Beecher's Cheese, New York

 In our wanderings last week, petitesoeur and I also found Beecher's Cheese.  I love the smell that hits you upon walking into cheese shops.  I had heard of Beecher's, but I had no idea the place was so huge!  In addition to the cases of cheese and shelves of food accompaniments and gifts, there's also a lunch counter that serves grilled cheese sandwiches (naturally), salads, and other prepared foods with an upstairs mezzanine seating area.  They also make cheese on the premises.

And downstairs, there's a bar called The Cellar with clever cocktails named for notorious New York miscreants (click to enlarge the menu) to read the descriptions, with bar food -- mac and cheese (again, naturally), charcuterie, and small plates.

Of course we couldn't help tasting some cheese and taking some home. Coffee junkie petitesoeur naturally gravitated toward the Beehive Buzzed -- a cow's milk cheese rubbed with coffee and lavender.  What a unique flavor!  The combination was really striking -- after more tastes, you could taste the 2 separate flavors of coffee and lavender, but the blend really worked and was surprisingly delicious.  The Carr Valley Cocoa Cardona also caught my eye - goat cheese rubbed with cocoa powder and aged 2 months.  I went home with a chunk of each.

Beecher's Handmade Cheese
Flatiron District
900 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
212.466.3340