Seasons of Sharing…

Over the weekend my Dad and I took a ride to North Grafton to visit the Pecorino Country Cheese Shop.  I became a fan of theirs on facebook and was lured in on Saturday with the promise of local ricotta.  What a beautiful shop!  They had a great selection of both domestic and imported cheeses.   Some of the imported cheeses came all the way from Tasmania!  There was also a large selection of crackers, jams/jellies, nuts and dried fruit to compliment the cheeses.

Something that I loved about the shop was the proprietor.  She was both very inviting and knowledgeable.  There were three groups in front of me.  The first woman was a chef and nutritionist.  The second group was a couple who were throwing a wine tasting and were looking for cheeses to match.  The last group was two women in a “Cheesy Bookclub” that were looking for some new cheese selections for the group to try during their next meeting.  The proprietor took her time with each group, explaining the depth of flavor of each of the cheeses they selected, offering small slices for them to try before purchasing and she did it all with a smile!  When she got to me, she apologized for the wait and when I told her I was into the local stuff, she reached right for the ricotta!

As for the products…I cannot explain the yumminess!  My Dad chose a cheddar from England,  a provolone and a sorpressata (salami) from Italy, and a box of chocolates by Cocoapelli Chocolates (located in Natick) for my Mom.  We opened up the cheddar when we got home, let it come to room temperature as instructed by our knowledgeable guide and then tasted it…. it was AMAZING!

I chose the ricotta (from the Narragansett Creamery in Providence) which was creamy and fabulous.  I used half of it to make a chocolate ricotta pie (recipe) which was crazy rich but outstanding.   The proprietor told me that unlike the ricotta sold in supermarkets, this one had no preservatives and would go bad in about two weeks.  She had just received it on Thursday so it was beyond fresh.  I assured her I would use it within a week!   I’m saving the other half for a lasagna this weekend.

I also chose a Gruyere from Robinson Farm in Hardwick and used it in a Potatoes Au Gratin recipe.  I was eating the Gruyere in chunks as I grated it on my micro-planer…that’s how good it was!  And a note about that recipe…with the cheese, butter and heavy cream it was not what you would call low fat…but the folks at dinner on Sunday finished the big pan I made!  It’s definitely a crowd pleaser and would be a great addition to a holiday meal.

Lastly, I chose a goat cheese infused with Australian ginger from Crystal Brook Farm in Sterling.  I haven’t opened this cheese yet but was told it is great on some crusty bread or crackers and some olives.

If you’re ever in the neighborhood and have a chance to swing in, I highly recommend you do!  It’s a tasty treat!

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