630637 Tue Jun 23 06:27:58 -0700 2009 10 42 U.K./Ireland 0 4797464 My office is hosting an Italian v Spanish wine tasting for clients tomorrow evening and we want the snacky food we provide to match a bit. I am ok on Parma/Serano and Salami/Chorizo, but I'd also quite like to serve some Spanish cheese alongside the Gorgonzola and Parmegano. I know nothing about Spanish cheese or where to buy it. Can anyone help please? Thanks. Tue Jun 23 06:27:58 -0700 2009 156990 Robin Joy 1 4797505 Brindisa have a great range of Spanish cheeses, or even Selfridges food hall would have a good selection of manchego etc. Their shop in Borough is open every day except Monday http://www.brindisa.com/products/cheeses/ Tue Jun 23 06:41:18 -0700 2009 4797464 147975 pj26 1 4797547 Brindisa selections are decent but your absolute best bet is to go to Iberica @ 195 Great Portland St. It's part deli, part tapas bar, part restaurant and part Spanish cultural centre. http://www.ibericalondon.com/ I wasn't particularly impressed with the tapas bar offerings but their deli is good and they have a specialist cheese room. Yes get some aged Manchego (along with the obligatory membrillo) but also sample any of Tetilla, Idiazabal, Valdeon, Cabrales, Picon, Torta de Barros, Torta del Casar, Nevat, Monte Enebro - these are a mixture of ewe's, goat's and cow's milk cheeses (especially the former two), some milder cheeses + some stronger ones (including blue cheeses), depends what you're after really. Also get some tomato jam/marmalade, increasingly popular as an accompaniment to cheeses in Spain, would go well with most of the above apart from the blue cheeses (valdeon, cabrales, picon). Tue Jun 23 06:57:36 -0700 2009 4797464 28263 oonth 1 4797662 if you find the spanish wines win - then you need a better calibre of client! LOL either that, or you chose the wrong wines... ;o) please report back. Tue Jun 23 07:33:12 -0700 2009 4797464 247185 batfink23 1 4797859 You probably don't want to go as far afield as Whole Foods, but they have a large cheese department. I've never purchased Spanish cheese there, so have no idea of the quality or varieties stocked. Oonth's idea sounds tempting! Tue Jun 23 08:24:32 -0700 2009 4797464 11939 zuriga1 1 4798430 Thank you for the ideas. Iberica sounds great, but I work in Cannon St. not 5 mins. walk from Brindisa's Borough place, so that's where I'll head. bat....I'm kind of rooting for Spain myself. I think we're having some of this: http://www.bbr.com/offer-pq which is right up my bodega. Headache report on Thursday. Tue Jun 23 10:45:03 -0700 2009 4797464 156990 Robin Joy 2 4798728 Next time you should do England vs France. :-) Tue Jun 23 12:00:29 -0700 2009 4798430 11939 zuriga1 3 4798831 I agree...that would be a wonderful idea, especially on the cheese and snacks stakes! Tue Jun 23 12:32:39 -0700 2009 4798728 160454 zedman_1 4 4800594 Too bad we're not arranging the party! :-) Tue Jun 23 22:49:07 -0700 2009 4798831 11939 zuriga1 2 4799398 temperanillo will always be a second rate grape ;o) Tue Jun 23 15:04:41 -0700 2009 4798430 247185 batfink23 1 4804413 Well, Brindisa duly obliged, and The Tasting Room sold me some delicious young Gorgonzola. I added some Stichelton from Neal's Yard to remind our guests that the UK can produce great cheese (actually made by an American) On the wine front my favoured white was the 2007 Rioja Bianco, Vina Izadi @£11.50 and red 2004 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Colline Teramane @£12.50 which I preferred to an Amarone and a Gran Reserva Rioja (Ygay 2001) both at more than 3 times the price. Do try Triana, Pedro Ximenez, Bodegas Hidalgo (NV) if you ever get the chance. It's astonishing. Christmas pudding in a bottle! Thu Jun 25 04:21:22 -0700 2009 4797464 156990 Robin Joy