Sunday Samples Wine Tasting 1-4pm July 24th

Stop by on Sunday afternoon anytime between 1 and 4pm and sample four of our featured wines.  Your $5.00 tasting fee will be applied to the purchase of any of the featured wines so you can take home one (or all) of your favourites!

And of course the Cheese Mongers will gladly recommend the perfect cheese pairing to go with your wine purchase.

6 MONTHS AND COUNTING!!

July 8th marks our 6-month anniversary!! I know, as Alan would say, it is not an anniversary until you are counting years but 6 months is still a milestone.


A warm and sincere thank you to all of our supporters and loyal regulars. We've had several customers thank us for giving them an "affordable luxury" during these tough economic times. We appreciate the community that has embraced The Cheese Shop On Park and look forward to many new wheels of delicious handmade cheese.



CHEESE AND WINE TASTING EVENT


Counting Sheep Thursday July 17, 2008 6:30PM - 8PM Tickets are $20.00 in advance $30.00 the day of the event. Advance ticket sales end 7PM Wednesday July 16th.


Sample and compare sheep’s milk cheeses, fresh and aged from all over the world, expertly paired with the appropriate wine or beverage and gourmet accoutrements.


No pretense or boring seminar, but active tasting and open forum discussion that truly helps you to discover new cheeses. Participants enjoy a 10% discount on all cheese and wine sampled during the Counting Sheep event. This is a walk through tasting event, there is no seating. Space is limited get your tickets early!

NEW ARRIVALS

Reduced Fat Goat Cheese Spreads - $7.50 From Coach Farms in New York. The cheese maker uses their Grade "A" goat's milk and skims part of the fat off to make these delicious, fresh and fluffy spreads (fluffy is a technical term). Featuring Tomato Garlic, and Herbs de Provence.

2-Year Pecorino Romano Locatelli - $18.50 / LB, Italy. Sheep's milk cheese aged for at least 2 years in Tuscany, the Locatelli Pecorino Romano is considered one of the best in the world. Not as salty as other Pecorinos it is great in cooking because when it melts it does not become stringy.

Pyrénées Vache - $19.00 / LB, France. Semi-soft aged cow’s milk cheese from Montsegur. The soft melt-in your-mouth paste starts out mild and finishes with a lingering earthy tang.

Drunken Goat - $21.50 / LB, Spain. Semi-soft aged goat cheese, bathed in red wine to perfection. Mild goat flavour that lingers on the palate with a distinctive vino finish.

NEW NOT-CHEESE

Fig & Marcona Almond Cake - $12.00 / Each, Spain. Made with the most select figs, world famous Marcona Almonds, honey and wild growing spices of Extremadura. Traditional energy bar of Spain, characteristic of the Mediterranean diet. Handcraft made without additives or preservatives following a 200 years old family recipe.

Trail Mix Martha’s Vineyard Blend - $6.50 / HALF LB, Need a quick pick-me-up?Almonds, Pistacios, Dried Cherries, Raisins and Dried Cranberries are reminiscent of long, sea-sprayed afternoons exploring Martha’s Vineyard; Alley’s trail mix in tow! All natural – made in the USA lightly sea salted.

Lipton Tea - Diet Green Tea & Citrus OR White Tea with Raspberry - $2.00 / Each

SandwichWraps! Salmon Pâté & Chevre· Gorgonzola Waldorf· Goat Cheese & Red Pepper· Italian Provolone & Chicken

PLEASE VOTE FOR THE CHEESE SHOP ON PARK

We invite you to please take a moment and vote for The Cheese Shop On Park in WESH 2 / CW18 A-List 2008 for Best Gourmet Grocery.
Please click the following link to cast your vote!http://wesh.cityvoter.com/the-cheese-shop-on-park/biz/87151

NEW: Free Wine Tasting Wednesdays 5PM - 7PM - Sample wine while you shop and enjoy a 10% discount on featured wines!

PLEASE VOTE FOR THE CHEESE SHOP ON PARK

The Cheese Shop On Park is competing in Orlando's WESH 2 "A" List for Best Gourmet Grocery. Please click here to register and vote - it only takes a moment. http://wesh.cityvoter.com/the-cheese-shop-on-park/biz/87151

Thank you to everyone who has voted for us so far - we are currently in the lead!! We owe it to our loyal customers who have been so supportive over the past 5 months. The contest goes until August, we'll be sure to post the results.

