Best Mac and Cheese in NYC

Today New York Magazine posted its 2006 Best of New York issue online. In a previously posted Daily Olive article, we pondered what could be considered great mac and cheese. According to the New York Magazine article, "Cesare Casella's whimisical take on penne a la vodka" is "a mac 'n' cheese for grown-ups". You can taste the "Best Macaroni and Cheese" at Maremma in New York City.

By Michelle Alderson | March 13, 2006 in Cheese, Restaurant News | Permalink | Comments (1)

Wine and Cheese: A Fondue Oscar Party

Every year people gather to observe an American celebration: The Oscars. This year, instead of the usual appetizers, may we suggest something a lot more fun and delicious: melted cheese, followed by melted chocolate? The tradition of dunking cubed bread into melted cheese (a.k.a fondue) is a perfect way to gather around the couch to watch all those fabulous people thank each other for being fabulous. And they look fabulous. Probably didn’t eat melted cheese before the show. Unfortunate souls.

Find out what wine to serve with fondue in Daily Olive’s wine section.

Related Links:

• Find out how to fondue
• The Food Network lists several great fondue recipes for both cheese and chocolate
• Browse fondue books at ecookbooks.com
• Fondue pots can be found everywhere nowadays. For an inexpensive choice, shop at target.com. For those looking for the fancier versions, you can check out surlatable.com
• To buy cheese for the big event, go to igourmet.com
• For more information about the Oscars go to www.oscar.com

By Michelle Alderson | February 28, 2006 in All Things Wine, Cheese, Parties & Entertaining | Permalink | Comments (0)

Pairing Wines with Fondue Cheese

“Big, full-bodied reds are our first choice – from Cotes-du-Rhone to Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Bordeaux to California Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. If you’re going the California route, try to find wines that don’t overdo the rich vanilla oak, as they will overwhelm the fondue flavors. Also try Chianti and Barolo.

For a white wine choice, full-bodied Chardonnay works like a charm, as do the wines you’ve used in the recipes – Rieslings, Chenin Blancs, etc.”

By Michelle Alderson | February 27, 2006 in All Things Wine, Cheese | Permalink | Comments (0)

Gourmet Mac and Cheese?

Back when I was growing up the only kind of mac and cheese you could find was the one in the box. I have to say; I do sometimes still crave that good ol' fashioned Kraft orange powder mixed in with a little milk and butter. Is it nostalgia that makes me crave the processed cheese or the taste? My adult mind may never know.

Today, however, there are many gourmet forms of macaroni and cheese. You can find them in restaurants and in several cookbooks. One thing is certain, according to a recent article in The New York Times: It’s all in the cheese.

By Michelle Alderson | January 9, 2006 in Cheese, New Food Trends | Permalink | Comments (3)

Find the Right Cheese for Your New Year's Eve Party

Throwing a party for New Year's? Trying to find the best cheese to go with champagne? After reading about Cheese: A Conoisseur's Guide to the World's Best in a December issue of Newsweek, I was intrigued. Well, they called it the "best food porn," so who wouldn't be? The book does not disappoint. And I agree with the magazine: It's beautifully photographed and an amazing guide for anyone who purchases cheese or who would like to know more about it. Written by Max McCalman, the "master cheese man", the book boasts 200 beautiful photographs and has a vast amount of information on the best cheeses available today. You can find it at ecoobooks.com or in my kitchen.

By Michelle Alderson | December 29, 2005 in Cheese, Parties & Entertaining | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Must-Do for Culinary Vacations in New York City

If you are on a culinary vacation in New York City and a cheese lover, you must stop by Murray’s Cheese store on Bleeker Street in Greenwich Village. Unfortunately, they are out of their 65th anniversary cheese special. The cheese store, which opened up in 1940 is a Zagat guide and local’s favorite. Over the years, they’ve expanded their store to offer wine and cheese courses and an online gift store that includes cheese, apparel, gifts, and more. It is a New York institute and offers over 200 cheeses from around the world.

For more information on Murray’s, you can visit their website, www.murrayscheese.com. And for gifts, check out their catalog online – that is if you can’t make it to New York City this holiday season.

To find out about Murray’s wine and cheese classes, go to Education on their website. They offer a range of courses, from Cheese 101 to Cheese and Malt Whisky (Malt Whisky?). – MA

By Michelle Alderson | November 30, 2005 in Cheese | Permalink | Comments (0)

Holiday Gift for Cheese Lovers

Finding a great gift for cheese lovers can be difficult. It's not like you can box a hunk of cheese and tie a ribbon around it. For those who love cheese, such as I, the love of cheese goes right up there with the love of fine wine. Every flavor, every kind is different and delicious. I like them all: soft, hard, bleu, yellow. If you know of a cheese lover, may I suggest the cheese-a-month gift for the holidays available at Williams-Sonoma? It’s a gift that keeps on giving, right through the spring and into the summer, if you so choose. Three cheeses arrive monthly with wine pairing suggestions. It's a perfect compliment for wine lovers too. - MA

A Cheese Lovers Gift

By Michelle Alderson | November 28, 2005 in Cheese | Permalink | Comments (1)