Nala's Fromagerie
Nala’s Fromagerie
“I never said I was a cheese whiz.”
Rating: ***1/2
(Five stars is a perfect score.)
“I never said I was a cheese whiz.”
Rating: ***1/2
(Five stars is a perfect score.)
When I heard a cheese shop had opened in our area and was actually calling itself a fromagerie, I almost fell over in a dead faint. A fromagerie? In a mini strip mall? Did I dare get my hopes up?
In the first days of moving here from Chicago, my father in law, in a well-meaning effort to help me acclimate, took me on the fifteen-minute city tour. First stop was a “cheese shop.” Saying I wanted to drown myself upon leaving would be an exaggeration, but it isn’t an untruth when I say I actually burst into tears on the way out. Had I really moved to “Dairy Land”, former home of the World Cheese Exchange only to find cheddar footballs dipped in yellow wax, nestled in phony grass and displayed with those chocolate caramel nut clusters called “Cow Pies?”*
And this whole cheese curd phenomenon? I never even realized people actually ate cheese curds, let alone deep-fried and dipped in ranch dressing! Oh how Little Miss Muffet would have loved my father in law. She would have graciously accepted her tray of curds and I’ll bet she wouldn’t have rolled her eyes and rudely inquired as to how much longer the tour of the "one horse town” was going to last. Fortunately, my father in law is quick to forgive and having never raised daughters, he mistook my now regretted insolence for feisty girlish charm.
Anyway, I wasn’t optimistic as my husband and I headed over to check Nala’s out. I mean, how old world could a fromagerie in a new strip mall possibly be?
My husband has a few old world charms of his own and one of them is his mind-boggling tolerance when I leave a business thoroughly enraged because of a customer service breach. He knows he’s in for a loud and perhaps verbally abusive ride home.
Early in the relationship, he learned the cheery light energy I have as I venture into a new place could turn on a dime or as quick as a salesperson responds with a “no problem” when I say thank you as they hand me my bag. He waits in the car and holds his breath. If I’m smiling and nodding my head as I skip out of the business…he relaxes. However, if I come out stomping and rolling my eyes, he reaches toward the glove compartment for the aspirin and earplugs. Thank God, the first visit to Nala’s was a no aspirin kind of day. After all, if they didn’t meet my standards …it’s not as if we have other options.
I walked in and was cautiously relieved. It looked good. Even a little "Old Worldy." I appreciated, but declined the owner’s enthusiastic and warm offer of help. I wanted to wander and take it all in. Wow! Hundreds of cheeses, not to mention the vinegars, pates, truffle oil, crostini, olives, salami, cocktail toasts, olives, capers, Parma Ham, chorizo, jams, nuts, fig cake, cheese tray accoutrements and chocolates. I was impressed.
The husband and wife proprietors, Alan Trick and Linda La Cluyse have managed to do the impossible…create the feeling of being in an old cheese shop in France…while actually being in a strip mall one minute off the highway. The only things missing are the open barrels of pickles, the charming old crumbling walls and the lack of counter space …but open barrels of pickles always creep me out anyway. Nala’s gets almost everything right. The cheeses are perfectly faced in the shallow cases and description cards sit cleverly balanced on little corks…did I mention the wine shop next door? Besides, I’ve been to France and while I loved it…I must admit I was disappointed by the fromageries…they seemed to offer exclusively French cheeses, while Nala’s has cheese from all over the world…and some organics too.
When you make the first visit (and you must), please allow extra time. You will want to study the cheese description cards, read the labels on the fifteen to sixty year old vinegars, accept the samples the owners offer, gently (and I mean gently) handle the fragile Mozzarella di Bufala …marvel at the cranberries in the white Wensleydale cheddar from England and if you have a sweet tooth, you may want to try one of the chocolate truffles in the case on the counter…Oh, and speaking of truffles…they have real ones…the deep earthy black kind…perfect with butter, pasta and perhaps some of their grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
Great care has been put into this new business and the cheese inventory is astonishing! I was delighted to find Quark, a soft easily spreadable goat’s milk cheese with a mild taste. The website is equally impressive and you will lose hours of precious family time as you peruse written descriptions (prices included) of every cheese they offer. My new favorites are the Iberico; this is a cheese made from cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk. It is a hard, oily cheese, yet mild and aromatic. I also love the Belletoile Brie – a triple cream brie from France with seventy percent butterfat. And don’t get me started on the feta. Guess who needs to go back to Weight Watchers? No, don't...you'll hurt my feelings!
