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Categories: Cooking Schools, Cheese Shops [Edit]
845 Laguna Canyon RdMon-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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Ahhh. Sitting on a patio, enjoying the sunshine, sipping on some wine, munching on gourmet cheese. Yep. Just a typical January afternoon in Laguna Beach. Oh, did I mention I only spent $5 on wine. Damn right, that's how I roll. $5 for eight 2oz glasses of wine. Right here in South county of all places. I can't believe it.
There were some quality wines too. And, would you believe it - there was actually a really cool crowd there (I mean, other than me and the fine yelpers I was with). As you know by now, I'm no foodie, or winerd, or cheese geek...but I enjoy all things highly caloric and alcoholic. Laguna Culinary Arts has me satisfied on both fronts.
Service was great too, with a mix of young students waiting tables and other folks (professors?) running the wine counter. The downside is, now there are too many things I want to go back for. Their mac n' cheese where you get to pick any three cheeses to go into the mac. Oh, and their Friday night happy hours with a food buffet. Looks like I'm going to be spending a lot of time in Laguna in the very near future.
I have been here twice. The first time I came on a Thursday to do the cheese & wine tasting. I was presented a plate of cheeses that were all the "end cuts" and were mostly rind. I asked the girl if the rind was suppose to be eaten on these cheeses and she told me I could, but it wouldn't taste very good. She asked if I wanted her to take off the rind, I said yes. She returned with the plate with all the rinds removed and all the cheeses were now the size of my pinkie fingernail. I burst out laughing thinking she couldn't possible serve me these miniscule pieces, but she did.
I believe every place deserves a second chance so I went back recently, but the services was even worse. The worse part, the owner was there completely oblivious.
The sad thing is they have good cheeses and meats and especially pates. However, I just don't think I can ever bring myself to go back here again, they do not deserve my business, no matter how good their product is.
I sign up for a wine and cheese event that they were doing and at first I got alittle lose because it was so dark in the canyon plus the cheese/wine shop was out of sight. When we finally walk in, it was full of people enjoy their wine and eating cheese. The evinronment was very fun plus the people are super friendly. I did enjoy drinking the wine but it wasn't nothing great but who am i to say no to wine LOL
The cheese was good but I have most of the cheese before somewhere else. Personally I did enjoy it but it nothing special but the people are very friendly.
So much love for this place. Came here for lunch and some cheese after the Sawdust Festival and had an all around good experience. I was incredibly impressed with the helpful, friendly and informed staff. The girl at the counter helped me pick out a great cheese for later that night that was a big hit with my family. For lunch I had a turkey sandwich and did not shut up about the honey wheat bread it was served on for the rest of the day. Can't wait to go back to try more cheeses and go wine tasting.
As a sign of appreciation of years of corporate servitude, 2 of my co-workders and I were treated to a cooking class at this here culinary arts establishment slash cheese shop slash wine shop. Eight others of my work peeps also got to take part as well.
Located just before Laguna Canyon Road hits the ocean, we entered what appeared to be a cheese shop just as you walk in, with a dining table upon which a tray of gourmet cheeses, bread, and wines were placed for us to start on. To the left was a room/office full of wines and a long table where we were going to eat our meal. In the back was the kitchen where "stations" were set up with the recipe for each menu course. I chose the dessert station because that's where the alcohol was.
Little did I realize that I had chosen probably the most nerve-wracking dessert recipe....chocolate souffle. I had one co-worker shaking her finger at me..."If you fuck that up...." Our other courses included a cauliflower soup, roasted cornish hens in a pinot noir glaze, and a butternut squash casserole. My boss and her assistant got to pick the recipes from a set list.
Prior to cooking, we were instructed on kitchen safety and hygiene. We were also given tips on how to use the kitchen knives and to not do what you see Rachel Ray doing on t.v.
Now, the whole idea seemed fun, but it wasn't as much of a learning experience as I expected it would be. Here's where my youthful looks worked against me. One of the chefs questioned my age as far as alcohol consumption was concerned but then she proceeded to bark at me the entire time like she was teaching a 5 y/o. I let her do it cuz I knew exactly why she was doing it. But this particular chef was losing her cool in the kitchen with my other co-worker as well, explaining very little and eventually just taking over on some things.
I felt like she was just rushing through some of the processes like she felt that we really didn't want to learn anything and that we were there strictly for partying it up. I asked her a couple questions, one about what kind of consistency I should be going for for the souffle sauce and another about how to work the electric mixer. She did not answer either of my questions.
On the plus side, I really enjoyed the cheese selection and the guy and girl who helped us with the cheeses were really informative and seemed to know their stuff. The other chef who was helping out in the kitchen gave us useful advice on chef quality cutlery and how much truffle oil can enhance one's life.
