Update: Scardello Artisan Cheese Now Open!

It's official:  Scardello Artisan Cheese on Oak Lawn Avenue is now open!  Yay!  

I passed by the shop while out and about this weekend, and peered in the window to see how things were coming along (as has become my habit since Rich Rogers first hung up his "Coming Soon" sign in September) - it looked pretty "open" to me.  Sure enough, last night I received a message from sweet Donna of DonnaCooks confirming that, yes, our new neighborhood cheese shop is, indeed, open for business.

Click here to read Donna's detailed report on her first visit to Scardello, and here to check out our initial DallasEats report, including contact info and quotes from the owner.  I'm planning a trip there later this afternoon, and I just can't wait!

C&S

Scardello Artisan Cheese - Coming Soon!

Those of you who know Mr. C&S know that he's the kind of guy who asks for cheese for his birthday - that's right, *cheese* - so you can only imagine the twitter he went into upon seeing a new banner across an empty storefront at Oak Lawn and Lemmon this past Saturday.  It proclaimed the imminent arrival of our very own neighborhood artisan cheese shop, and I couldn't get to the computer fast enough to find out more about it. 

Scardello Artisan Cheese, slated to open in mid-October, is Rich Rogers' baby.  An email I received from Rich today illustrated just how passionate he is about cheese, family and the new store:

"Scardello is an artisan cheese shop focused on handcrafted cheese and tasty accompaniments.  We plan to have a large selection ... from Texas and the US as well as European cheeses.  Everything will be available to taste and cut to order. 

The shop is named after my grandfather, Pete Scardello, who taught me a love for great food and sharing with friends and family.  Growing up in a small Texas town, cooking was not something a lot of men did.  My grandfather was the exception.  

After spending 15 years in video production telling the stories of our clients, I now get to focus that storytelling energy on all of the fantastic cheese we will carry and the artisans who make them."

Rich sounds like an awesome guy, and we can't wait for Scardello's grand opening!

Scardello Artisan Cheese

www.scardellocheese.com

Coming soon to 3511 Oak Lawn Avenue

The Ultimate I-35 Road Snack

What is the first thing you think of when you contemplate a road trip from Dallas to Austin? Is it a Longhorn football game? A wild night out on 6th street? Carl’s Corner?

If you’re anything like me, you can’t help but get excited about stopping in West, Texas (just North of Waco and South of Hillsboro) to sample some of the famous kolaches from the Czech Stop. For those of you who haven’t yet had the pleasure of sampling one, a kolache is a traditional Central European dish of a pastry roll filled with any number of things, from fruit to meat to cheese. They are popular in West (and a few other towns in Central Texas) due to their large Czech populations. These heavenly pillows of pastry and various fillings make any road trip down 35 worthwhile.

I love the plain sausage (no molten American cheese, thank you very much), which pair perfectly with a cold bottle of Dr. Pepper. The sausage has just enough smokiness and spiciness to make it interesting without overwhelming the pastry, and the sweetness of the Dr. Pepper really rounds out the meal.

My absolute favorite, however, is the cream cheese kolache. These are pretty good when you get them mixed with fruit (strawberry, blueberry and apricot are a few of the choices they offer), but I prefer just the plain cream cheese. It tastes like a cross between cheesecake and a dinner roll, and while that may not sound all that appetizing, it takes both of those standards to new heights. The cream cheese is rich and sweet, so the flaky, buttery pastry cuts that a little bit while adding some texture. I highly recommend you give one a whirl the next time you venture down 35.

I’m sure many of our readers have had the pleasure of visiting West, and I’d like to hear if you all love it as much as I do…

Food Find: Nanie Bell Artisan Cheese

While on assignment in Springtown, this Texas wine explorer made an exciting discovery.  And believe you me, it was quite a surprise, as it didn't come in a bottle or have anything to do with grapes.  Nanie Bell Artisan Cheese is handcrafted at La Buena Vida Vineyards Springtown by Dr. Bobby Smith, a legend in the world of Texas wine who has proved once again that he's still got a few aces up his sleeve after thirty-plus years in the business.  

"I don't let any grass grow under my feet, that's for sure!"

- Dr. Bobby Smith on finding even more ways to 

tempt Texas tastebuds 

after three decades of award-winning wine.

I went out to Dr. Bobby's place Saturday on a whim.  While I intended on visiting La Buena Vida Springtown at some point in the near future, my weekend was already earmarked for catching up on laundry and TiVo (even glamour girls like me make time for Sunday Food TV).  However, after speaking with the man for the better part of an hour Friday afternoon, I was charmed and more than a little curious about what was going on an hour to the west.  Dr. Bobby had mentioned that his Tempranillo was nearly ripe, hanging heavy on the vine, and that he was also whipping up a few batches of his new handmade cheese in preparation for the weekend.  Throw in a day of refreshingly cooler temps, and would you have been able to resist a road trip?

Visions of lush vines cradling black fruit and creamy fresh cheese danced in my head as I headed to La Buena Vida that day, and the visit could not have been more rewarding.  Dr. Bobby's wines will most certainly be explored in their own post soon (barrel samples of 20-year-old Port and newly-fermented Viognier still sparkling with spritz ... pinch me, FP - am I dreaming?), but today we're talkin' cheese.

And what a cheese it is.  Dr. Bobby describes Nanie Bell as a "Mexican-style fresh cheese", so I expected something along the lines of a Queso Fresco when we settled in for samples and a sip of Pinot Blanc.  To the contrary, this cheese was completely unique - soft and creamy with a pleasant wine-friendly tang.  Using his mother's recipe, Dr. Bobby and his grandson make the cheese by hand using fresh local organic cow's milk from Cleburne and a touch of garlic for savory depth.  Nanie Bell Spencer Smith, the original family cheesemaker, would surely be proud.

There is plenty to go around, even after I loaded up my own fridge with Nanie Bell.  It's great on its own, or makes for a decadent dinner when melted over a burger or folded into an omlette.   Right now, you can only get Nanie Bell at La Buena Vida Vineyards Springtown, but as we head into the milder weather of late summer and fall, what better excuse to hit the road?  There are some great little farm stands on the way as well, so have fun with a full afternoon of foraging.

Nanie Bell Artisan Cheese, $8

La Buena Vida Vineyards Springtown

817-220-4366

650 Vineyard Lane, Springtown

Open Weekends

(not to be confused with the Grapevine location - great place, but only loosely affiliated.  This cheese is not available there)