Cotija Cheese

[cpingenot]

Anyone have a suggestion on where to find cotija cheese in Boston/ Cambridge?
I've tried the international/ latino markets in Union Square without luck. I'd be happy to make a trip to Waltham or JP if I knew I could definitely find it, but don't want to trek out and drive aimlessly from store to store.

[judej]

Many stores in East Boston carry it, including Shaws. Try the two side by side latino grocery stores on Meridian street, just past the Maverick T stop. Also walk down Bennington just off Meridian in Central Square and try any of the grocery stores there.

[Bob Dobalina]

I bought cotija and crema at either the Shaw's in Porter or the Stop and Shop on McGrath.

[another_adam]

Sometimes Super 88 in Allston has it--there's a little selection of Latin cheeses in the refrigerator section. They're quite pricy, and variable selection and quality (I've gotten some very unremarkable quesillo, and a relatively good one). Worth a check, anyway, since it's closer to Cambridge.

[BarmyFotheringayPhipps]

La Favorita, the bodega at the corner of Harvard and Farrington in Allston, has better and less expensive cojita and crema in the cooler in the furthest right-hand corner of the store, above the Oakhurst milk and near the Mexican (con azucar) bottled Cokes.

[rlh]

Does anyone know - is this a key ingredient in the magical treatment that corn gets at Toro?

[itaunas]

Its part of it:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/397558
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/0...

If you want to do it like the Bayless recipe, pick up a glass jar of Salvadoran thick cream in local supermarkets and Brazilian requeijao is also tasty (normally eaten with toast).

[MC Slim JB]

I was up in the woods of NH, no cotija in sight, and substituted a crumbled, well-soaked feta in the Oringer recipe, with good results. I was surprised to see Pamesan recommended as a substitute: it seems texturally rather different, though like cotija it's a cow's-milk cheese.

[yumyum]

I've used parm grated not as fine as you would for passing at the table. It worked fine, but I prefer cotija if I can get it.

[turtl_girl]

hi-lo in jamaica plain has it

[itaunas]

Union Sq Somerville or Allston? Try again around Union Sq Somerville and look for "queso seco." Market Basket on Somerville Ave does carry its not stocked 100% of the time. Tony's Foodland on lower Broadway always has it, La Internacional too but Tony's selection is a bit larger. Closer than Waltham (to Somerville) the Chelsea Market Basket will have more than you can want, and I think both the Twin Cities and Rt 28 Stop and Shops I believe carry it (Twin Cities has some columbian products and other stuff).

Not cojita, but the latino market at the corner of Fulkerson and Cambridge St in East Cambridge has a nice crumbly fresh cheese, cut from blocks, that I haven't seen elsewhere. You need to get it though after it just came in, I have on one occasion gotten it old.

[chilibaby]

Chelsea Market Basket has an amazing selection. Nearby, the Stop and Shop on Rte 16 by Everett Ave (not sure if that's the same one itaunas is referring to) has a huge selection of interesting cheeses. Haven't looked for cotija in a while at either place, though.

[raddoc]

Seen it at Whole Foods

[cpingenot]

Any particular ones? I've looked at the Beacon hill one and the one in Fresh pond w/o luck. Thanks!

[LindaWhit]

I know the one in Woburn has it (on Route 3A/Cambridge Street going towards Winchester).

[rlh]

Update as of tonight, at Woburn, they claim they don't have have it or carry it based on asking the cheese folks about both queso seco and cotija - they expect "queso grande" in next week and think it may be comparable

[LindaWhit]

Shoot - I could have sworn I've seen it on the shelves in with the other packaged cheeses.

[raddoc]

I've gotten it at Woburn WF as well, on the shelves with the cottage cheese, etc.

[LindaWhit]

OK, I'm not crazy. Thanks for confirming that, raddoc. :-)

[galleygirl]

That explains it...They asked the specialty department (where the pricey cheeses live) your question. Call again, and ask to speak to someone from dairy, they'll be able to tell you if it's with the packaged cheeses...two separate worlds, in th WF universe.