This place has really gone downhill. I always go because it's in Brooklyn, they have a good selection, and even though it's expensive, I'm willing to pay the prices. \r
Today I went in and even with 5 employees behind the counter, no-one acknowledged me. One employee finally interrupts another's inane story about a cat that was on his windowsill last night, to see if I needed anything. I explained that me and my boyfriend were opening a bottle of French wine that we were excited about, and that I wanted small amounts of 4-5 different kinds of French cheese to go with it. It still remains unclear to me whether or not the employee had any serious cheese knowledge. She just handed me stuff to try with little explanation or comment, and a disinterested look on her face. By the time we got to the 3rd one, she asks if I want around 1/4 lb. I say ""actually, maybe a little less"". She snidely and shortly remarks that ""a 1/4 is as small as she can go"". She then rings me up, and doesn't respond when I say thanks. \r
If I go to a shop that specializes in cheeses, I want the person helping me to be someone who's worked in cheese for a long time, who knows their stuff, and mainly someone who is professional. Not some hipster with a food blog. \r
My other main complaint is why does an artisenal cheese shop have a minimum of 1/4lb? Wouldn't this be the place you would go to get lots of different kinds of cheese for a tasting-type situation? I think if I'm paying $30/lb, they could go down to 1/8lb, no? \r
I ended up spending $20 on 3 kinds, realizing on the way home that if we ended up eating 3/4lbs of cheese in one sitting, we would probably get sick. I think next time, I'll go into Manhattan for cheese.
Pros: the actual cheese
Cons: everything else
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