glory. The details....

April 6 at 7 at d.b.a Brooklyn, 113 N. 7th St. (between Berry and Wythe): The Harder They Come.
Who says all goat's milk cheeses are soft. At this tasting we will sample and discuss seven firm goat's milk cheeses and Ray Deter will present seven beers specifically chosen to match them. The tasting runs about 75 minutes; tickets are $25 and available via Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/104551

April 13 at 7:30 at Stella, 213 Front St. (between Peck Slip and Beekman): The Softies
Eight ooozy, dense, creamy and other soft forms of chevre will be in the spotlight at this tasting as we pair them with four or five beers to match. The tasting will last about 75 minutes. Tickets are $25 and available via Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/104560

April 20 at 7:30 at Clerkenwell, 49 Clinton St. (between Stanton and Rivington): Red, White and Chevre
Yes, now we break out the wine! For years chevre was thought only to pair with white wines, but at this tasting of eight fab goat's milk cheeses, we will show off its versatility. Tickets are $35 and available via Brown Paper Tickets, https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/105174

More information connect at TheJoyofCheese which has boxes at both gmail and yahoo.

-Martin Johnson

Saturday, February 13, 2010

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.