The Bloomy Rind :: Artisan Cheeses

Happenings at the shop + Valentine's Day goodies

2012-02-09T18:12:00.001-06:00

Bathtub Gin new jam flavors

The ladies of Bathtub Gin will be in the shop Saturday to sample their latest creations. They have worked up three marmalades for you citrus lovers...

London Pink Gin
This British style orange marmalade with rosemary and cloves. Great with Camembert. It's named for the fashionable UK cocktail, pink gin, created by the Royal Navy, a combination of gin and bitters that works perfectly in this rich, orange treat.

French 75
A lemon marmalade with a delicious citrus pucker that is mixed with Champagne for an effervescent twist.

Manhattan Red
A three fruit marmalade combined with the popular turn of the century Manhattan cocktail and garnished with a splash of tart red cherry juice.

Stop by for a taste!
Saturday, Feb 10th
10am - 1pm

Save the date: Feb. 23rd
Camembert + wine tasting

When you see a bunch of those little white rinded Camembert gems lined up in a row, how do you know which one to choose? Although they look a lot alike, you can experience a wide variety of flavors and textures from one to another. Next Thursday evening, February 23rd, we'll have a number of them out for you to do a little comparing and contrasting. As a bonus, Will Motley from Woodland Wine Merchant will pair up some delicious wines. Stay tuned for times and any other details we may have for you.

Gifts for your sweetie

Next week brings the mother lode of Hallmark holidays. Don't get stuck giving one of those sad ol' boxes of drugstore chocolates when there's so much goodness to be had at the 'Rind. If your sweetie is a cheese lover, we've got you covered...

Order up an artisan cheese plate for two
Bathtub Gin sampler pack (3 yummy flavors and a spreader)
Olive and Sinclair chocolate bars
A copy (and subscription to Culture Magazine)
A Bloomy Rind gift certificate

Cheese for two, and two for two

2012-02-09T15:52:00.001-06:00

Cheese for two… and two for cheese

Order a cheese plate perfect for sharing. Several options. Yours for the choosing. Simply pick one, fill out the info and drop this at the shop or email Kathleen@thebloomyrind.com.

[ ] Green Hill

Half a wheel of Sweet Grass Dairy’s dreamy double cream Camembert. Served with a mini-jar of Bathtub Gin jam and Marcona Almonds.

$13

[ ] Rush Creek Reserve

Half a wheel of Upland Cheese’s luscious, decadant seasonal beauty. Creamy with hints of a fine, cured meats. Served with a mini-jar of Bathtub Gin jam and Marcona Almonds.

$18

[ ] New Moon

Bright, buttery flavors and a cheesecake texture describe this lil’ Camembert gem from Chapel Hill Creamery. Served with a mini-jar of Bathtub Gin jam and Marcona Almonds.

$12

Custom plates also available. Just ask.

Pickup day/time:

[ ] Friday

[ ] Saturday

[ ] Tuesday

[ ] Other (please specify): ___________________________________

Name:

Email:

Phone:

It's so easy bein' cheesy

2011-12-19T11:16:00.003-06:00

Cheesons Greetings!

Oh, how we are caught off guard by the holidays every year. They seem so far off all year long, then, just like that, they're here. I am among those of you who have done very little shopping so far. My family tends to keep gift giving simple around the holidays, so I don't have a super long list. But there are definitely a few things I need to pick up between now and the end of the week when I hop on a plane. How about you? Still on the lookout for a few, or perhaps quite a few, gifts?

If there's a food lover on your list, I hope you'll keep the 'Rind in mind. Whether the lucky recipient is near or far, we've got you covered!

Here are a few gift ideas for your favorite curd nerd...

A wedge or round of a special cheese like Rush Creek Reserve or Rogue River Blue. Taste bud bliss.
Basket of local goodies: Bathtub Gin amazing fruit spreads, honey, Olive and Sinclair chocolate. Happiness.
A Bloomy Rind gift certificate. Let 'em pick out their faves for themselves. (Porter Road Butcher also has gift certificates available!)
A subscription to Culture Magazine. Order online then pick up a hard copy at the shop to wrap and give. (Use code 'holiday' for a discount)
Cheese books. I filtered the list down a bit to hopefully make it quick and easy.
A beer and cheese class. There are two planned through USN's Evening Class program: one each at Jackalope (#454) and Yazoo (#451).
Or blow their minds with a combination of these treats!

Shop hours this week:
Tue-Fri, 10am-8pm
Saturday, Christmas Eve: 10am-2pm

'Tis the cheeson!

2011-12-01T19:03:00.008-06:00

Serve up the best dang dish at the holiday party!

To order a cheese or cheese n' meat plate, please fill out the information below and do one of the following: (1) print this out and drop it by the shop, or (2) email the relevant info below to kathleen@thebloomyrind.com.

Please place orders at least 24 hours in advance. Orders for Christmas Eve pickup need to be in by Thursday, Dec 22. I'll send you a confirmation email once I receive your order.

