Good Morning Gloucester

I learned so much from Kathleen Erickson in her fantastic series “Become a Wine Expert,” not only about wine, but also about cheese as she paired fabulously delicious cheeses with each wine. I asked her to tell us more about the interesting paper that they use at Savour Wine and Cheese when cutting off a wedge and wrapping for their customers. Kathleen writes ~

“Kim Smith had asked about our special cheese paper known as “Formaticum.”  So here is a bit about it.

Their slogan is “Cheese is alive.  Store accordingly.” Although you do not see it often, any good cheese shop should present you with your cheese purchase carefully wrapped in Formaticum (which is the only company that makes cheese paper of this quality). ”

What make’s Formaticum so special? When you buy cheese wrapped in plastic or vacuum-sealed, it is suffocating and losing all its flavor and character. Formaticum is a special two-ply paper designed to allow the cheese to breathe, while also maintaining optimal humidity, which prevents the cheese from drying out. Formaticum is made of the same material that is used by the world’s finest cheese purveyors to wrap and store cheese and is manufactured in France.

Kathleen also writes, “Once you get your cheese home, store it in the Formaticum cheese paper.  You may wish to slip it into a loose baggie which allows some room for the cheese to breathe, if you are keeping it for a few weeks.”

Here is a link to their website and video on cheese-wrapping, which is an art in itself ~ Formaticum.”

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There are two special events taking place at Savour Wine and Cheese this coming week:

On Friday night from 7-9:30 pm is the Cape Ann Animal Shelter Fundraiser.

On Sunday afternoon from 1-4pm there is a COMPLIMENTARY Wine Tasting Event. Several of Savour’s excellent wine representatives from across the state will be pouring wines and answering question. Chef Matt Beach and Kathleen are creating appetizers to serve with the wines, which will also perfectly complement your Thanksgiving feast.

Visit their website for more information about both. events.

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Rather than waiting until October 2014 and due to the popularity of our “How to Become a Wine Expert” series posted here on GMG, Kathleen is again teaching her series in April,  2014. People are already signing up, so sign up soon to get the early sign-up discount. This would make a great Christmas gift. And for couples, a great gift to each other. There were several couples in our class and the evening was their “date night!” To sign up for “Become a Wine Expert,” visit Savour’s Events page.

Renee Hansen and Geoff Rendall