Cork & Rind Irish Cheese Class 2019

I was so happy to get the chance to visit Cork & Rind again for another cheese class and to see my former coach and current cheesemonger.

He got into the spirit by wearing a Leprechaun outfit!

Cheesemonger Kevin Kinney

Two of the cheeses were paired with beer and two paired with whiskey!

Cheese Pairing Menu

Starting at the top of the plate, my favorites were the first two Irish cheddars: Truly Grass Fed from Dublin, Ireland and Cahill's from Westmeath, Ireland. (I purchased the former to take home!)

The Cahill's Irish Porter Cheddar  was of course a perfect pairing with a Guinness Extra Stout. The marbling throughout the cheese is just beautiful.

On the left, a blue cheese, Cashel Blue was soft and fairly sweet. Definitely a good dessert cheese, without being overpowering. (I still noticed a few pieces of blue cheese left on plates. hehe)

There was also provided a little chutney, but I just spread it on the homemade bread as a snack.

Cheese Plate

You know I made faces trying to taste the whiskey, Kilbeggan Small Batch Irish Rye Whiskey and Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey, so the Smithwick's Irish Red Ale was the winner for me!

I find ryes to be a lot smoother for me, so that was my preference between the two whiskeys.

I love the classes here and I just wish we weren't so far away.

Resources:

Cork & Rind = https://www.corkandrind.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon

58hundred

My "first to try a new restaurant" friends found a winner with 58hundred, which is also its address.  Another bonus is that it's a neighborhood restaurant that's only ten minutes away!

I hope this means we'll go back soon...especially since Patience was sick and I'm not even sure she'll get to enjoy the leftovers I brought her.

I loved the concise menu, focused on locally sourced ingredients.

Something different to start with - Pimento Cheese Toast, which my southern friends say I need to eat more of as the "cheese girl". The toast was thick and hearty and you should probably get some help with this as it could fill you up and not leave you room for anything else.

Nashville's Pimento Cheese Toast

My friends and the servers all said the Braised Beef is their best dish, and I thoroughly enjoyed it on a cold and rainy day. It came with brown butter gnocchi, squash, carrots, sage, in a red wine reduction.

Braised Beef

My friends ordered all appetizers for their meal, and split everything. So wise. Without my photography assistant, I missed capturing the nachos, but managed to get the shrimp.

Spicy Buffalo Fried Shrimp

I finished up the night with a large lemon bar, while my friends opted for a piece of banana cream pie. Of course the lemon bar couldn't stand up to my stepmom's, but I had to try it for myself.

Lemon Bar

I can't wait to go back and bring more friends here!

This place does not take a reservation, but there are several tables in the bar half of the building along with seating at the bar.

Resources:

58hundred = https://www.58hundred.com/