Cheese, Wine and Bandits Corner

Labor Day Is Coming… Kids Are Back in School.

We know, we're not quite there yet—on the calendar or in our own heads—but Labor Day weekend is next weekend.

While many of you will hopefully be relaxing with family and friends, we'll be laboring away, like we love to, making sure you've got everything you need.

And we're good with that.

So, before the weekend sneaks up on all of us, this is my reminder to you to get those 109 cheese and charcuterie platter orders in. You know we'll always do our best to make it work, regardless of your foresight.

Having a few friends over? Family coming for the weekend? Drinks on the porch that almost always turn into dinner? Tell us what you're doing and how many people are coming. We'll take it from there.

We'll have our appetizers and flatbread pizzas ready to go too, because sometimes the best entertaining plan is simply putting a bunch of really good things on the table and letting everyone help themselves.

And now that the kids are back in school, don't forget about the freezer. Our grilled cheese 4-packs have saved more than a few afternoons around here. Quick snack, easy dinner, hungry kid—or hungry adult. We're not judging.

Of course, we're already thinking about what we're going to eat.

And for us, Labor Day weekend is a burger-required weekend.

Everyone else can debate the burger itself. We're cheesemongers.

We want to discuss all of the accoutrements.

Starting, of course, with the cheese.

The Cheese Makes the Burger

There are probably as many opinions about the perfect burger as there are people standing around the grill.

Fine with us.

Just don't forget the cheese.

This year we've picked three that take the whole thing in completely different directions.

Gourmino Appenzeller Blanc is our Alpine route. This is the younger, gentler side of Appenzeller—smooth and supple, with that wonderful Alpine nuttiness without becoming too sharp or overpowering. And it melts beautifully. Let it settle into the burger and add some caramelized onions, a great mustard and good pickles.

You could stop right there.

Stag Cheddar takes us in a more familiar direction—but familiar doesn't have to mean boring. It's rich, full-flavored and has enough sharpness to stand up to everything else you're piling on. Break off a piece, grate it, crumble it, melt it however you like. Great tomatoes, pickles, maybe bacon and your favorite burger sauce.

And then there's Gorgonzola Dolce.

Now we're having fun.

This is the softer, creamier and sweeter side of Gorgonzola. It's still blue—salty, savory and just funky enough—but that wonderfully soft texture is what makes it so good here. Put a nice piece on a hot burger and let it get all soft and gooey.

Smother the burger in yummy blueness!

Caramelized onions would be pretty spectacular, or add something a little sweet or spicy to play against the blue.

And while we're playing, don't forget the Omnivore Salt. We use it ourselves and love it on burgers. It's that perfect balancing act of salt, pepper and light seasoning that makes you wonder why something so simple makes everything taste better.

Then wander around the shop.

Grab a mustard. Find some pickles. Try a condiment you haven't had before. Ask us what we'd put on ours.

Pick your cheese. Then build everything else around it.

There may not be one perfect burger.

But we're pretty sure there's a perfect cheese for yours.

What Are We Drinking

You knew we were going to get here. We always do. It's in our DNA.

Gary is opening two very different bottles Saturday, and both give us something to think about as we continue our very serious Labor Day burger research.

First up is the Elena Walch Pinot Bianco 25 from Alto Adige in northern Italy.

This is a bright, fresh mountain white that brings the mountains to us, with beautiful fruit, minerality and enough texture to really enjoy with food. And since we've already put Gourmino Appenzeller Blanc on the table, this seems like a pretty natural place to start.

The perfect white wine for the perfect Appenzeller cheeseburger.

Alpine cheese. Mountain wine. A great mustard. Some pickles. Sign me up!

Next, we're heading to the West Coast and California with the Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon 2022.

This one checks all of the burger boxes—and all of the 109 boxes for production, farming and taste.

Cabernet and burgers have been friends for a very long time, and we're not about to get in the middle of that relationship. Actually, we think they should continue the courtship.

This is where we go cheddar.

Stag Cheddar—rich cheddar, Cabernet, great tomato, maybe some caramelized onions and a little Omnivore Salt. We love this salt for burgers. It's the perfect balancing act of salt, pepper and light seasoning.

