After over-doing it a bit on BBQ at lunchtime, I wanted something simple for dinner. I was happy to remember that I had yet to use our new cheese board from the Brooklyn Slate Co. I swung into Central Market and chose the following (I'm a cheese novice, but the choosing was fun): I grabbed a one-year old (red-label) Piave vecchio — an Italian hard cheese; I also chose an award-winning flavored cheddar: a Lavender-Coffee (!) Cheddar, described thusly by the Beehive Cheese Company: "A labor-intensive cheese that’s hand-rubbed with a blend of Colorado Legacy Coffee (Roasted by the Cheesemaker's brother) and French lavender buds. The rub imparts a nutty, exotic and bold flavor (stronger near the rind) that’s tempered by a buttery sweetness in the cheese. It’s the café-breve of cheeses. Straightforward yet complex." Lived up to its billing, but doesn't play well alongside other cheeses in a single tasting. I got some straightforward Tillamook so that Abi could enjoy some (it's the world' best medium cheddar, so I figured it was a safe pick for the kids), and some chèvre (goat cheese), which, mmm, is the one cheese I consistently crave (the Bibb salad at Piatti appears in my dreams from time to time).
