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Fig-et About it! A Sweet and Savory Murray’s Melt

 

Forget about your boring old lunch! We’re taking a tried and true taste-bud-pleasing combo, sweet and savory, and kicking those flavors into the stratosphere by melding together this gooey, delicious grilled cheese sandwich that is abso-figly de-swine, dahling.

Spring Brook Reading is ideal for grilled cheese (it’s recipe is based on classic Alpine melter, Raclette); made from raw cow’s milk up in Reading, VT, we’re all about the salty, nutty flavors that emerge when it warms up. Add to that thin slices of silky Surryano ham and sweet Mitica Fig Jam, and you’ve got a union of complex and complementary flavors: sweet, meaty, salty and creamy. Aw, yeah!

The Fig-et About It

Per Sandwich:

Spring Brook Reading, rind removed, sliced: 1.5 oz
Mitica Fig Jam: 1 TBS
Surryano Ham: 2 slices
Bread: 2 slices from your favorite loaf, we recommend Sourdough
Butter: lightly spread on outer sides of bread

Putting it together:

The sandwich can be made stove-top or in a panini press. This time I opted for a panini press as my stove was out of use for unknown reasons, I’m having a company similar to https:www.jamesapplianceco.com come out and fix the issue, otherwise, it’s really going to impact my cooking abilities! As for the bread, slice the bread into thick slices and butter each slice on the side you’ll be toasting, then spread a thin layer of fig jam on one of the opposite sides. Layer the Surryano atop the jam (cut it or fold it to fit inside the bread), then layer your sliced Reading so that will melt evenly. Press two sides together and place in sandwich press; if you’re grilling stove-top, pre-heat your skillet on medium for a minute and place sandwich, butter-side down, flipping after 2 minutes.

In a sandwich press: cook for 4 minutes
On the stove-top: give each side 2 minutes per side, pressing lightly with a spatula or small plate

Cut, serve, enjoy!

Sides: Green apples, pickled carrots, green salad

Hankering for some more fig n’ pig tastiness on your plate? We’re right there with you! Here are few more ideas to get those piggies and figgies together, right where they belong:

* Crumbled fresh goat cheese (Vermont Creamery’s fresh Goat Logs are perfect), fresh figs (quartered), a drizzle of Mitica Acacia Honey
* Toasted baguette slices, Loire Valley Goat Cheese (Valencay, Selles Sur Cher), and slices of La Quercia Prosciutto Americano and dried Pajarero figs – superb for party platters and brunch spreads
* Big blues, like Blu di Buffala, Roquefort and Bleu du Bocage, paired with Speck, chocolate covered figs (ChocoHigos) make an impressive dessert to serve along side Port and Grappa

 

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Sláinte: Irish Farmstead Cheese & Microbrew Pairings

http://smashingtopten.com

Forgo the green food-coloring and crowded pubs and taste these Hibernian curds alongside their luckiest matches, selected by Murray’s Assistant Manager and resident suds expert, John David Ryan. Trust the man–he knows his beer AND cheese.

Sláinte!

Doppelbock & Mossfield Organic

Mossfield is an organic cow’s milk cheese from Ireland. Though fairly mild and sweet, the flavor grows more intense as it ages. Complement the cheese with a doppelbock—a strong, malty German lager. These beers carry toasty notes of dark fruit, figs and brown sugar.

Suggested beers: Spaten Optimator, Schneider Aventinus, Troegs Troegenator

Saison & Ardrahan

Saisons are traditionally farmhouse ales brewed during the winter. While they tend to be complex beers with earthy, musty aromas, they are also fairly light and easily drinkable. Ardrahan is a funky, stinky Irish washed rind whose bark is worse than the bite—its paste is smooth and creamy with a nutty taste. The wheaty, grassy flavors in the beer play off the rich, creamy interior of this washed-rind cheese.

