DID YOU KNOW ?

FaceRock Vampire Slayer cheese curds are back in stock!!

A couple of years ago, that was the form we carried... then they gave us the blocks. We are back to the curd, and two cases in stock this very minute.

Did you know? We stock seven varieties of olives that we serve for you into different sized cups at the cheese counter, and sealed cups of stuffed and flavored varieties ready to grab and go from the front fridge. And then I happened upon an article that made me go "whaaat?" Why didn't I think of this?

In the website "Food52," this was the mind-blower, and I'll recap the content for you:

"...Like sauerkraut, kimchi, dill pickles and feta, olives come swimming in their own brine. As with the brine you'd carefully mix up for a holiday turkey, it is supper salty and flavorful. ... (the canned or jarred olives) you just snacked on and finished, and then poured the liquid down the drain, this could have been the brine for your chicken dinner."

Next time, I will pour my olive brine into a freezer container or ziplock bag, and keep adding to it with each olive jar I empty. When I have a couple of cups of brine, I'll pour it into a large ziplock with bone-in, skin-on chicken parts and refrigerate as usual. Presto!

I love a good repurposing project, don't you?

CLASSES

Are you ready to join a public class, have a great cooking experience, and meet new foodie friends?

Culinary classes, hands-on unless noted otherwise, and are $85 per person. This experience includes a full meal and the appropriate alcoholic beverage, along with a class booklet to go home with you. Minimum of 8 guests, maximum of 10

Cheese 101 is $65 per person, minimum of 6 guests. Bread Baking is $65 per person, minimum of 3 guests

GREEK--HOMEMADE

Wed, Sept 20 6-8pm

Back by popular request, the fabulous recipes presented for this dinner feature late summer produce and a number of easy techniques that bring the flavor of the Mediterranean islands into your home. Tricky dessert, too--super time-saving method for enjoying a labor-intensive sweet. Opa!

SOUTHERN KISSES

Fri, Sept 29 6-8pm

A stroll through the cookbook-let takes us through seven Southern states. The dinner is a luscious combination of classic Southern delights, and ends with not one--but, TWO desserts! (I just couldn't decide, ;} so we will have both)

BREAD BAKING WORKSHOP

Fri, Oct 20 10:30am-12:30pm

$65 per person

Never baked bread before and want to learn? Are you an new baker, and have had some bread success, but some flops too? Does yeast scare you? Come to this workshop and learn the science of bread baking, then try your hand at the three styles of bread we will be making in class. Not only do you get to enjoy it on the spot, you get to take home lots of goodies to share, or bake later! This class has a minimum of 3 guests and maximum of 6.

AL FRESCO, ITALIA!

Thurs, Oct 26 6-8pm

In the Italian way, simplicity is the feature here. We will use seasonal ingredients for our complete dinner. Fresh takes on corn, zucchini, tomatoes, pasta, polenta, herbs, and more!

CHEESE 101

Wed, Nov 1 6-8pm

$65 per person

No cooking here. This popular class back by customer demand...

A complete presentation of how cheese is made, with lots of samples and side-by-side tastings. THEN we have a big cheese tray to explore four of the cheese families. Word to the wise--don't eat dinner before you come to class! You will leave full!

"ART" OF FRENCH CHEESE

Fri, Nov 10 6-8pm

A no-cooking presentation of good food and delicious wine.  Just sit and enjoy the delightful flavors, discussion of all parts of a typical French meal, and a "palette" of cheese. This presentation was first introduced in Summer 2022, with overwhelming approval from participants!  Let's lift a glass of Provencal-style rose to those wonderful French cheesemakers.

PRIVATE CULINARY PARTIES

We also offer private party classes, too! With many topics available, this is a great group activity, and kitchen skills are taught with fun and love. Great recipes to take home, and since class is participation, you have had a chance to make them with me! The classes listed above are some choices for the current season, but there are quite a few more to pick from--call for details. Choose one, and follow the directions below to arrange your own private event.

Bring your friends and family (minimum of 8, maximum of 10). Plan for future happiness by purchasing a gift certificate. Enjoy a themed book club class. The options are endless!

