Cheesetique

specialty cheese shop
see. taste. learn.

2403 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301
703.706.5300

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Welcome to the Cheesetique February Newsletter

Greetings, Cheese Lovers!

Wow - what a holiday season! Thanks to all of you who braved the crowds so cheerfully. We are thrilled with how hopping the store was - and it was so fun to see you all! Now that we're into the New Year, make sure to come by and kick things off right. As usual, we're always changing, so come see what's new!

Love Is In The Air - And In The Cheesetique "Sweety Bucket"
Is your sweety a cheese hound? Then we have the perfect Valentine's gift! Our new "Sweety Bucket" comes with a beautiful heart-shaped aged goat cheese from Coach Farm in New York, a small Orange Blossom Honey for drizzling, Walnut Oat crackers for perfect goat cheese pairing, and a lovely set of Kingsbury caramels to top it all off. The gift comes wrapped in a beautiful red enamel bucket - all for only $27.00. Call the shop at 703-706-5300 and order yours today to be picked up anytime between now and Valentine's Day.

Our Next Cheese Class: Cheese and Chocolate Decadence!
Please join me for a special tasting event this month as Cheesetique partners with a local favorite: Rob Kingsbury, owner of Kingsbury Chocolates in Old Town Alexandria.

Rob will talk about the life of a chocolate bean – how it gets from tree to cookie. We’ll learn about (and taste, of course) different types of chocolates and chocolate treats. As most of you probably know, Rob’s are the best. Naturally, cheese will also be involved – we’ll be focusing on decadent chocolate-friendly cheeses. There’s even a rumor that Rob will bring some of his famous truffles custom-made for this class!

The cost for this special event is $35 per person. Act quickly - this will fill up in no time!

The three dates are:
Sunday, February 19 at 6:00 PM
Tuesday, February 21 at 7:15 PM
Thursday, February 23 at 7:15 PM

Please email tastings@cheesetique.com to sign up for the tasting. Please let me know the date you prefer and how many are in your party. Participants can expect to spend about an hour and a half learning and tasting. Beverages and accompaniments will be served.

Please note: Once we fit you into a slot, I will send you a Paypal invoice so you can pay securely online. If you need to cancel (24 hours advance notice, please), we will refund the full amount minus the Paypal fee.

Here's hoping you get zinged with lots of Cupid's arrows!
Jill Erber, Proprietor/Cheese Lady
Cheesetique Specialty Cheese Shop
direct email: jill@cheesetique.com

Click here to visit Cheesetique's web site. You can learn more about the shop, see location and hours, and view archived issues of the newsletter.

This Issue’s Featured Recipe
Goat Cheese and Chocolate Truffles
You might say this is the best of both worlds. Who knew truffles were so simple to make? This is even a great recipe for kids to help with - just don't let them run around the house with chocolate hands :)

When to Serve It

The perfect little mouth-poppers for any occasion.

About the Cheese

What is Fresh Goat Cheese?
Ahhhh.... fresh goat cheese. A beauty to behold when done properly - the perfect combination of creamy and chalky, tangy and delicate. Produced around the world, fresh goat cheese is not aged for very long (if at all). This results in a soft texture and relatively light flavor. When choosing a fresh goat cheese, always go for one that's low in salt. The thing to remember is that when a cheese is over-salted, it's usually because the producer is trying to disguise less-than-ideal flavors in the cheese. So, go low-sodium and let the natural flavors come through.

A Chevre by Any Other Name
The word "Chevre" in French simply means "goat cheese". However, we typically associate "Chevre" with the soft, fresh varieties. But don't be confused - a 1-year aged goat wheel is just as much a "Chevre" as a small squishy fresh log.

Ingredients (makes about 25 truffles)

6 ounces fine-quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped
6 ounces fresh goat cheese at room temperature I recommend our 'Vermont Butter and Cheese' fresh goat cheese because it is super-low in sodium. Perfect as an ingredient!
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon pure lemon extract You could also use orange extract if you prefer.
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder Sift this or else you'll have unsightly clumps on your truffles.

Directions

1) In a metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water melt the chocolate, stirring until it is smooth.
2) Remove the bowl from the pan and let the chocolate cool slightly.
3) In a bowl, whisk together the goat cheese, confectioners' sugar, vanilla, and lemon (or orange) extract until light and fluffy.
4) Whisk in the chocolate until the mixture is combined well.
5) Chill the mixture, covered, for 1 hour, or until it is firm.
6) Using your hands, form heaping teaspoons of the mixture into balls and roll the balls in the cocoa powder.
7) Chill the truffles on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper for 30 minutes, or until they are firm. The truffles keep in an airtight container, chilled, for 3 days.