It was an okay experience but maybe because there were 12 of us we were too much for our barking chef to handle. Eh, it is one with which I can use to infuse humor into holiday conversation.
what a find! this place is so amazing, but it's tucked in the far corner of a plaza, and the name doesn't even sound like somewhere you can come eat. it sounds like a cooking school. anyway, we came here to do wine and cheese tasting, and boy did we get to try some delicious treats. they have this cheese called barely buzzed. it's hit or miss, but i freakin love it! it's a mild cheddar soaked in espresso rind and lavender. amazing! the staff is super friendly, and very knowledgeable, so if you're like me, you can walk in not knowing much about cheese, then leave knowing a thing or two! they also have some cute cheese accessories for sale. i bought a cheese serving tray that was actually a flattened wine bottle with gold grapes and vines drawn on it. what a way to display your cheese, and be eco-friendly at the same time!
I have been looking for a good cheese shop in the OC... and here is the best one! They have a large selection... and anything you can't get here, just head down to Whole Foods Market (about 1-2 miles away). My only complaint, is the service.... not too friendly and not at all in a rush to greet or help you.
I came here for the $5 wine tasting event and I had a blast. It's always nice to sit outside on a nice sunny Saturday afternoon with some Yelpers and a glass or 8 of wine. It was a lot of fun and the staff here treated us great. Very nice and helpful. They were really busy, a lot of people showed up for the wine tasting but we got our wines in a timely manner and I even bought a chunk of cheese. I've never liked cheese and I ended up buying some along with a couple bottles of wine. Money (kinda) well spent and a happy afternoon. Will return.
I was thoroughly impressed with this shop. Their cheese selection is outta control & their sandwiches are delicious. The bread had the perfect texture and the ingredients were fresh and well chosen.
The adjoining wine shop was small but the wines were chosen with care & priced reasonably. My group did a tasting - 8 wines for $5. All 8 were tasty, interesting and served by a very knowledgeable sommelier. A solid 5 stars!
I took wine and spirits certification course here some time ago, not because I want to become a sommelier but because I wanted to educate myself about wine. I mean, if I'm going to pay to drink it, I might as well figure out which ones would be best to order, right? And you can read about it all you want but you actually have to taste and compare to gain an understanding about wine. So I signed up for the class they offer here and I have to say it was money well spent.
The class met once a week for 8 weeks and covered all different kinds of wines and spirits from all parts of the world and helped you to achieve a systematic approach to tasting, service and storage, as well as food pairings. It was awesome to be able to taste so many different kinds of wines you usually wouldn't buy on your own and I had a great time tasting everything with a great wine buzz (I didn't have the heart to spit out the wines after tasting them.. I know, I know... but they were so good!). Sometimes they would pair the wines with cheeses and breads from the shop on site and we'd make a meal out of it.
The class was very pricey ($600) but well worth it. The price covers all the wines and textbooks for the course and you have the option of taking a certification exam at the end which I believe will cost you an extra $150. the instructor was very in tune with the class and very approachable. I can honestly say I walked away with a plethora of knowledge regarding wine and spirits and can confidently order wines when I dine out because of everything I learned.
Very nice cheese selection.
Nice small wine selection.
Great place for a wine, cheese, bread and charcuterie lunch.
James, the cheese buyer is a major stud - if you are buying a lot of cheese see if he is there.
I love this place! Here's the best part - the last Saturday of every month they have a wine tasting for $5. It's not a skimpy taste either - you actually get 8 1 oz pours. We enjoyed our wine in the "cellar" where it was a tad cooler than the cafe. We also spent way too much on a cheese platter, but man was that good cheese! We picked three that sounded interesting and before we knew it we had an artist's palate-shaped plate of goat cheeses. I highly recommend all three - the drunken goat: firm and creamy, purple haze: soft with lavender sprinkled throughout, and truffle tremor, and yes, it's just as amazing as it sounds. The golden raisins it came with were the most plump I've ever had. This was truly a great find!
There classes are AMAZING. Haven't checked out the wine tasting yet but I cannot recommend their classes enough. I have taken three and every single time I walk out of there feeling like a professional. The classes are really small and so lots of individual attention which is always nice.
At the end the class sits together and eats the meal y'all just made which is great because I have yet to have a bad meal there.
Their lessons aren't cheap ($90 per person) but invaluable and the best yet. Oh and did I mention that you don't have to do dishes while in the class.... FABULOUS!!!
The wine tasting alone is definitely something worth savoring and coming back for time and time again!
Yup, this place rocks.
Great lunch specials in the cafe -- sign up for their weekly email to learn about them in advance. This week was a free dessert with purchase of a special, so I got teriyaki chicken with ginger rice and a cute little carrot cake for like $8 -- unheard-of in Laguna restaurants.
Cute ambiance, AMAZING cheese selection for OC. Feels like Marin.
I went to the Friday happy hour wine tasting a few weeks ago. This is insane on several levels:
1) It is a MAD HOUSE
2) It's only $11 bucks, you get cheese, 5 or so tastings, a full glass of wine and food from a buffet.
3) Did I mention it's a MAD HOUSE? It's so damn packed it makes the experience really frustrating but it would otherwise be so cool.
