Brucie Cheese reports in from NYC

He's on the move and the only thing that will stop him is...cheese, of course!

First stop:
Zabar's, NYC...

On his search for cheese in Manhattan, Zabar's might just be the place to be.  Oh the selections!

Where will Brucie Cheese go next?

Week #26 - Fromage d'Affinois

This week celebrates our half-way journey through cheese.

This double-cream cheese, as Sunny Cheese puts it, "is some dangerous cheese here." Tremendously rich and flavorful, buttery and creamy to the n-th degree. As Brucie Cheese said, "This is what I imagine French cheese would be like if I had never been to France, but someone described it to me. Perfect."

This cheese has some serious ooze and ah's.

We paired this cheese with 365 Organic Wheat Squares and a 2009 Gouguenheim Malbec.

Brucie Cheese gives it a....9.8

Sunny Cheese gives it a...9.5

As testament to our halfway mark, we reflected on the past 25 cheeses, noting, that not one has yet achieved the ultimate 10 rating....the zenith...the pinnacle...the cheese of cheese. Many have come close, including this week.  Our quest continues...

Week #25 - White Stilton with Cranberries

This English cheese is our first cheese with fruit in it. Very sweet. Without the fruit, the cheese will be very tart, but with the cranberries - it's sweet, just like us.
A little known fact about this English breed cheese "A 2005 survey carried out by the British Cheese Board reported that Stilton cheese seemed to cause unusual dreams when eaten before sleep, with 75% of men and 85% of women experiencing "odd and vivid" dreams after eating a 20-gram serving of the cheese half an hour prior to sleeping."
I guess we'll just have to see....

Brucie Cheese gives it a ... 8.9!
Sunny Cheese gives it a ... 8.9!
Mini Mundy gives it a ... 8.9!

Week #24 - Manchego

This 8 month old Spanish sheep cheese (say that ten times fast) is not for the faint of heart. Robust and crumbly, it's one of those salty cheeses, but in a good way. It's a bit nutty, slightly gritty, with a tart finish. Very complex. There's a lot going on, which is why it aint, for the faint...of heart. It's a good stand alone cheese, you don't need a cracker or a piece of bread, which is not meant to disparage.



Brucie Cheese gives it a ... 9.4
Sunny Cheese gives it a .... 8.9
Mini Mundy gives it a .... 9.2

Week #23 - Amadeus

This straight from the cow, Austrian Cheese, is mild in flavor, semi-firm yet creamy that's a reminder of when Swiss, Cheddar, Havarti, and Parmesan once met. It has a buttery feel to it and we think might be a great melting-on-top-of-garlic-bread-cheese. Definitely could go on eating this cheese in one sitting.

Brucie Cheese gives it a ... 9.2
Sunnie Cheese gives it a ... 9.2
Liannie Cheese gives it a ...9.8

Week #22 - Poutine

This week, our Cheesers went off premises to the city they love most. This Lower East Side location encapsulates cheese which ends the perfect evening. Left alone, this cheese just wouldn't do it for our cheese lovers. But...topped over french fries and gravy...and you've got yourself a top notch cheese lovers' paradise. This curdled cheddar cheese, a Montreal favorite, must be enjoyed with a plastic fork...on the streets...of the city we love.

Brucie Cheese gives it a....(only in NYC, after midnight, after beers)...9.2
Sunnie Cheese gives it a...(only in NYC, after midnight, after beers)...9.8

Week #21 - Murray Bridge Australian Chedder

After a long hiatus, the Cheese-ing duo is back at it again. This time with a newly explored region.

We paired this cheese with black seedless grapes and Red Bicyclette's 2008 Merlot, which we found to be, quotes Brucie Cheese "the two of these together is phenominal..it's one of those cheeses I can eat a ton of."

Here we have a very creamy, smooth, Chedder from Down Under. It starts tart and ends smokey.

We would like to additionally pair this cheese with a song: Men at Work's Land Down Under.

Brucie Cheese gives it an ....8.9 !!
Sunnie Cheese gives it an ....8.0 !!

Guest tasting Bunnie Cheese gives it an...8.5 !!

Week #20 - Cabot Clothbound Cheddar

This nutty cheese hits you right away. It's not the same color as most cheddars. This complex cheese is, as Brucie Cheese claims "One of the best American Cheeses he has ever had." We paired this Cheese with the usual Wheat Thin and the Classic Franciscan. It starts out with the same kind of texture as a Reggiano, yet soon melts into a delectable treat of the mouth, it's slightly gritty - which Brucie Cheese has researched to be a result of crystallized proteins - with a sweet after taste.

Brucie Cheese gives it a .... 9.8!!
Sunnie Cheese gives it a .... 8.9!!

Guest Cheese Taster, Mundi Cheese, gives it a .... 9.0!!!

Week #19 - Garrotxa

This subtle, yet fantastic, Spanish Catalonian goat cheese, starts out very unassuming, yet builds in confidence and structure. Give this cheese 30 seconds and it really delivers. This slightly crumbly artisanal cheese pairs fantastically with a Franciscan Cabernet and after a Mikado Salmon.

So good, we needed a second taste.

Brucie Cheese gives it a ..... 9.3
Sunnie Cheese gives it a ..... 8.7

And Guest Cheese Taster, Mundi Cheese, gives it a .... 9.0!!!! Stuck in the middle with you.

