Happy Anniversary!

Last night was the first of what I imagine will be  many milestones for the Chelsea Market location of Lucy’s Whey.  One year and counting at one of the busiest food-centric marketplaces in NYC.  After a successful year contributing to the marketplace, the shop wanted to host an open house as a “thank you” to all of the customers and locals of the area that have welcomed the shop into their fold.

My wife and I arrived at the shop to see a frenzy of activity as customers and industry invitees alike were celebrating the successful American cheese shop while enjoying samples of honey from the Bee’s Needs, pickles from McClure’s Pickles, a baguette and cheese pairing with mustard from My Best Friend’s Mustard, local beer from Six Point and wine from Wölffer Estate .  Oh….there may have been some cheese to sample as well.  As my fellow staff members were passing out our signature toasted cheese sandwiches with Prairie Breeze Cheddar and fig jam, others were walking around with wedges of all the staff favorites to sample, taste and enjoy.

As I was there mingling with various people attending who had some connection through the cheese industry or food blogosphere, I finally had a chance to meet with several people who I had previously only met with Twitter. Carlos Yescas from “Lactography” and Liza de Guia from “Food Curated“, whose interesting and insightful blogs I regularly follow, were there to join in the celebration.  It is always nice to put actual faces with the names and expand upon our previous conversations of 140 characters.  As you can see, this party brought out the people from all walks of life to celebrate and enjoy.  I even got a chance to learn a bit about cheese adjudication (e.g. is it acceptable or gauche to spit?).

Lucy Kazickas, the owner and namesake from which the store’s name is derived, gave a brief and thankful toast to everyone involved with the success of the store.  Special mention was made for Amy Thompson (pictured right), the manager of the store who, as Lucy explained, was asked to take a bare space and open up a brand new cheese shop within 3 weeks.  For those of you who have had the chance to pass by, you can see that she has done a remarkable job.  For those of you who have not, what are you waiting for?