On my first visit, I bought three pounds of assorted cheeses. I was back in a few days and I think Alan forgot himself for a moment as he allowed his face to register surprise when I listed off my order for two and half more pounds. He asked me if I was having a party. Oh dear, I had forgotten that maybe five and half pounds of cheese to be consumed by a household of two within less than a week was not a good thing…maybe even something to keep secret! Even as the profiteer of my purchases he seemed concerned, but jovially said, “We want to see you back soon, but not too soon.” Other women would have laughed at his gentle teasing, but I, being a little self-conscious of my overly ripe plumpness, felt my face burn with shame. Oh well, I managed to stay away for three months, but not out of sheer will power. I happened to be out of town almost all of last summer.
I recently ventured in again and was especially flattered when as soon as I came through the door Alan ran from behind the counter to welcome me and treated me like a queen. Linda said I had missed their one-year opening anniversary and they gave me a light canvas bag imprinted with the business name. Perfect for Farmer’s Market! I discussed business with them and promised I would attend a class. They offer classes on cheese (what else?) and for those of us who are not in the know on all there is to know about cheese…these classes could be fun. Want to know differences between goat’s, sheep’s or cow’s milk when it comes to flavor? Which cheeses are best for desserts? Is room temperature cheese really the most flavorful? Sign up!
At Nala’s they make great gift baskets from $20.00 to $155.00 or you can ask them to assemble one with your favorite selections at market price.
When I admitted I sometimes feel like a gourmet defective because I don’t like blue cheese, Alan sliced and wrapped a generous sample of a mild blue for me to take home and try. I cannot say I was sold on the cheese, but I was sold on the customer service. I appreciated the effort.
If you are a blue cheese enthusiast, you will appreciate the various choices. Even if you don’t like blue cheese, you may find yourself fascinated by the story of the Maytag Blue. Fritz Maytag, son of the founder of the appliance company set out to make a great cheese and I’ll take the assurance of the experts that he succeeded. It is enjoyed throughout the world and made just about a mile down the road from the appliance factory at where else…? The Maytag Dairy. Who knew?
I asked where the name Nala’s came from and Alan’s wife laughed and said it was Alan spelled backwards. Oh. It took me a moment to find my own laugh because being a romantic at heart, I had expected to hear a story about his great great grandmother and her little shop in some European country and how the tradition was being carried on, etc. But it matters none in the big picture, because Alan and Linda are on their way to creating their own great tradition. I cannot wait to see how this business develops over the years. Between the inventory and the friendliness of the owners, they are off to a great start.
Nala’s Fromagerie
2633 Development Dr.
Green Bay, WI 54311
Store: 920-347-0334 http://www.nalascheese.com
Mon 10-6 Tue 10-6 Wed 10-6 Thu 10-8 Fri 10-6Sat 10-5 Sun Closed
Early in the relationship, he learned the cheery light energy I have as I venture into a new place could turn on a dime or as quick as a salesperson responds with a “no problem” when I say thank you as they hand me my bag. He waits in the car and holds his breath. If I’m smiling and nodding my head as I skip out of the business…he relaxes. However, if I come out stomping and rolling my eyes, he reaches toward the glove compartment for the aspirin and earplugs. Thank God, the first visit to Nala’s was a no aspirin kind of day. After all, if they didn’t meet my standards …it’s not as if we have other options.
I walked in and was cautiously relieved. It looked good. Even a little "Old Worldy." I appreciated, but declined the owner’s enthusiastic and warm offer of help. I wanted to wander and take it all in. Wow! Hundreds of cheeses, not to mention the vinegars, pates, truffle oil, crostini, olives, salami, cocktail toasts, olives, capers, Parma Ham, chorizo, jams, nuts, fig cake, cheese tray accoutrements and chocolates. I was impressed.
The husband and wife proprietors, Alan Trick and Linda La Cluyse have managed to do the impossible…create the feeling of being in an old cheese shop in France…while actually being in a strip mall one minute off the highway. The only things missing are the open barrels of pickles, the charming old crumbling walls and the lack of counter space …but open barrels of pickles always creep me out anyway. Nala’s gets almost everything right. The cheeses are perfectly faced in the shallow cases and description cards sit cleverly balanced on little corks…did I mention the wine shop next door? Besides, I’ve been to France and while I loved it…I must admit I was disappointed by the fromageries…they seemed to offer exclusively French cheeses, while Nala’s has cheese from all over the world…and some organics too.