I got there at about 6:30, half of the food was gone. :( I ended up getting some of what was left though-- some kind of veggie and sausage type stew. It was ok. I expected a little more because i was at a culinary school, honestly I could have made this at home, BUT I was trying to bear in mind it came off of a buffet and I was only forking over $11.
I think they have cheese out when you get there-- but again since I got there at 6:30 it was all gone. My girl wanted some to go with our wine that we were tasting, so I went up to the counter prepared to buy a cheese place. The really sweet girl at the cash stand knew I got there late and then offered to make me one-- ON THE HOUSE. Wow. That is service. Here I was moping around because we were here late and didn't get stuff and now she is going to make me my own. She asked me what kind of cheses I wanted and I told her to pick because i would pick something lame like a parmesean or chedder. She ended up picking some real yummy ones and garnished my plate with olives and grapes. Sweet.
The only reason I'm really giving this four stars is because it's way too crowded-- nor really the schools fault (or is it for them not providing more outdoor seating?). But really cool experience on the cheap. Just get there early.
I can only critique the cooking classes which weren't worth the money but that was due mainly in part to my instructor, Analisa Albert. She definitely ruined the experience for me due to her lack of patience and rude attitude. She may be a good cook but that doesn't mean she's a good teacher. I think I learned more from her assistant/dishwasher. I'm sure all, or at least most, of the other teachers are fabulous, though.
Great idea for adventure date... if you want a quiet time, don't go on a Thursday/Friday when they have their specials. Cheeses from all over the world, olives, charcuterie, imported oils and vinegars, breads, crackers and most importantly WINE. Their selection is very eclectic and moderately priced. The best part is if you buy it there, you can enjoy a $15-$25 bottle without paying a corkage fee.
CHEESE WAS AMAZING!... whether you're a fan or not... something about cheese from around the world, crackers/bread, olives, and a bottle by your side is heaven. Great to unwind after work, quick lunch, or a Thursday/Friday hangout.
Thursday nights- Are better if you like it "less chaotic" and don't care too much for dinner. Wine and cheese parings (2 wines and 3 cheeses with bread, crostini and assorted olives) You should definitely make reservations for this. Starts 5:30 to 7pm...
Friday starting 5pm is Happy Hour. $11 gets you a wine tasting of typically 4-5 wines and a choice of one in a glass. They have assorted cheese (till it runs out) and a prepared meal (differs every week). If you're a cheese fan, get there early for the free cheese. If you want a seat, get there early.
If you miss the cheese, BUY the assorted $13?? plate. You won't be sorry!...
If you finish the glass of wine, heck buy a $15-$25 bottle for the group!
Great wine, Great Cheese, and VERY FRIENDLY service. Everyone should try this place at least once!
I am a huge fan of the cheese shop. I want to go at least once a day because I crave a baguette with cheese and proscuitto. The midnight moon is great on mac and cheese which I actually got there and it tasted amazing, but it's also great to snack on. Everytime I go, I get the St. Andre. It's rich and creamy and it's perfect on their fresh baguettes. I walked around their wine shop and the prices were very reasonable and a friend of mine loves the Zolo wine from Argentina. She went back and bought a case and the price was such a steal as well! You need to go here!
Laguna Culinary Arts had their "2nd Annual Taste of LCA" on May 3, 2008 which was well attended. Kind of a unique Laguna deal with 14 stations set up inside their facility for a tasting plate prepared by their current students. They sold a packet of 6 tickets for $35 with each ticket for either a glass of wine or a food tasting. They provided decent wine and generous pours. The tasting included shrimp bisque, sauted artichoke heart, lamb chops, swordfish, halibut, pork medallions, Spanish tapas, Italian tapas, cheese mixture, desert, and maki-sushi. It was fun and a good chance to mix with other foodies. Neat place with a cafe and as noted by others, great cheese selection. Cheers!
Brilliant! If you love cheese (and you know I do) then this place is hard to beat... The cheese selection is monsterous, and the staff is knowledgable and superfriendly... You can taste a bit of the cheeses (they had one with espresso on the outside) to find one you'd like for a cheese plate. The cheese plate comes w/ 3 and all the fixings for a very reasonable price...plus the size of the cheese taste is big! We came on Saturday at lunch, not to crowded at all... We have been for other events and the place is popular. Anyway, attached wine shop is reasonable and well stocked w/ some gems to pair with your cheese or sandwich. It's a great stop before venturing off to dinner in the area, or simply to buy some cheeses to take home to impress your friends ;)
This place be totally boss. They sell a wide variety of cheese and fancy party foods and they just opened up a wine cellar next door. I go here for lunch 9 times out of 10 and im rarely disappointed, they almost always have some sort of special dish or tasty cookie or pastry for me to try. The staff is made up of kids i go to art school with so once in a while ill get something nice for free, but you're more likely to leave with a smile on your face from the great service they dish out.
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