What size cheese plate would you like? (serving sizes based on 2 oz per person and included )
[ ] Small (serves up to 5) - $25
[ ] Medium (serves up to 10) - $50
[ ] Large (serves up to 15) - $70
[ ] Extra Large (serves up to 20) - $90

Would you like:
[ ] Cheese only
[ ] Cheese and charcuterie (+ $2 per person)
Charcuterie will be composed whatever is fabulous and available from Porter Road Butcher and/or Pine Street Market (Altanta)

Each plate includes one baguette for every five people.
Do you want additional baguettes for $2.50 per loaf?
[ ] Yes, ________ loaf/loaves
[ ] No thanks

Would you prefer your plate of happiness on a disposable plate/platter or your own platter?
[ ] Disposable plate please
[ ] My own platter, and I'll drop it by the shop (at least) the day before I want to pick it up
If you need to cancel, please let me know at least 48 hours in advance of when you're scheduled to pick it up. Otherwise I will have prepared it, and you'll be responsible for the cost of it. Hopefully, that's fair.

When would you like to pick up your cheese plate?
Date: __________________
Plates can be picked up: Tuesday - Friday (12noon - 8pm) or Saturday/Christmas Eve (10am-2pm).

Your contact info:
Name _____________________________________

Phone ____________________________________

Email ____________________________________

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Wisconsin Cheese Tour: Uplands Cheese Co

2011-12-01T08:03:00.012-06:00

Just in time for a brand new cheese arrival by the name of Rush Creek Reserve, here's a quick post with a bunch of photos from my visit to Uplands Cheese Company in Dodgeville, WI. Back in the summer, I was incredibly fortunate to be included in the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board's cheese tour. WMMB graciously hosted a group of cheesemongers and cheese writers from around the country for three cheese-filled days including visits to about seven different Wisconsin cheesemakers. Like I said, incredibly fortunate.

Uplands started with a cheese called Pleasant Ridge Reserve, winner of the American Cheese Society's Best In Show award a record three times. That means it has been selected the top dog out of over 1000 cheese contest entries. Not once, not twice, but three times. Nice.

Pleasant Ridge is made only from spring and summer milk when the cows are out on pasture eating that delectable green grass. It's a hard, aged Alpine style cheese in the spirit of Beaufort and Gruyere. Read more about how the Uplands team decided to make this style here and here.

So what happens to the fall and winter milk if they only use summer milk, you might ask? Good question. For years, they would sell it to other dairies. But lucky for us, they decided to develop a new cheese that embraced the richness of the cows' winter diet of hay. Voila, Rush Creek Reserve was born. It's a luscious, soft-ripened, spruce bark-wrapped beauty made in the style of Vacherin Mont d'Or. When we were at the creamery, the very first batches of the season were in the cave. I've been looking forward to it ever since!

The ideal way to enjoy Rush Creek is to pick up a wheel, some wine and invite over some friends to share this dreamy creation. There is definitely a limited supply, so be sure to swing by the shop (501 Gallatin in East Nashville) soon or call the shop to reserve a wheel (650-4440).

Since this post doesn't really do justice to the awesomeness of Uplands, please be sure to check out the their website for lots of good information about the cheeses, the people who craft them, and the cows who magically turn grass into milk much to our delight. And here are a few reviews of Rush Creek complete with mouth watering photos:
Tasting Table, Cheese and Champagne, Janet Fletcher's cheese column for SFGate.com, NY Times

The ladies out on pasture

One of many awards

Cheesemaker Andy Hatch (wearing the hat) and some of my fellow tour peeps

Wheels of Pleasant Ridge aging in the 'cave'

Andy telling us about the herd

A number of different wheels for us to sample
so we could compare variations in the batches

Pulling samples for us to taste

Andy and cheesemonger Sam Chertoff rocking a lovely hair net

The rolling pastures of Uplands Cheese

Wheels are salted (instead of brined) when they first get to the cave

Wheels of newly made Rush Creek

Each and every batch has a wheel from which samples
are periodically pulled to monitor its development

Get cheesy this Thanksgiving!

2011-11-17T09:10:00.004-06:00

Serve up a plate o' happiness this Thanksgiving!

If you'd like to order a cheese plate for the big feast, please fill out the information below and do one of the following: (1) print it out and drop it by the shop or the stand or (2) email the relevant info to kathleen@thebloomyrind.com. Easy, right?

(For a schedule of shop and stand hours, click here.)

Please place orders by Tuesday at noon. I will send you a confirmation email once I receive your order.

What size cheese plate would you like? (serving sizes based on 2 oz per person)
[ ] Small (serves up to 5) - $25
[ ] Medium (serves up to 10) - $50
[ ] Large (serves up to 15) - $75
[ ] Extra Large (serves up to 20) - $100

Would you like:
[ ] Cheese only
[ ] Cheese and charcuterie (+ $2 per person)

Medium or larger plates include one baguette for every five people.
Do you want additional baguettes for $2.50 per loaf?
[ ] Yes, ________ loaf/loaves
[ ] No thanks

When would you like to pick up your plate?
[ ] Tuesday, November 22nd (between 12pm and 8pm)
[ ] Wednesday, November 23rd (between 12pm and 2pm)
If you need to cancel, please let me know by Monday night. Otherwise I will have prepared it, and you'll be responsible for the cost of it. Hopefully, that's fair.

Your contact info:
Name _____________________________________

Phone ____________________________________

Email ____________________________________

Cheers and Happy Thanksgiving!