Suggested beers: Saison Dupont, Brooklyn Sorachi Ace, Ithaca Ground Break

IPA & Murray’s Irish Cheddar

It doesn’t get more classic than this: pick a great hoppy beer to go with a great Irish cheddar. This is easily my favorite pairing. That big, lactic flavor from the cheddar (that people often describe as “sharp”) holds its own against a bright, bitter beer.

Suggested beers: Dogfish Head 60 Minute, Evil Twin Falco, Ithaca Flower Power

http://brooklynbrewery.com

Coolea is a Gouda-style cheese made using a Dutch recipe by a family in Ireland. It’s got the rich, sweet, almost caramelized tones you expect from great Goudas. The slightly sweet profile of a brown ale helps to highlight all the things I love about this cheese. They both have just a little bit of sweetness, which makes them a great pairing.

Suggested beers: Anchor’s Brekle’s Brown, Smuttynose Old Brown Dog, Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown

Stout or Porter & Cashel Blue

Beware: bold flavors ahead.  The creamy, crumbly interior of Cashel has a fantastic salty punch that only a well-made bleu cheese has. Wash it down with the chocolate and coffee tones of a boozy stout.

Suggested beers: Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, North Coast Old Rasputin, Hitachino Sweet Stout

 

By: John David Ryan

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It’s Murray’s Mania!

It’s Murray’s Mania!

Forget about the Sweet  16…. funky is so much better! It’s the cheese showdown of the year, and we are doing it up the only way we know how: big! And we’re asking YOU to crown the Champion of Curd!

When you cast your vote, you enter the contest to score some pretty rad swag. Complete and submit the full bracket by Wednesday, March 5th  for a shot to win.  If you’re a real cheese wiz, and guess all of the winners, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $100 Murray’s gift card.

It doesn’t stop there!

From March 6-30th, we’ll be pitting cheese against cheese in the greatest American cheese-off of ALL TIME. Come by one of our shops, in New York or nationwide, and give the two contending curds a nibble (the tasting schedule is to the right). Once you have settled on a favorite you can go online to vote for your favorite! Each time you vote, you’re entered to win big!

Prizes:

Grand Prize: Slam Dunk! We’re going all-out with this one! One lucky participant will win something really funky – a cheeselover’s dream trip to Seattle! That’s right, we’ll fly you and a pal out to Seattle, put you up in the Beecher’s loft, treat you to a fancy dinner at Boat Street Café, AND a day of cheese-making over Beecher’s Cheese!

 Runners Up: Even if you don’t win the grand prize, 15 will win a  spectacular cheesy gift set, packed full of Murray’s gear.

Below you’ll find some more information on the different producers we will be highlighting during Murray’s Mania. Click on the cheese for even more tasty info!

Want to learn more about Murray’s Mania, or enter the contest? Click here for details!

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Oscar Party Cheese Plates: IT’S AN HONOR JUST TO BE NOM NOM NOM-ED

We’d like to thank all the little cheeses…and help you be fancy and impress guests at your Oscars Party with our 2014 cheese plate picks! We can’t wait to enjoy the show on March 2nd and, obviously, cheese is a must.

When serving cheese plates, remember these rules of tongue:

-stick with 3-5 cheeses
-select a variety of milk-types (goat, cow, sheep, water buffalo) or styles (bloomy, washes, fresh, blue…)
-one ounce of cheese, per cheese/ per person
-let cheese sit out at room temp for AT LEAST an hour for ultimate flavor and texture perfection
-serve from mildest to strongest

The Best Dressed List

For the Red Carpet: Bijou – Downy, creamy, round baubles—forget diamonds, this cheese is a girl’s best friend.

For the Opening Number: St. Nectaire – Golden earthy tones are just the thing to bring substance and balance to your plate.

For the Ceremony: Ossau Iraty – Classic features keep this complex, French sheep milk cheese in style all the time.

For the After-Party: Bleu d’Auvergne— Slink into velvety royal blue to end the night with decadence.

