Mongers:
The Big Cheese
The Big Cheese at 402 Main Street in Rosendale, (845) 658-7175. Owned by Lisa and Yuval Stere, this funky spot has hundreds of cheeses to choose from, representing France, Greece, Italy, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, the Hudson Valley and then some. Try the Piave, an aged cow’s-milk cheese from Italy that resembles Parmigiano Reggiano. A café up front and thrift store in the back make for an eclectic experience. Lots of samples, super-friendly staff, good prices.
The Cheese Barrel
The Cheese Barrel at 798 Main Street in Margaretville, (845) 586-4666, https://cheesebarrel.com. The Cheese Barrel is a bright and airy gourmet foods store specializing in cheeses from around the world. Its case is packed with goat gouda, St. Andre, stilton, manchego, bleu cheese and brie: something for everybody. A café serves breakfast and light lunch fare: sandwiches, baked goods, homemade soups, salads.
Cheese Louise
Cheese Louise at 940 Route 28 in Kingston, (845) 853-8207, https://cheeselouise-ny.com. Opened in 2010, Cheese Louise specializes in domestic and imported cheeses, nitrite-free salamis, sausages, crackers, caviar and other finest-quality foodstuffs. Owners Rick Regan and Sam McDevitt recently forged a new relationship with an exclusive importer of French cheeses; and Cheese Louise will soon stock some hard-to-find select cheeses from small-production farms. Who needs to take the train to Zabar’s? Not you.
The Cheese Plate
The Cheese Plate at 10 Main Street, #302, in New Paltz, (845) 255-2444, https://cheeseplatenewpaltz.com. A great all-around cheese shop with soothing ambiance. If you’re up for a splurge, try the addicting Challerhocker, a small-batch cheese from Switzerland whose rind features portraits of the cheesemaker’s children. Its name means “cellar sitter,” but it tastes like it was beamed down from Heaven: hazelnutty, slightly fruity, a touch sweet.