New Arrivals and Party Ideas

Our importers and distributors can't believe how quickly we have reordered cheese, but thanks to every one's wonderful support - we are reordering for the 3rd time in... 12 days!

NEW IN THE CHEESE SHOP

Stilton Thomas Hoe Stevenson Stilton is in! Thomas Hoe Stevenson was one of the original Stilton Cheesemakers from the Heart of the Vale of Belvoir. This amazing, popular blue cheese is mellow yet tangy with a well balanced flavour and creamy texture.

Leyden - from Holland, a lovely firm cow's milk cheese that is infused with real cumin seeds - and lots of them. Leyden is one of Holland's favorite snacking cheeses - and indeed it is tasty. I am going to try cooking with it - perhaps melting it over chicken or grating it over a nice hearty vegetable soup - I'll let you know!

Truffle Tremor - From Cypress Grove Farms the classic flavor of truffle meets the velvety perfection of ripened goat milk cheese. Earthy, elegant, and sophisticated, it's sure to make even the most distinguished taste buds shake! We got one 3(ish) pound wheel in on Friday morning and by 7pm Friday night we were left with less than a pound. Fear not - we've already placed an order for 2 more wheels. If you would like to reserve a wedge please give us a call (407) 644-7296. Reserves are taken in 1/2 pound increments $27.50/pound.

Purple Haze - Fresh chevre also from Cypress Grove (we love them!) Flavoured with wild fennel pollen and lavender this cheese is smooth, creamy and quite unique. Comes in small disks that are about 6 ounces at $9.00 each - they just about sold out in less than 2 days, but the reorder will be in this week as well and we are taking preorder reserves for this one too (407) 644-7296 - or fax your request to (407) 644-7242 - OR email me at kirsten@thecheeseshoponpark.com

Vermont Goat Cheeses Bijou & Bonne Bouche - An American line of ripened goats’ cheeses, Bijou is mild, sweet and creamy with notes of fresh flowers, citrus and hazelnuts. Bonne Bouche has a sharper goat flavor and is coated in ash. Both are great in salad or on a cheese plate with nuts, a drizzle of honey and dried fruit.Vermont Butter & Cheese Company crafts artisanal dairy products in the European style through a vital link with local farms. Based in the town of Websterville, the company supports a network of more than 20 family farms, providing milk and meeting the highest standards of purity. While Vermont Butter & Cheese Company has earned worldwide recognition, the company is proudest of its contribution to the health of local agriculture. After all, as Allison learned on a family farm in Frangource, quality originates at the source – with the people who work the land and the pride they take in the yield.

CHARCUTERIE [not cheese]

Palacios Chorizo - Hot or mild Spanish Sausage. This is the real deal! Made from a generations-old recipe by a family owned company in La Rioja. Distinctive smoked paprika sets Spanish chorizo apart from sausages of any other country. The first authentic chorizo available in the US. Featured in the New York Times and Wine Spectator. Fully dry-cured, ready to eat with your favorite cheese and wine. Simply slice and serve.

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY IS FEBRUARY 3RD (2 WEEKS) ORDER YOUR CHEESE PLATTERS NOW AS PROVISIONS ARE LIMITED. Pick up only, we don't deliver.

Don't settle for boring, flavorless no-name cheese for your superbowl party. Treat your guests (and yourself) to hand crafted English cheddar, French Raclette (think adult grilled cheese sandwiches) or a cave aged Swiss Gruyere so strong it will bring tears to your Dragonhead Scottish Black Stout (which we also carry). Pair everything with the authentic Spanish Chorizo and stuffed Greek olives.

Seriously fabulous gourmet fare. You're worth it. Call early (407) 644-7296

Hello SUPERBOWL!

Thanks again for all of your support and encouragement. Please feel free to fill out the comment form if you have any questions or suggestions. Check out our website at http://www.thecheeseshoponpark.com/

Welcome To The Cheese Shop On Park

OPENING WEEK

We've had a great opening so far, the first week has been steadily busy and we've met lots of happy cheese lovers. A hearty Thank You to all of you who stopped by to wish us well and peruse our gourmet selections. Many of the other merchants in the area also came in and gave us a warm welcoming to the neighborhood.

