424537 Wed Jul 25 06:42:57 -0700 2007 11 18 Manhattan 0 2781055 I'd like to try some sort of basic cheese tasting this summer. The ones at Murray's are all filled up. Any ideas where else I can look? Wed Jul 25 06:42:57 -0700 2007 14786 Oliverstreet 1 2781097 Artisanal offers classes and tasting. Here's the summer list: http://www.artisanalcheese.com/products.asp?dept=1020 Wed Jul 25 06:57:18 -0700 2007 2781055 13867 RGR 2 2781616 I've heard very good things about the Artisanal cheese courses. Wed Jul 25 08:55:06 -0700 2007 2781097 113878 ajgnet 3 2781667 We have attended their courses and have had great fun with them. They have taken us through their aging rooms after the classes which is interesting to see. Wed Jul 25 09:05:42 -0700 2007 2781616 15142 MIKELOCK34 2 2781741 Artisanal has an amazing cheese tasting. My parents took me there about a year or so ago while we were in town and I was so impressed by their cheese guy. He knows more about cheese then anyone I've ever met. My brother and his fiancee have been back a number of times and always get the cheese course. Certainly should be on your short list since this is what they are known for. Wed Jul 25 09:20:22 -0700 2007 2781097 76776 Elyssa 3 2781878 Of course, for a cheese course in a restaurant setting, there is Artisanal's older sibling, Picholine, which probably did more to popularize the cheese course in NYC than any other restaurant. Their cheese "maven," Max McCalman, is an expert in the field and wrote a book about it ("The Cheese Plate"). He is responsible for the cheeses at Artisanal and instructs many of the classes there. http://www.picholinenyc.com Wed Jul 25 09:47:58 -0700 2007 2781741 13867 RGR 1 2781473 Murray's Cheese also has great selection of cheese classes you can take. I believe they are all held at their Village location: 254 Bleecker Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. I took a wonderful aged cheddar course that used Grafton's aged cheddars (1 year through 5 or 6 year), paired with beer. Their cheesemaker was the host/teacher. http://www.murrayscheese.com//edu_main.asp Wed Jul 25 08:26:38 -0700 2007 2781055 46430 erin07nyc 2 2781501 Erin, Note that Oliverstreet says the classes at Murray's are filled right now. That's why he's looking for alternatives. Wed Jul 25 08:31:34 -0700 2007 2781473 13867 RGR 3 2781606 oops!! Wed Jul 25 08:51:57 -0700 2007 2781501 46430 erin07nyc 1 2781499 the institute for culinary education often has recreational cheese tasting and even cheese making classes. https://web.iceculinary.com/icereg/category.asp though looks like right now they just have 1... a french wine and cheese tasting. Wed Jul 25 08:31:20 -0700 2007 2781055 13695 thievery 1 2781598 Check localwineevents.com. Scroll all the way down the page to see all of the listed events for NYC. They post a list of wine and food events that is updated several times a week. http://www.localwineevents.com/New-York-City-Wine/ Wed Jul 25 08:51:06 -0700 2007 2781055 15142 MIKELOCK34 1 2783406 I have taken at least a dozen cheese courses at Artisanal with Max and his gang- blue cheese course, stinky cheese course, cheese and beer, cheese and bourbon, cheese and beer, cheese and sake, spanish cheese, etc., etc. I had a fantastic time at all of them. I should ask about getting a diploma. As Max always says-"spread the curd!" Wed Jul 25 16:10:06 -0700 2007 2781055 10173 guttergourmet