Here's what to do:

--Send email to

CheeseCentralLodi@hotmail.com, with an inquiry for possible dates for your exclusive private cooking class

--Pick a cooking topic

--Gather a group of 8-10 friends or family, or co-workers for team-building

(3-6 guests for Bread Baking)

--Show up to the shop on your appointed date...hungry and ready to cook and drink wine (or beer) and have a fun event

All cooking classes: $85 pp

includes a full meal and adult beverages (see above for seasonal topics)

Cheese 101: $65 pp

you leave very full of good cheese!

Bread Baking: $65 pp

for beginners and mid-level bakers, go home with baked and raw bread products, and a happy full tummy

PARKING FOR CLASS PARTICIPANTS: Street parking is limited, though available. Feel free to park in the F&M Bank parking lot (after banking hours) and walk through the alley to School Street. The parking lot on Church St. across from F&M Bank is public parking after 5 pm daily and on weekends. The entrance to the public parking garage is on Pine Street at the Lodi Arch. Free and accessible to all three levels.  

New items in stock now

Seasonal products are in:

OLD WITCH is a deliciously funky Alpine cow's milk cheese from Switzerland. A new wheel was just delivered this morning, however, her replacement for October will be her "sister," the RED WITCH, spookier with her funkier red rind! Try them both.

From Italy, we have a yummy buffalo milk blue cheese ironically called BUFFALO BLU. Smooth and creamy, mid-range in the bluey-ness factor, a terrific cheese to nosh on with the added benefit of higher nutrition and lower cholesterol content that most cheese--just the nature of water buffalo milk!



THERE'S MORE NEW STUFF

ON THE SHELVES AND IN THE CHEESE CASES, JUST WAITING FOR YOU TO TAKE A PEEK... ARE YOU HUNGRY FOR A TASTY TREAT?

Lodi Bowling

Check out this link for Lodi's newest attraction, and the wine and food featured there. Fun!

Olive Oil Blueberry Muffins

Check out this link for muffins. After all, Lodi has awesome blueberry farmers and the olive oil is from Calivirgin, one of the producers we carry in our shop. All you need is a Saturday morning and a cup of coffee!

FONDUE SEASON IS HERE

Preparing fondue is a low-and- slow process, and we crazy Americans are in too much of a hurry to have patience. If you cook it over too high of heat, it will get stringy and never smooth out again, ruining the fondue.

We have a packaged fondue, direct from Switzerland, with all the ingredients that you would use in your recipe. Open the package to a saucepan, warm gently, and pour into your waiting fondue pot! No worries...

Alternatively, place the package in a small crockpot on Low, stir just a couple of times in two hours, and serve. Don't even have to keep eyes on it!

(PS We even rent the mini crockpot for the evening, $5)

A cool night, great bread and crisp-steamed broccoli or roasted baby potatoes, wine... what more could you ask?

Date night? Game night? Just because? Pick a reason and grab a box and baguette from the shop today!

CHEESE CENTRAL

GIFT CERTIFICATES

....Always available

....Any dollar amount,

customized for you

....A great gift for any

holiday or occasion

....Can be ordered in

shop or by phone

....Phone payment easy

with VISA or MC

....Can be picked up in

shop, curbside or

mailed

GIFT BASKETS by

CHEESE CENTRAL

So many gift baskets go to lucky recipients during the Christmas holidays, but food gifts are welcome all year! We customize your basket, choosing goodies totaling any budget you choose.

A shiny and crisp cellophane wrap with a bright bow, in a special box or basket, with goodies from our cold cases or shelves. Ask for a non-perishable basket of treats from the shelves, and insert a gift certificate for your recipient to come in and choose their favorite cheese to go with the boxed goodies! Or, let us pick the cheeses to go with the goodies, and give a cold basket gift.

Call today to schedule a basket pick-up, even if it is for a gift sometime in the future! We don't charge you until the basket is wrapped up, and YOU can check that chore off your To Do List.

209-368-3033 during shop hours.