I don't know if I was being lazy, or adventurous, but when saw the cheese menu at Cork, I decided to just ask the waiter to pick three for me. Maybe I was thinking that a place mostly dedicated to wine would probably take their cheese seriously too. Or maybe I was owning up to the reality that, in the absence of descriptive blurbs, I have no idea which cheese is which on a menu featuring mostly artisanal US dairy farms. Regardless, I opted for the "would you just pick three for me? I tend to prefer stinky cheeses" approach.
And it paid off! He came back with:
- Humboldt Fog: a creamy ripened goat's milk cheese that looks like morbier (with the line of ash in the center), but melts on the tongue faster and has more tang than animal flavor;
- Manchego: a reliable flavorful standby that holds up well to strong cheeses (and is generally loved by everyone if you are sharing with someone who doesn't like stinky cheese); and
- "Red Hawk" from Cowgirl Creamery: a triple cream, washed rind, cows milk cheese that has that great "this definitely can from a farm with hay and animals" kind of flavor. I loved it.
The plate came with mixed nuts, fruit bread, and what appeared to be a smear of grape jelly, but was probably currant or something else more dignified. Definitely a place I will go back to for more cheese. Throw in a glass or two from their extensive wine list, and you've got an excellent evening.
