Friday Find :: NYC {Bargain Cheese "Odds and Ends" at Zabars}
This frugal friday find is for all the bargain hunters with good taste buds out there. A while back I discovered the bargain baskets full of small pieces of gourmet cheese from behind the counter at Zabars. The bags are labeled "Odds And Ends" because odd shaped pieces of pricey cheese typically sold for $12-30/lb. are wrapped up and sold for bargain prices of $2-3/lb. Whole Foods and several other gourmet markets with high-end cheese counters sell smaller end pieces at a discount, but I have only seen the large bags of "Odds and Ends" at Zabars. I like to use the bargain "Odds And Ends" cheese to make Smokey Carrot Mac and Cheese or to give any other mac and cheese recipe a sophisticated flavor. I also add shredded "Odds And Ends" in my Crustless Spinach Quiche. Other ways to use those bargain bits of gourmet cheese - for grilled cheese, fondu, casseroles, enchiladas, frittatas, omelets and lasagna.
Sometimes I'll find delicious larger pieces of cheese in the bag of "Odds And Ends" that can be served with wine and crackers for two. For the really small pieces, I like to bust out the food process, add in the grater disk and shoot the small pieces down the feeder for a quick shredded mountain of cheese. Know of any other stores that have a great bargain basket? Share in the comments.