Cheese Market

The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese. ~G.K. Chesterton

At Marion Street Cheese Market, we carry cheeses from all over the world, including a wide variety of American artisanal selections.   Our cheesemongers are happy to share their knowledge and guide you in choosing the cheese of your desires, or one that goes with dinner.  The staff can also help you select crackers, jams and honey’s that will compliment your cheese selections.  Be sure to ask about wines and beers that will pair perfectly with your cheese.

All the cheese are cut from the wheel to order, so you can be sure to experience them the way the cheesemakers intended, and you can buy the amount you need & want.

Our inventory changes daily and seasonally, so please stop in to the shop or check our weekly update to see what’s new! We are happy to give you a taste of anything in the case.

Caring for Cheese

Cheese is a living thing—it needs to breathe! Plastic wrap is not your cheese’s friend—it’s non-porous and impermeable (the exception to this is blue veined cheeses without rinds). Instead, re-wrap your cheese in the breathable paper we wrap your cheese in at the counter; or, if this gets destroyed, wrap it in parchment paper. You can also use a Tupperware container larger than the piece of cheese, creating its own little microclimate of circulating air. Also, cheese loves humidity, so if you have room in the vegetable crisper drawer of your fridge, this is where your cheese will live out its remaining days in peace. And remember: colder is not always better.

Check in on your cheeses frequently and see what they need.

• If the rind is excessively moist (mushy to the touch and sticks to your fingers), let it dry out. To do so, remove its wrapping and cover the paste (interior) with protective film or paper. Then, place it in the fridge, with the wet side near the fan if possible.
• If your cheese is too dry, (excessively cracked or flaky rind) give your cheese a bath by lightly moistening the outer rind with a damp cloth until properly moist.

Special Blue Cheese Needs

Blue cheeses that lack rinds. These cheeses, since they do not have a rind to protect them should be wrapped in plastic so as to seal in their moisture. These cheeses, since they are not pressed in production, carry a lot of excess water which they will slowly lose. If you notice excess moisture at the corners of the plastic wrap, the cheese should be unwrapped, placed on a paper towel to drain (or gently blotted with a paper towel), and then rewrapped when the excess moisture is removed.

Never Freeze Your Cheese!

Freezing will destroy the microbial action within your cheese, and will kill off important flavor giving organisms. The overbearing and unpleasant taste of freezer burn will drown out all of the unique and subtle flavors in your cheese. Along the lines of this, never expose your cheese to excessively high or low temperatures. Cheese thrives in constant environments of moderate temperatures. Never expose your cheese to strong temperature or light fluctuation; this will compromise the integrity of your cheese. Remember, cheese is a living food. It is constantly undergoing changes beneath its rind and must be taken care of to ensure an optimum eating experience. The best advice? Buy little. Buy often. Respect Cheese.

On Serving

Before eating a cheese, remove it from the refrigerator about an hour before serving to bring it to room temperature (in hot weather this can be as little as 30 minutes). This allows the full flavor of the cheese to be expressed. Unwrap the cheese and throw the wrapping away – never use the same wrapping twice. If your cheese is in big portions, only cut what you are going to serve. Replace the rest in the refrigerator immediately.

To cut any cheese properly, use a good chef’s knife or cheese wire if you have one. If the cheese is firm or semi-firm, use the backside of the blade to ‘shave’ off any shine and refresh the face of the cheese. Soft, washed-rind cheeses (like epoisses) should often be served whole, with the top rind cut off to be spooned or spread on bread or crackers. The important thing to remember when choosing things to accompany your cheese is to ensure is that the flavor of the cheese is not drowned out or altered. Fresh or dried fruit such as apples and grapes make good accompaniments. A little tip: Candied nuts and blue cheese? Wow.

Also, beer and wine can (and should!) be served with cheese. With a little consideration, the right pairings can be downright sublime. Good luck and happy feasting!

Wholesale Program

At Marion Street Cheese Market we believe real American cheese is something to celebrate!

Services

There are a lot of cheeses out there, and so little time to root through them all…So allow us to do the footwork for you and share in the fruits of our labor; we have already sorted through the vast array of cheeses out there while bearing in mind a commitment to local food and sustainability, and succumbing only to flavor.

We offer personalized consultation as a part of our service, so we can help you find the cheese that best suits your needs. In addition to a stock list of cheeses available to you at a moment’s notice, we will also special order any cheese available through our various producers especially for you through our pre order program.

For every cheese you order we will include a stat sheet catered to your needs, including the who, what, where and how of each cheese, tasting notes, recommended beer, wine, and/or cocktail pairings, care instructions, and any other miscellaneous tidbits you may crave. The relationship between our shop and your restaurant is symbiotic; freshly cut cheese is turned over faster and in the end everyone gets a better tasting product that honors and upholds the vision of the cheesemaker.

Since cheese is a complex and ever changing food, it demands special attention and care. At Marion Street Market, we take cheese maintenance seriously and attend to each cheese in our shop on a daily basis. In our interest to properly serve the cheese, we will in turn serve you; we will provide you with specific care instructions for each cheese as well as general tips on cheese upkeep. Furthermore, at no additional cost, we will conduct staff training seminars touching on all the cheese fundamentals as well as instructions for a cheese maintenance program designed specifically with your needs and facilities in mind.

Policies

We offer convenient delivery that is free of charge for orders exceeding $200 (or you can pick up any size order for free). For delivery orders under $200 a fuel surcharge will be applied. The wholesale discount is 25% off retail pricing. You will receive an invoice with each delivery and payment is due within 30 days of the delivery date. Any additional questions, comments, or inquires please contact Lydia Burns, the wholesale accounts manager.

Contact: Lydia Burns
Phone: (708) 725-7200 · Cell: (412) 708-1982
Email: Lydia@MarionStreetCheeseMarket.com