Little Italy Mercato "A Foodie's Dream"

Ok, we've said it before but it bears repeating...Little Italy's Mercato is simply the best farmer's market in town - at least for foodies. But don't take our word for it, check out this article that ran last week in the SD Union Tribune's food section ("Little Italy Farmer's Market a Foodie's Dream" )

And after your tastebuds are sufficiently aroused, head downtown and visit the TasteCheese booth! We're located on Date St. right next to Bread & Cie, on the block between Columbia & India.

Every Saturday 9am-1:30pm
Date Street-India to Columbia -North Side
Little Italy/Downtown San Diego
**2 HOURS FREE PARKING!**
@ Washington Elementary (enter at Date/Union)

LITTLE ITALY MERCATO SELECTION - SATURDAY MAY 1st

Fresh Burrata (Made by Gioia in El Monte, CA 2 days before the market, as fresh as it gets!)
Humboldt Fog (Soft goat with a line of ash from Cypress Grove in Arcata, CA)
Purple Haze (Chevre flavored with lavender & fennel pollen also from Cypress Grove)
Andante Acapella (Blended goat's milk & creme fraiche by Petaluma's Andante Dairy)
Selles Sur Cher (Perfectly ripe rounds of ashed chevre from France's Loire Valley)
Cabot Clothbound Cheddar (Best in Show @ACS in '08. This Vermont cheddar is amazing!)
Black Butte Reserve (Seasonal cheese from raw cow's milk made in the Sierra Foothills of CA) Pecorino Crotonese (Aged raw ewe's milk cheese from Sardinia, Italy)
Morbier (Classic French cheese from raw cow's milk)
Pilota (Semi-firm cheese made from blend of cow/sheep's milk. From French Pyrenees)
Cave-aged Gruyere (Swiss classic made from raw cow's milk and cave-aged for 15+ months)
BeemsterXO (Like butterscotch, this aged Dutch gouda is a customer favorite!)
Truffle Noire (Semi-firm Dutch gouda studded with black truffles)
Long Clawson Stilton (Classic English Stilton with a tangy, blue bite and a lasting finish)
Gorgonzola Dolce (Creamy and rich Italian blue with a slightly sweet finish)
Peppadew Peppers (Stuff these sweet & mildly piquant peppers with PurpleHaze - fantastic!)

Hope to see you at the Mercato!

TasteCheese Launches @ North Park FM This Thursday!

We're really excited to be back in our old hood (or at least just up the road from it). The North Park Farmer's Market has been around for a couple years now, and it's definitely had challenges. However, there have been a couple of recent developments that make us very, very optimistic about the market's future and eager to be a part of it.

First, the market has previously been limited by daylight since the lot it's located in did not have power for vendors to add lighting. Recently, that problem was fixed and the market can now offer set hours into the early evening so folks can visit after work. The other development was the recent appointment of Catt White (manager of Little Italy and the upcoming Adams Ave markets) to manage and grow the market. Catt has been a key player in San Diego's food scene for a number of years and with her connections and tireless energy, we expect North Park's weekly market to soon become one of the best in town.

We hope you'll be a part of the growth of this market and will visit TasteCheese often!

North Park Farmer's Market
Every Thursday, 3-7pm
Located in rear part of the CVS parking lot @ University Ave & 32nd Street

NPFM Weekly Selection - Thursday April 29, 2010

Humboldt Fog (soft goat from Cypress Grove in Arcata, CA)
Purple Haze (goat w/lavender&fennel pollen also from Cypress)
Pecorino Crotonese (raw ewe's milk cheese from Sardinia)
Morbier (Classic French cheese from raw cow's milk)
Chimay Biere (Beer-washed cheese made by Belgium monks)
Tipperary Cheddar (Tangy cheddar from the Emerald Isle)
Cave-aged Gruyere (Swiss classic made from raw cow's milk)
BeemsterXO (Like butterscotch, this Dutch gouda is a fave!)
Truffle Noire (Tasty Dutch gouda studded with black truffles)
Roaring 40's Blue (Everyone loves this tangy Tasmanian blue!)
Peppadew Peppers (Stuff these w/PurpleHaze - fantastic!)

This Week's Little Italy Mercato Selection

Every week we plan to introduce a completely new menu of 12-15 great artisan cheeses from around the world. While this week's selection was dictated in part, by the Spring Beer & Cheese Class schedule for THIS SUNDAY at O'BRIEN'S PUB, our goal going forward will be to dedicate much of our selection to featuring smaller producers from farms around the US. That's right - American Cheese! We think some of the world's finest cheeses are being produced right here in the good old USofA and we hope to make you all converts too!

But as I said, this week's selection is loaded with beer-friendly cheeses, but we managed to squeak in a few other tasty favorites. After all, it's the Grand Opening of TasteCheese!

THIS WEEK'S MERCATO SELECTION

Crottin d'Champcol

Andante Trio

La Tur

Le Pommier Camembert

MouCou Colorouge

Arrigoni Taleggio

Chimay Biere

Pantaleo

Mimolette

Flor de Esqueva

Tipperary Irish Cheddar

Old Amsterdam Gouda

Ewephoria

Ubriacone

Roaring Forties Blue

Point Reyes Blue

Valdeon Blue

We hope you'll plan to stop by and say hello! Here are the Mercato details...

Little Italy Mercato

Saturday 9-1:30

Date/India in Little Italy

**FREE PARKING FOR 2 HOURS @ WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY** (Enter at Date & Union)

Cheers,
Mary & George

Taking TasteCheese to the Streets!

It's been 15 days since we closed our beloved Taste Artisan Cheese & Gourmet Shop. In that time, we've been busy ramping up for our first Farmer's Market launch. We're excited to announce our first market - Saturday, April 17th we'll become a part of San Diego's most exciting Farmer's Market, the Little Italy Mercato. We hope you'll plan to stop by and say hello, maybe pick up a cheese or two for the weekend.

Little Italy Mercato
Saturdays 9am-1:30pm
Date Street at India (Downtown San Diego)

We're working hard to lock down a Sunday market and we'll be launching 2-3 mid-week markets by mid-May.

And we're still available for Cheese Platters, Gift Baskets, Special Events, In-Home Tastings & Parties...and more. Just send us an email and let us know what you need!

We've missed seeing our wonderful customers and look forward to seeing you all soon at your favorite weekly farmer's markets!

Cheers,
Mary & George Palmer