Wrap It Up, I'll Take It

Last-minute hostess gift ideas

Comments (0) By Shari Albert Wednesday, May 2 2007

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Cheese Wiz

Rehabilitate your present-giving skills at Reform School. (Photos by Rena Kosnett)

Lotsa� Gouda stuff at the Cheese Store of Silverlake

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In college my friend was in a band called Fake Nun. They wore habits and cross-dressed as full-blown sisters — not strong black women, but the “Brides of Christ” variety. He worked at a gourmet-food shop, in the cheese section. This spawned the song “I Know Way Too Much About Fucking Cheese.” Now all grown up, he’s having hors d’oeuvres at his place. I immediately know what to bring. The Cheese Store of Silverlake is the quintessential one-stop shop for all that is cheese. Jazz music plays softly in the background as you get your dairy on. Britt and Kirsten were so helpful and let me taste as many varieties as I wanted. Owner Chris Pollan’s slogan is “Try before you buy.” You give them your budget and they will make you up a tasting platter to go. Perfect for a picnic, a Dodgers game or to impress your friends. Their custom wicker baskets start at around $35 and you can make it as fancy as you wish; that includes all types of yumminess like their fine olive oils (they call them finishing oils) that are bottled on the premises (Arbequina and Umbria for $20 a bottle). They have truffles, gourmet meats, tubs of aioli, Spanish white anchovies called boquerones and olives — Persian, Mediterranean and their own special spicy house blend. You may include wine, which they also sell. There’s a section dedicated to local delicacies from Chris’ home state, Rhode Island. This place is a cornucopia of treats for the advanced palate, as well as the beginner. My mouth watered over the caramels by Little Flower, a local candy maker. For two bucks they’ll wrap up whatever you want in a sweet wicker basket. You may want to include a cheese planer or spreader for $2.99 and a handmade card by a local artist. I went home with a triumvirate of a French Gruyère style called Le Marechal, Umbriaco from Italy and Mimolette from France. Also, I can’t leave any cheese shop without some aged Gouda. Just call me the cheese wiz. 3926-28 Sunset Blvd., Silver Lake, (323) 644-7511. Mon., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6:45 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.?