DRINKS WITH CHEESE 202 3 culturecheesemag.com 61
RETAILER DIRECTORY
T H E C O R N E R C O U N T E R
Lauren Cunningham-Housman, owner
After seven years of planning, Lauren Cunningham-
Housman's dream of opening her own cheese shop finally
became a reality. This past April, Cunningham-Housman
opened the Corner Counter in the small village of Red Hook,
New York Her journey to cheese has been winding; after
working in finance for a decade, she quit her job to pursue
her passion for food—specifically cheese. She worked in
the caves at Murray's Cheese, learning the art of affinage,
and then behind the counter and in the office, all the while
envisioning having a shop.
The pandemic gave her the time she needed to hatch her
plan: "I was stuck at home with two kids and started working
on a business plan. We went upstate and did recon for where
to open a shop, stumbled upon Red Hook, and decided it
was the right place to raise our family." Her goal was to find
a community she could support and "create a place where
the people can gather and that feels like an extension of
home." With a cut-to-order cheese counter, made-to-order
sandwiches, grab-and-go dinner options, and a wine bar, the
Corner Counter offers much more than just cheese. "It fills a
need in the community," Lauren affirms.
1. Which cheese are you most excited about right now?
Why? Spring Brook Farm Cheese Tarentaise. We recently
brought this cheese into the shop. I hadn't tasted it in a few
years, and I forgot how complex and delicious it is. It's so
versatile for pairing and cooking with.
2. Favorite summer cheese and beverage pairing? A
burrata dish and a sparkling rosé or a crisp, mineral-driven
white. Perfectly light and refreshing.
3. Favorite winter cheese and beverage pairing? In the
winter, I'm a big fan of a good stout paired with a spoonable
cheese like Uplands Cheese Rush Creek Reserve or Jasper
Hill Farm Winnimere.
1 E Market Street, Red Hook, N.Y. 12571
cornercounter.com
www.caputocheese.com
Melrose Park, IL
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