Timeless Classics

Caveman Blue

The Ingénue: Torus – Elegant and coveted and by all with eyes and taste buds

The Meryl Streep: Parmigiano Reggiano ‘Bonati‘ – A classic that’s undisputed in its reign, respected and hailed as royalty; it can do no wrong.

The Foreign Contender: Scharfe Maxx – a powerful presence from abroad converts audiences with smoothness and flavors that evoke comfort foods

The Method Actor: Caveman Blue – raw yet refined; a tour de force; completely enfolds you in the authentic experience.

 

This Year’s Blockbusters

American Hustle – Fresh Mozzarella –There’s no faking this whole milk, Jersey-made favorite– it’s got smooth moves and groovy style.
Her(b) Goat Log –A soft-at-heart goat cheese that’s really just looking to connect…with your mouth.
Wolf of Wall Street –Blu di Buffala – It’s a bull market for buffalo milk blues, and this one tastes money both on and off your yacht.
Nebraska  – Prairie Breeze Cheddar –Too much family-time can wear you down…find comfort with a few bites of sweet, grassy cheddar.
Gravity – Torta del Casar – Much like Anton Cuarón’s blockbuster, this cosmically delicious washed-rind has a strong lead and thought-provoking complexity.

Best Supporting Accompaniments

Marcona Almonds

Fig Jam – Sweet goes with savory like Carol Lombard goes with Clark Gable.  This spread is versatile and great to have on hand.

Marcona Almonds – A well-seasoned performance with salt-of-the-earth crunch. Think Brando in On the Waterfront…

Seashore Honey – Like Mary Pickford, this honey is pure gold, whipped into sweet, sweet perfection. It’s honey taken to a whole ‘nother level, doll.

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Fondue It Better: How to Throw A Fondue Party

Like to customize your food? Fondue offers a wide range of options. There are numerous ways to change up the recipe each time. Never have the same fondue twice!

It’s easy. Choose your cheeses, 3# in any combination, follow the recipe, get fondu-in’!

*Pro Tip: When choosing your cheese selection for a fondue, it’s best to choose at least one alpine cheese into your mix. Try a classic like Gruyere or Emmentaler, or anything in the “Go Nutty” section.

Basic Recipe
3 Pounds  Of Cheese (Mix and Match)
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
1 Cup Beer or Wine
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1 Teaspoon Black Pepper
1 Garlic love
 Coarsely grate the cheeses and toss with the cornstarch. Heat the wine or beer with lemon juice over medium heat.  When hot, add the cheese mixture a handful at a time until melted.  Add black pepper to taste. If serving in a fondue pot, rub the pot with a clove of garlic.  Set the pot on its stand over a low flame.  Pour in your melted fondue.

Step 1: Choose Your Cheese!

Choose your cheese to create a customized fondue blend.

Go  Nuts:

Challerhocker
Brown Butter|Butterscotch

Appenzeller
Roasted Nuts|Spicy
 
Fontina
Truffels|Grassy

Get Fancy:

Etivaz
Deep Fruit|Intense nuttiness

Vendeen Bichonné
Rich|Mushroomy
Gabietou
 

Break Boundaries:

Klaverkaas Estate Gouda
Caramel|Brothy

Gorgonzola Cremificato
Yolky|Creamy

Tickler Cheddar
 

Step 2: Booze Cruise!

Grab something boozy to and an extra kick to you ‘due

Beer: Any beer works, choose based on what you like to drink. Going for complexity? Try an IPA. Looking for deep and rich? A stout will do wonders. A little bit delicate? A hefeweizen is perfect.

 

Wine: Choose whites if you’re looking for mild and sweet notes. Opt for reds for richer, berry notes.

 

Liquor: Don’t replace the wine or beer with hard liquor. Instead, take a shot (or two) to change up the flavor profile.

Step 3: Dip In!

Get Fondu-in’! Don’t be scared, dip right in!

Bread & Crackers

Cured Meat & Sausage

Pickles & Vegetables

Wanna learn more about cheese? Check out our “Cheese Course” video channel: vimeo.com/channels/cheesecourse.

 

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