Cheese sampling on “Feature Friday” in Potsdam

The Potsdam Food Co-op's Cheese of the Month for January will be offered during their new “Feature Friday” sampling program. On January 10th from 12 - 2pm you will have the opportunity to sample Shire, a unique beer cheese from Interlaken, NY. Shire is an artisanal cow's milk cheese. It is the result of a collaboration between the Lively Run Dairy (Interlaken, NY) and the Hopshire Farm and Brewery (Freeville, NY). It is made by soaking Lively Run Gorge Trail Gouda in Shire, a dark malty Scotch Ale, for three days. Shire is a rich and creamy cheese with a dark toasty flavor and a slight coffee-like bitterness. As with all Lively Run cheeses, it has no preservatives, food colorings, or artificial ingredients, and is made with vegetable rennet. Lively Run says that Shire is great in sandwiches or on a burger, especially when paired with semi-sweet ingredients such as jams or preserves. Suggestions: Serve Shire on a cheese board with sweet fruits, salty nuts, and crackers or hearty bread. Try combining Shire and Cheddar in your favorite mac and cheese recipe for an interesting flavor twist. Melt it in a grilled cheese sandwich or in cheese soup. Use Shire in a fondue or hot dip and serve with pretzels, bagel chips, and assorted vegetables. The Potsdam Food Co-op is located at 24 Elm Street and open daily from 8am to 7pm. It is a member-owned cooperative grocery store (although membership is not required) where everyone is welcome to shop and anyone is welcome to join. Committed to the community and local sustainability, its emphasis is on providing natural and organic foods with the practice of buying from local and regional growers and producers. Signature artisan breads, scones, and treats available on the Co-op shelves daily, are made in its Carriage House Bakery and baked in its wood-fired oven. Salads, sandwiches, wraps, and soups from the Co-op’s natural foods Deli and Big Spoon Kitchen are found in the grab & go section of the store. A large selection of specialty items such as gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian, and vegan foods are also available. For more information please call 315-265-4630 or visit www.PotsdamCoop.com, and follow on Facebook and Instagram.