Or take the bun off and go in a completely different direction with the Gorgonzola Dolce.

Smother the burger in yummy blueness!

Add something a little sweet or spicy, pour the Cabernet and see what happens.

Live on the edge—or at least on the deck—this weekend.

Pick a cheese. Pick a wine. Start playing with the accoutrements.

Gary will be pouring both wines Saturday from 12–5 in Ridgefield, and we'll have Gourmino Appenzeller Blanc, Stag Cheddar and Gorgonzola Dolce there for you to taste too.

Come in, taste a little, ask questions and start plotting your Labor Day weekend.

We consider this research. And you know how we love our research.

Labor Day weekend isn't just about the food and wine around here. We're busy getting the cars ready too.

This year Alfa Romeo is the featured marque at the Lime Rock Park Historic Festival, and we'll be there.

Both the Alfa and the Lancia will be in the parade and then shown at Sunday in the Park Concours. We've been getting them ready, putting some miles on them and, of course, finding a few more things that need attention along the way.

That's old cars.

We hope to see some of you up there.

If you're heading to Lime Rock for the weekend, stop by 109 in Kent along the way. Check out the WKNDDRVR gallery, have some lunch or grab some cheese, sandwiches and picnic goodies for the weekend. We're just a short drive away—and it's a pretty good drive.

There's also lots happening with our friends at Petrolicious. Look for our upcoming article and the short film we recently did with them. We're looking forward to finally sharing both.

So yes, we're getting ready for Labor Day too.

Cheese. Wine. Cars. It's all in the details.

See you on the road. Thank You Mountain Detail for helping to get them ready!

order your wine here

Platter Order Link Kent

Platter Order Link Ridgefield

Bandit's Corner

How’s everyone doing?

Life is good. Life is fun. And life is definitely an adventure with these two humans.

Now that cooler weather is starting to creep in, I’m hearing a lot more talk about great drives, looking for food and spending some quality time with family and friends. All things I fully support—especially the food part.

Something about driving to locations and writing a blog?

Is a blog a food??

Will it help with my growth spurts?

As you can see, I’ve been busy growing. Not in the wide way, thank you very much. I’m getting long.

Apparently I’ve also been accused of being a “counter surfer.”

If it’s within my reach, I call fair game.

I have no idea what counter surfing actually means, but it sounds athletic, so I’ll take it as a win.

Dad’s been getting the cars ready for something and vacuuming them like crazy.

Hope I didn’t do anything wrong?

There’s also talk of getting me a puppy hoodie now that the nights are getting cooler.

A hoodie?

Wait...

Does this mean I have a wardrobe now?

Because if we’re going down that road, I feel like one hoodie probably isn’t going to be enough.

Do they make driving sweaters? Driving paw gloves?

Road-trip jackets?

Something casual for the cheese shop?

Maybe a nice little number for Saturday wine tastings?

Can we go shopping for more?

After all, they keep telling me I’m the mascot. I feel like there are certain responsibilities that come with the position.

All I know is that the weather is changing, the cars are getting ready, adventures seem to be coming, and apparently I may need a whole new fall wardrobe.

I’m okay with that.

Bandit thought of the week: Snacks make everything better.

And better I am—and always will be.

See you on the road,

Bandit Monkey Brown

Platter orders can be placed online making it super easy!

Place your orders for all of the family events and gatherings!

Let's get out and drive! WKNDDRVR and 109 Cheese in Kent are the perfect destination

breathe, eat cheese, get home,

drink wine and repeat if needed.

Organic /Biodynamic / Sustainable

It's what we strive for in all our shops.

The less ingredients the better!

Come visit us and see!

Come visit us at WKNDDRVR and let's talk about cars, detailing, automotive art and so much more.

Do you need a Rally / Pit stop? We have great parking, bathrooms and food! Let us help you coordinate a great driving event. Any questions about the gallery?

Email Us

Come have lunch and sit in the gallery and enjoy!

We are now carrying CarPro and Griot's Garage automotive cleaning and maintenance products in our gallery

Come check out the exhibit by

Richard James in our gallery now.

Also, we have the continuation work from

Sean Smith

Click here for our Platter and Appetizer Menu