Just in time for the Exploring France class this weekend, Pastoral pairs an American cheese and French wine. Brigid's Abbey and Saint-Emilion Grand Cru create a pleasantly sweet and smooth pairing. The brininess of the cheese is toned down a bit with a wash of the Bordeaux. The finish is mouth-watering with a pleasant acidity.
This pairing is juicy. The stage is set. It makes the mouth water, it makes the crowd cheer for more. The Matador strikes, cutting through the bull with a clean blow of his pineapple sword, revealing the tender steaky meatiness of the bull.
The augmentation of small scale street vendors of late correlates to that warm sun we've been feeling, and is the inspiration for this Mexican style chili-dressed salad, using the winter leaves which are available. It’s vibrant and refreshing, made more substantial with the addition of some sticky and salty Valbreso feta cheese and a chilli kick from mixed spiced nuts.
In the spirit of the "Sneak Peek" of summer weather we are experiencing, Pastoral is showcasing some summer wine selections at our Lake Street store for our 3rd Tuesday tasting. Come by between 5-7pm Tuesday March 20th and get a head start familiarizing yourself with our summer wines selected with sunshine and grilling in mind.
Irish cheeses are the perfect way to make a quick plate for you and your friends at your St. Patrick's Day festivities this year.
This week's pairing matches Tipperary Cheddar with Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale for a delicious treat just in time for St. Patty's Day!
Cheese 101 is a delicious and informative exploration of the various classes of cheese and what makes them all so different from each other.
The 2nd Annual Pastoral Artisan Producer Festival at the Chicago French Market is coming on April 28th. Watch the sneak preview to catch a glimpse of what's in store!
This week we start preparing for St. Patrick's Day with an Irish cheese pairing! Come by and taste some of our wonderful wares from the Emerald Isle and start planning the accompaniments for your celebration next weekend!
