Cheese and all its’ naughty accoutrements, should be the backbone of every lingering house party afternoon, as there is nothing more delicious or decadent. Jim Ayers is the cheese monger at Sunshine Foods Market and runs the best cheese program in Napa Valley, in my opinion. He/ they carry the most perfect and edited assortments of cheeses, olives, crackers, grissini, wafers, jellies, spreads– and is a dreamy resource. The cheese department is mainly self serve, but Jim is there, super-informed + always offering reliable and intriguing suggestions. Sunshine is also known for their beautifully curated specialty items such as breads, olive oils and unusually good salts– another sublime addition to the cheese plate! And their wine department is really extraordinary.
Below, Jim answers the questions I typically pester him about…
Top 7 must-have cheeses (aka crowd pleasers): Goats Leap Hyku, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Guffanti Dolce Latte Gorgonzola, Ossau-Iraty, Andant Dairy Minuet, Epoisses, Vacherin Mont d’Or.
Favorite stinky cheese: Ami du Chambertin with my homemade hard cider on the porch.
Best accompaniments: Marcona almonds with the skin on, honey, Saba, olives.
Favorite olives: No wimpy ones! Mt. Pelion (meaty full flavor) Gaeta (nuance of chocolate and nuts) Mezzetta Sicilian cracked 10 oz Jar (oregano and chili and lactic acid).
Favorite crackers/grissini: Ryvita. The local Pane e Vino grissini (crack in a can).
Favorite Burrata: I don’t eat it, got burned out in ’06. Best value is Gioia from down south, Italian is the real deal, yet very perishable.
Favorite baguette: Acme Bread Company, sweet baguette
Favorite Olive Oil: Dauro a Catalan Olive oil with 3 types of olives : Arbequina, Hogiblanco and Koronciki. This oil offers a great value and sublime flavor. Drizzle on grilled fish.
Favorite Prosciutto: I buy this 18 month parma ham from a guy named Franco. I really don’t know the actual brand, however the flavors are at first salt and sweetness, followed with some nuttiness and melting in your mouth goodness.
Favorite Salame: Fra Mani Toscano: lightly spiced coarse grind 100% porky wonder. Salumeria Biellese soppresatta piccante: Berkshire pork, corse grind with just a hint of heat . NY finest.
What are the usual cheeses French Laundry offer in their cheese plate? Beaufort, Cavatina (Andante Dairy) Epoisses, Comte’, Vacherin du Haut-Doubs. Just a guess, call’em up.
Favorite wine: Free. I prefer whites to red. I also enjoy British and Belgian ales… and can’t do without some good ol’ Czech Pils.
{photo credit: nicole mcintosh bruce}