Our delicate petite French cheeses have all but sold out and we've already reordered. The Charouce double creme was very popular (so creamy and smooth it is masquerading as a triple creme) .

A not so well know French cheese called Morbier was also well loved. Morbier is an aromatic semi-firm cheese with a thin layer of vegetable ash running through the center. It has a lovely mild sweet flavor and a distinct nutty after taste. Morbier comes in a larger wheel, rather than a petite individual button and we still have plenty in stock.

OUR NEIGHBORS

The Bistro On Park recently relocated to a much bigger space in the courtyard across the street (remember the Crepe place?) They have a fantastic menu - I'm addicted to their salads - and now they're doing a Sunday Brunch that features a Bloody Mary Bar. The Bloody Mary's were adorned with our Windy City Wasa Beans from Rick's Pick's - pickled green beans with a spicy kick of wasabi! Next time you are cheese shopping on The Avenue stop into The Bistro and tell Randy The Cheese Shop sent you!

PICTURES

Here's the Grand Unveiling for all our out of town family and friends!

Gourmet Gatherings

Reporting back from our trip to Atlanta - The Gourmet Food show was a great success! We placed a few orders, gathered tons of information, and met SO many helpful people.

• Look for Moravian Cookies - the thinnest cookie in the world. These unique, paper thin, crispy wafers might feel delicate (and are low in fat) but they pack a flavorful punch. Made by a family run (we love that) company who immigrated to the US from Czechoslovakia, we will carry three different flavors to start, but you'll have to come in to discover which - and enjoy a taste of each of course!

• We found jellies infused with wine, mulling spices from England (think liquid apple pie), artisan made java biscuits that respect free trade and satisfy your caffeine craving, and must-have chocolates laced with wild fruit flavors whose proceeds benefit wildlife.
  
  
• Amazing Artisan Honey in an array of fancy flavors (pour over Brie or St. Andre, open a bottle of a Washington Riesling and let's talk!) Tea that blooms a flower before your eyes as it steeps and much more.
  
  
• WAIT - WHAT ABOUT CHEESE ??!! We have so many fresh, hand-made cheeses you're going to love, crave, obsess over - STAY TUNED

More pictures will be posted next week of our construction progress - but things are moving along nicely. Feel free to stop by and peek in the windows, and stop in for a bite to eat at our neighbors The Bistro on Park (fabulous salads, sandwiches and Asian slaw!) - Tell Randy at The Bistro "The Cheese Shop on Park sent you!"

Here's a handy link to our website http://www.thecheeseshoponpark.com/ check back with us for updates and information.

Please fill out the comment form below - we would love to hear from you!

The Cheese Shop On Park

We're back from the American Cheese Society's (ACS) annual cheese conference. Armed with a wealth of information and the confidence that we are actually on the right path in our quest to open Central Florida's first gourmet cheese shop.

At the conference we tasted lots of domestic cheese -all artisan, hand made. We are learning more and more about cheese every day and the one thing that I can't wait to perpetuate in our shop is the huge difference between freshly cut, handmade cheese and the dried out, suffocated, supermarket cheese that we are all [unfortunately] used to eating.

Our location - Park Place at 329 Park Avenue North in Winter Park (hence the store name The Cheese Shop On Park). Park Place is the beautiful new building just North of Central Park. Our space is currently undergoing its landlord work. Dirt floors are awaiting concrete. Walls and a ceiling will follow and then our work will finally commence. We've picked out our beautiful hardwood floors - a natural hickory - and I will be haunting antique shops for eclectic display pieces.

Stay tuned for pix from our trip to Vermont, as well as the progress of our buildout.

We are attending a gourmet food's trade show in Atlanta next month and will hopefully be going home with oodles of yummy and fun accoutrements.

Check out our website at http://www.thecheeseshoponpark.com/ or feel free to email me with questions comments or suggestions at kirsten@thecheeseshoponpark.com

"Because life's too short for supermarket cheese!"