When you make the first visit (and you must), please allow extra time. You will want to study the cheese description cards, read the labels on the fifteen to sixty year old vinegars, accept the samples the owners offer, gently (and I mean gently) handle the fragile Mozzarella di Bufala …marvel at the cranberries in the white Wensleydale cheddar from England and if you have a sweet tooth, you may want to try one of the chocolate truffles in the case on the counter…Oh, and speaking of truffles…they have real ones…the deep earthy black kind…perfect with butter, pasta and perhaps some of their grated Parmigiano Reggiano.
Great care has been put into this new business and the cheese inventory is astonishing! I was delighted to find Quark, a soft easily spreadable goat’s milk cheese with a mild taste. The website is equally impressive and you will lose hours of precious family time as you peruse written descriptions (prices included) of every cheese they offer. My new favorites are the Iberico; this is a cheese made from cow’s, goat’s and sheep’s milk. It is a hard, oily cheese, yet mild and aromatic. I also love the Belletoile Brie – a triple cream brie from France with seventy percent butterfat. And don’t get me started on the feta. Guess who needs to go back to Weight Watchers? No, don't...you'll hurt my feelings!
On my first visit, I bought three pounds of assorted cheeses. I was back in a few days and I think Alan forgot himself for a moment as he allowed his face to register surprise when I listed off my order for two and half more pounds. He asked me if I was having a party. Oh dear, I had forgotten that maybe five and half pounds of cheese to be consumed by a household of two within less than a week was not a good thing…maybe even something to keep secret! Even as the profiteer of my purchases he seemed concerned, but jovially said, “We want to see you back soon, but not too soon.” Other women would have laughed at his gentle teasing, but I, being a little self-conscious of my overly ripe plumpness, felt my face burn with shame. Oh well, I managed to stay away for three months, but not out of sheer will power. I happened to be out of town almost all of last summer.
I recently ventured in again and was especially flattered when as soon as I came through the door Alan ran from behind the counter to welcome me and treated me like a queen. Linda said I had missed their one-year opening anniversary and they gave me a light canvas bag imprinted with the business name. Perfect for Farmer’s Market! I discussed business with them and promised I would attend a class. They offer classes on cheese (what else?) and for those of us who are not in the know on all there is to know about cheese…these classes could be fun. Want to know differences between goat’s, sheep’s or cow’s milk when it comes to flavor? Which cheeses are best for desserts? Is room temperature cheese really the most flavorful? Sign up!
At Nala’s they make great gift baskets from $20.00 to $155.00 or you can ask them to assemble one with your favorite selections at market price.
When I admitted I sometimes feel like a gourmet defective because I don’t like blue cheese, Alan sliced and wrapped a generous sample of a mild blue for me to take home and try. I cannot say I was sold on the cheese, but I was sold on the customer service. I appreciated the effort.
If you are a blue cheese enthusiast, you will appreciate the various choices. Even if you don’t like blue cheese, you may find yourself fascinated by the story of the Maytag Blue. Fritz Maytag, son of the founder of the appliance company set out to make a great cheese and I’ll take the assurance of the experts that he succeeded. It is enjoyed throughout the world and made just about a mile down the road from the appliance factory at where else…? The Maytag Dairy. Who knew?
I asked where the name Nala’s came from and Alan’s wife laughed and said it was Alan spelled backwards. Oh. It took me a moment to find my own laugh because being a romantic at heart, I had expected to hear a story about his great great grandmother and her little shop in some European country and how the tradition was being carried on, etc. But it matters none in the big picture, because Alan and Linda are on their way to creating their own great tradition. I cannot wait to see how this business develops over the years. Between the inventory and the friendliness of the owners, they are off to a great start.
Nala’s Fromagerie
2633 Development Dr.
Green Bay, WI 54311
Store: 920-347-0334 http://www.nalascheese.com
Mon 10-6 Tue 10-6 Wed 10-6 Thu 10-8 Fri 10-6Sat 10-5 Sun Closed
* My husband laughed when he read my snobby sounding “Cow Pie” line. He teased, “Oh yeah, like you haven’t eaten ‘Cow Pies’ before? I seem to remember you ate four that day.” I hardly think that was my point. Where I come from, we feel much more sophisticated when we call them “turtles”.
posted by Laura | 2:55 PM
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