Say Cheese, Cole Valley's fromagerie at 856 Cole St. since 1976, is launching a monthly cheese tasting class with the inaugural event to be held tomorrow, May 7th.
Dubbed "Flavorwheels", the event will be the shop's first class in a long time, said lead cheesemonger Steve Wooten. The event will take place next-door to the cheese shop at Reverie Cafe (848 Cole St.) on Thursday from 6:30-8pm.
Wooten, who has been Say Cheese's lead cheese buyer for a year, said this month's class will be an introduction to flavor. It's expected to run the gamut from professional and scientific techniques used to approach cheese flavors to "the ways in which climate, soil, dairy components and regional microorganisms add up to the romantic notion of terroir."
The final roundup of cheeses to taste is still being ironed out, Wooten said, but the roster would definitely include a cheddar and a Gouda, two cheeses with distinctive characteristics. Wooten said the class is designed to be for "all levels of cheese enthusiast, from 'green cheese' newbie to time-tested curd nerd."
Is this first class just the beginning?
"Absolutely," Wooten said. The plan, he said, is eventually to involve local cheesemakers, wine merchants and other area gourmands to offer a growing repertoire of class themes.
Ticket price ($35, for sale at Say Cheese) includes entry to the full tasting and a discount on Reverie drinks. Inquire at Say Cheese or over the phone at (415) 665-5020.
