Food Finds - Star Provisions’ pimento cheese
The thing that makes this pimento cheese different is the sharp cheddar, Parmesan and Pecorino Romano cheeses he uses.
Star Provisions’ cheese monger, Tim Gaddis, has built a loyal Atlanta following, and for good reason: The man knows cheese. A graduate of New York’s French Culinary Institute, Gaddis has devoted himself to all things cheese. His passion is infectious. He listens to his customers and tweaks his assortment accordingly. His newest offering may be his most brilliant yet.
Gourmet pimento cheese may seem like an oxymoron, but if you’re going to get it anywhere, Star Provisions is the place. Gaddis’ method isn’t groundbreaking. He sticks to a basic recipe of cheese, pimentos, cayenne pepper and mayonnaise. The thing that makes his pimento cheese different, of course, is the cheese he uses. The base is primarily sharp cheddar such as Grafton cheddar, Prairie Breeze or Widmer’s cheddar. To up the ante, Gaddis mixes in Gruyère, Parmesan, and Pecorino Romano left over from the drool-worthy hunks of cheese that grace the shelves of Star Provisions’ cooler. He’s tried using funkier cheeses, but the response wasn’t as positive as it is to his current recipe.
The pimento cheese retails for $10 per pound, which may seem pricey. However, the quality and robust flavor of Gaddis’ creation means a little goes a long way.