Portland Restaurant: Chizu

What: Chizu
Where: 1126 SW Alder
Honeys Heart: Cheese Omakase

I've been a big fan of Cheese Bar since Doug and I first visited a few years ago. Cheese Bar is owned by beloved Portland cheesemonger Steve Jones, so we always feel like we're in good hands there. The only problem? Cheese Bar is way out on SE 60th and Belmont- quite the trek for us NW folks.

That's why we were so happy to hear that Steve was opening a sister shop to Cheese Bar right next to Multnomah Whiskey Library.

We stopped by Chizu last week after our Portland Dining Month dinner at Departure (yeah we're fatties, don't judge!) and while there were definitely some newly-opened kinks to work out, we were mostly impressed with Steve's new Japanese-inspired spot.

Chizu's menu features about 30 different cheeses as well as other snacks, beer, wine, and sake. You can order your cheese a la carte (1 oz portions run $3-$6) or opt for the omakase.

With the omakase option, you choose how much you want to spend (we went with $20), and the Chizu staff will put together a plate based on your preferences. We told them that we weren't afraid of stinky cheeses and they nailed it. We ended up was a varied selection of cheeses that were all delicious, with plenty of crostinis, dried berries, and nuts too. Just don't ask me what the cheeses were because I don't remember.

As far as those little kinks, I think they'll figure them out as they get a little more experience. When we walked in, the music was so low that the place was practically silent- not the most inviting atmosphere to walk into. The door to Multnomah Whiskey Library also bangs pretty loudly when people go in and out and it echos through Chizu, especially with that music so low, so that's something they might want to remedy too.

But overall, we'll be back! I'm thinking a cheese omakase plate from Chizu followed by a few small plates at Clyde Common and then a nightcap at Kask would basically be my ideal night. Doug? Kelly? Anybody down?

Portland Restaurant: Cheese & Crack Snack Shop

What: Cheese & Crack Snack Shop

Where: 22 SE 28th Ave

When: 10 AM - 10 PM Everyday

Honeys Heart: Cheese (duh)

It's no secret that Katie and I love cheese, so even though we sometimes make attempts to be healthy or cook to save money, we're not about to give up our girls nights completely- especially when there's cheese to be had. Cheese & Crack was at the top of our list once we decided to treat ourselves and believe me, it didn't take long. 

The small, simple snack shop is just down the street from Paadee, one of my other SE 28th favorites, and seats about 20. You order at the counter and after a glance at the menu, we realized it would be best to get some thoughts from the experts.

Per our server's recommendation, we went for the kitchen favorite of La Maripos "Chubut" & Cana De Oveja ($10) with honey glazed peaches and two glasses of the House Rose ($6).

The plate/tray was perfectly laid out with generous portions of the two cheeses, shortbread style cookies, herb salted crackers, bread, honey, salted chocolate ganache, cornichons, olives, honey glazed peaches, and mustard. We added Molinari Salami ($2) to our super adorable arrangement and proceeded to create delicious bites with multiple combinations of the plate's offerings. 

So cute and the best part, so affordable- which means we can return (often)!

After finishing off our cheese plate, we weren't still starving, but we weren't ready to call it a night either. Since we were already there and we love ourselves some mac, we also ordered the Macaroni & Mornay ($8) made of trofie pasta with a side green salad. We're always planning a "Best Mac in Portland" post (wait for it), so this seemed like a necessary choice.

The pasta was really unique with a texture more like spatzle or dumplings versus a traditional noodle, and though initially the portion seemed small, it was rich and garlicky and probably just the right amount.

The house white was the recommended pair to this pasta, but we mostly drink red and so we went for the House Red ($5) instead. 

It's awesome to have a place to get snack-style food for a reasonable price. And bonus: they have a happy hour from 4-6pm and the last hour before closing! With the purchase of a beverage, you can get any of these delicious snacks for between $3 and $5: Mini Snack Cheese Plate, Nachos, Mornay Fondue, Macaroni & Mornay, Sandwich. Yeah, we're definitely going to have to hit that up.

New York Restaurant: Murray's Cheese Bar

What: Murray's Cheese 

When: Mon-Sat 8am-8pm, Sunday 9am-7pm

Where: 254 Bleecker St

Honeys Heart: Cambozola Black Blue Cheese & Maple Cream

Friday after my data center event had wrapped, and Sarah was done at NYU, we met up, planning to head north to the American Folk Art Museum. Sarah however, had a detour in mind, and I am glad she did! 

She has been meaning to hit up Murray's Cheese Bar for a beer ice cream float since last summer and it was time to make it happen (it isn't everyday that I'm in NYC and Sarah has a Summer Friday at work!). We weren't aware that Murray's Cheese and Murray's Cheese Bar have separate entrances, so we wondered around the shop on Bleecker Street first. Like all excellent specialty stores, there were samples and we were able to try a few pieces of the cambozola black blue cheese with a maple cream. The blue cheese was subtle and the pairing was perfect. And the best part, it was very well priced! The nice gentlemen (and by nice I mean the most incredible cheese sample dispenser ever who let us have unlimited tastes of cheese and maple cream!) manning the samples let us know that Murray's has the best pricing he's seen for this cheese; better than Whole Foods and Fairway. 

What: Murray's Cheese Bar 
When: Weekend Brunch 10am-5pm, Tues-Fri Lunch 12-5pm, Sun-Tues Dinner 5-10pm, Wed-Sat Dinner 5-12am

Where: 264 Bleecker St (between Leroy and Morton) New York

Honeys Heart: Mac & Cheese

After a satisfying detour we headed three doors down to Murray's Cheese Bar 3 and sat at the bar.

Sarah ordered the Beer Float ($15) with a craft stout and Murray's homemade cheese ice cream. The ricotta-esque flavor of the ice cream melted into the beer making a creamy beer-shake-like delight. Chocolaty, creamy and ever so alcoholic. Worth the wait? Yes. Worth $15? It was a little pricey, but it's a treat, not an every day drink.

I hadn't had lunch and also I was at a cheese bar with Mac & Cheese ($12) on the menu so clearly I had to order it. 

I love mac and cheese. It is a total comfort food that reminds me of childhood forts, great nights with close friends, and I simply love cheese- so melted cheese on carbs? Yes. Not the healthiest I'll admit, but so good. But sometimes it misses the mark. It's either not hot enough, not great cheese, not smooth, or over "fancified," and I end up ultimately disappointed. Not at Murray's. 

The cheese was "piping hot" and so creamy (I have no other words to describe cheese apparently.) They gave us forks but the dish also came with a spoon to scoop up the melted cheese that oozed between the noodles. On top were breadcrumbs and some cheese that had become crispy on the edges. Equally as awesome as the melted cheese beneath. 

This will be a hard one to beat.