Great American Cheese Collection - Chicago
Source from Great American Cheese Collection online
Great American Cheese Collection's Saturday warehouse sale has long been the city's best under-the-radar source for hard-to-find, small-batch artisan cheeses.
As of this month, it's no more. Instead, the wholesale supplier, which usually provides cheese only to restaurants, has made access even more convenient by moving its collection online.
More than 40 cheeses are now available on Artizone, a web-based grocery service that delivers goods from familiar names like Pasta Puttana and Mama's Nuts. The collection constantly rotates, and cheese is delivered by truck within 24 to 48 hours of ordering.
Here are three highlights from the current lineup–and what to drink with them, too.
Blue Bonnet ($12): A blue-cheese culture on the outside makes this tiny 1-ounce, goat's-milk Croton appear nearly black. Inside, it's a creamy, classic goat cheese that pairs well with a fruity red, like a Petit Syrah, or a fuller-bodied Sauvignon Blanc.
Marcoot Havarti ($8): The high butterfat of Jersey cow milk makes this Havarti, from Illinois' Marcoot dairy, exceptionally rich and yellow. Try it with a Chardonnay or Viognier.
Sangamon ($12): This triple-cream Gouda from Ludwig Dairy in Fithian, Illinois, calls for a Belgian saison or an earthy, medium-bodied Pinot Noir.