The folks at Caputo’s Market are creating an informative food culture in our city. I blame a great deal of growing food interest in Salt Lake on Matt Caputo and his passion for sharing his knowledge of food with those around him. A self-studied chocolate and cheese enthusiast, as well as a gatherer of people, Matt is inspiring to me and many other foodies in the area.
This week I experienced cheese and wine in their best attire. The creamiest soft cheeses that will ever slip onto your tounge, as well as the stinkiest (made illegal on public transportation in some countries). I attended a Cheese and Wine Class at Tony Caputo’s Market. The wines we enjoyed were all ones we could find at our local wine store, most of which I had never spotted before but am glad to know of now… like the inexpensive Vina Borgia Garnacha and the Rosso di Casanora di Neri, described as smelling like expensive shoes. All of the wines were presented by Francis Fecteau of Libation, who we found to be entertaining as well as informative.
One of my favorite cheese of the night was the Wet Aged Gruyere Alpine Cheese. A cheese made from cows who grazed on lush grasses and wild flowers, creating a caramelized grass finish. I loved the stories of cheese makers traveling miles up the mountain with their animals and equipment with the sole purpose of creating the cheese they love and believe in. It was also fun to get to be one of the first to taste one of Caputo’s house-aged cheddar cheeses, which was aged in their cheese cave, wrapped in butter soaked bandages during its affinage (a big word I learned that night that means – aging) process.
The most rewarding thing about any of the classes that you may go to at Caputo’s is the amount of information that you receive. Matt is generous with his information, and you’ll leave feeling like an expert on cheese and cheese making.
Caputo’s offers classes at their market occasionally during the evenings. If you’re not so into cheese, then you could check out their chocolate class, which will knock your socks off with crazy information on chocolate.
Loved the chocolate class we took there–so informative and gave me a new appreciation for chocolate. The cheese and wine tasting sounds delicious…if only I drank alcohol. Perhaps I can skip the wine and bring a Diet Coke? 😉
Emily, the class is actually just a cheese tasting class with the option of wine pairing so it mainly about the cheese! And it cost $15 less if you aren't having the wine pairing. You should definitely check it out!
Wow this sounds fabulous! I love the sound of that Alpine Gruyere… mmmm… and definitely keen on the chocolate tasting!