Week #18 - Brebis Rousse

Extraordinary doesn't even begin to describe this cheese. It is called Brebis Rousse. (Sometimes spelled Russe.) A Sheep's milk cheese from Burgundy France, it is extremely creamy, with a superb finish. Very fresh tasting- you can almost taste the French country meadow ! It pairs exceedingly well with any Burgundian Wine--Red or White. (But then again, what doesn't...)

Brucie Cheese gives it a ....9.7 - I almost couldn't stop eating.
Sunnie Cheese gives it a....9.8 - I couldn't stop eating.

Week #17 - Drunken Goat

A bombed sheep? No, it's a Drunken Goat from Spain. This staggeringly good goat cheese is soaked in "Doble Pasta" red wine for 72 hours, giving it's rind the unique purple hue. (B and S are occasionally purple for the same reason...) It is a semi-firm cheese with a very distinctive flavor--slightly sweet, yet mild. As usual, Wheat Thins are the recommended accompaniment.

Brucie Cheese gives it a ....9.2
Sunnie Cheese gives it a....9.0

Week #16 - Tomme Crayeuse - (french cow's milk)

This natural cheese, right from the cow, is both creamy and slightly crumbly, depending on how close to the rind you are. Very flavorful and earthy, with a slight reminiscence of goat cheese even though it's...right from the cow.

Brucie Cheese gives it a .... 8.9. Anything deserving a 9.0 must be "exemplary."
Sunnie Cheese gives it a...9.2. Apparently Sunnie thinks it's exemplary.

Week #15 - Robusto (Holland)

This semi-hard, flaky cheese has a slightly gritty texture similar to that of Gruyere. It has a rich, nutty flavor, with a bold lingering finish. Very tasty. Pairs perfectly with Prager Port and Pway.

Brucie Cheese gives it a......9.6!
Sunny Cheese gives it a.......9.7!

Week #14 Bosina

Brucie Cheese and Sunny Cheese return after a respite.

This Italian cheese is made from the milks of both cow and sheep, as pictured on the label. It is an extremely creamy and soft cheese with a tender natural rind. Has a slightly sweet flavor, light, with a sheep finish.

Brucie Cheese gives it an....8!
Sunny Cheese gives it an.....8.9!

Will these two ever agree?
They agree to disagree and eat more cheese.

Week #12 - Irish Swiss

This enjoyable...sweet buttery Swiss comes from...Ireland! Kerrygold has all the good qualities of a swiss without that sometimes tangy sourness that other "Swiss" cheeses have. We coupled this cheese with Wheat Thins and an Italian Chianti. This is not your typical holey cheese. With this cheese - you get your full value.

What do our tasters have to say?
Brucie Cheese gives it a...8.5
Sunnie Cheese gives it a...8.5

Note: On Sunnie Cheese's fantastic recommendation, we tried this cheese melted on Garlic Bread. Well, let me tell you...It was superb ! And, it pairs quite well with a Dolphin victory !

Week #11 - Danish Blue Cheese

Where do we begin?

This fantastically creamy blue cheese not only starts out with a bold exciting flavor - it also finishes beautifully. Because of its slightly nutty undertone, it couples exceedingly well with a red wine - our wine of choice, a Cabernet. As a side note, it is extremely inexpensive. Quite simply - a great cheese at a great price.

Brucie Cheese gives it a .... 9.8! His highest rating ever.
Sunny Cheese gives it a ..... 8.75.

Update ! Please go to the Saga week for an important Sunny add-on...

Week #10 - Queso Clara (Spanish Goat Cheese)

Slightly crumbly, dry, with a slight tang. Semi-hard. Not overwhelming in any way - it's just cheese.

This raw cheese is aptly named, because it leaves a barren earthy taste in the mouth. Not necessarily a bad taste, just not very distinguishing.

And by the way, we do think a cheese can play ping pong with our palates.

Brucie Cheese gives it....6.5
Sunny Cheese gives it.....6

Week #9--La Corte

This as a 3 milk cheese-cow, goat, and sheep-from the Piedmont region of Italy. It is a medium to light flavored cheese which pairs very well with a nice baguette. Very smooth finish, it starts out with a goat flavor, and finishes with a slight sheep saltiness. Superb.

Brucie cheese gives it a.....9
Sunny cheese gives it a....9.7 ! (Highest rating ever...)

Week #8 - Saga

This cheese is a mix of a Camembert and a Blue, and very tasty. It is somewhat creamier than most blues. Smooth, yet pungent. The blue taste is pronounced, but not overwhelming. Could be used in salads with a vinaigrette dressing.

Sunny Cheese gives it a .....9.5
Brucie Cheese gives it an ...8.5

A Sunny Cheese update - Sept 17 - since trying the Danish Blue Cheese, she has decided that the Danish is better than the Saga and would like to alter the rating for Saga to an 8.0. She knows not what she was thinking on that particular Saga day.

Week #7 - Goat Brie (Soignon)

Fromage de chevre.
A brie like consistency. Subtle and smooth at first. With a stronger more pronounced finish than just regular brie. A distinct goat cheese tang that is very enjoyable.

Brucie Cheese gives it a ....an 8.5
Sunny Cheese gives it a.......a 9.5