This past Friday I had the pleasure of finally visiting Saxelby Cheesemongers’ cheese cave aka walk in/warehouse in Red Hook, Brooklyn. It couldn’t have been a windier day. Their door was rattling as if the wind was going to rip it from its hinges. I got to go inside their very large walk in and breathe in the essence of cheese. So many of my favorites lined the shelves like Jasper Hill Farm’s Harbison or Twig Farm’s Twig Wheel. But I was on a mission to try cheeses I have never had before, which really didn’t require twisting my arm. I doubt there’s a cheese Saxelby sells that I wouldn’t like. I tasted a number of American cheeses, some of which we will add into our rotation. Some of the cheeses included Raclette (firm, raw cow’s milk) from Spring Brook Farm in VT, Chevrotin (firm, pasteurized goat’s milk) from Seal Cove Farm in ME, Appalachian (semi-firm, raw cow’s milk) from Meadow Creek Dairy in VA, and Humble Pie (bloomy rind, pasteurized cow’s milk), True Blue (blue cheese, raw cow’s milk), and Timberdoodle (washed rind, raw cow’s milk), all from Woodcock Farm in VT. All were delicious. I was even able to purchase a few items for myself, including Animal Farm’s buttermilk, which I drink directly out of the bottle. I was very sad all of their Beltane Farm stock of goat milk and goat yogurt was at their retail location in Manhattan. Oh how I love Beltane Farm’s dairy! It was not easy heading out that door, for more than one reason.