"There is no cooler way to preserve cheese, keep it, and present it, than with the darn Grotto."

-Steven Jenkins, world-renowned cheese-expert

Steven Jenkins speaks with eloquence when he talks about Cheese Grotto.  He can also speak of the Grotto in a casual way, and still really get to the core of what it is, and what it is inspired from.  I was honored to have him attend my first crowdfunding party on November 12th at Casellula Cheese & Wine Café.  We were able to capture some of his talk on video, and although it is a rough cut, it is an honest representation of why the Cheese Grotto is an important cultural emblem and the most effective storage solution for specialty cheeses.

If you haven't heard of Steven Jenkins before, now is your chance.  Steve was the first pioneer of specialty cheese in New York City.  He traveled all over Europe to bring in the best cheeses, many of which are regulars on every cheese counter, some of which are lesser known cheeses that you need to know about.  Jenkins was given the American Cheese Society's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008. He was the first American cheesemonger to be inducted into France's ancient and elite Guilde Des Mâitres-Fromagers and was recently elevated to the guild's highest status, that of 'prudhomme'.  He was also the first American to become a member of France's super-honorary society, Taste-Fromage. Jenkins' first book, Cheese Primer (now in its 16th printing), won the James Beard Award in 1996 and is considered an indispensable source of reference in the world of cheese.