Opened four years ago around the corner from the NHK building, Shibuya's Cheese Stand has proved a hit in the neighbourhood. In fact, it's apparently doing so well that the fromage fiends behind this local favourite have been able to plot an expansion: opened on December 6 near Yoyogi-Koen Station, & Cheese Stand is their second shop and offers more of the same – cheese in a variety of forms, that is – plus a little something extra.
Unlike the original shop, which has an eat-in space, & Cheese Stand functions more as a simple takeaway joint. Centred around an in-store workshop, which takes up about 80 percent of the space and churns out four different types of fresh cheese daily – the simply named Fresh Mozzarella, Fresh Ricotta, Caciocavallo and Tokyo Burrata – '&' doesn't boast a huge selection but offers excellent quality.
No compromises are made here when it comes to the freshness of the ingredients: they only use milk milked in Tokyo during the previous 24 hours. The cheese craftspeople even make sure to source only from nearby farms, mainly found out west in areas like Kiyose and Higashi-Kurume, and promise that no leftover milk will be used in the next day's cheese. Wastefulness or real dedication? We'll let you be the judge.
Although the intense focus on freshness doesn't differ from the attitude on display at the original Shibuya Cheese Stand, what sets this joint apart is the '&' concept: those looking to complement their formaggio with a little something will find goodies ranging from seasonings to books on the topic.
Mozzarella, for example, is often said to go well with a bit of salt – enter their flaky salt from Malta or salt with a hint of lemon. And even if you somehow end up at the shop without actually wanting any cheese, they've got you covered with a range of other edibles and ingredients such as high-quality olive oil, honey and jam. All in all, it's a good opportunity to mix and match your cheese accompaniments.
For those who absolutely need their wine with their cheese, & Cheese Stand offers an evolving selection of San Salvatore whites, reds and rosés, as well as sparkling wine (bottles vary by season). The exact booze lineup is set to change once every while, but currently also includes a beer that goes rather well with mozzarella. Further food additions are set to come in the form of paninis and other cheesy sandwiches – should be great for an impromptu picnic in Yoyogi Park, we think.
See full details for & Cheese Stand here