Last week I was invited to a blogger event for the unveiling of NYC’s famous Murray’s Cheese at the newly renovated Burlingame Fred Meyer. Murray’s Cheese, in business since 1940, is the oldest cheese shop in New York City and has been hailed as “The World’s Best Cheese Shop” by Forbes.com. At the event we got to sample some delicious cheeses and learn about Murray’s Cheese and what they have to offer customers — with them it’s all about amazing cheeses and excellent customer service!

In an exclusive partnership between Murray’s Cheese and Kroger (Fred Meyer’s parent company), Murray’s Cheese is opening outposts in three Portland Fred Meyer stores, as well as other Kroger stores across the country. The Burlingame Fred Meyer location is the first in Oregon (Hawthorne and Hollywood FM locations will open later in the summer). 

Each Murray’s Cheese counter features locally-made cheeses (in our case it’s Rogue Creamery, Tumalo Farms, Tillamook, and River’s Edge Chèvre), as well as those made from other parts of the world…over 175 cheeses plus gourmet crackers, olives, antipasti and other cheese-friendly delights. Amy Pitzer, the resident Murray’s Cheese expert at the Burlingame Fred Meyer, will educate, offer samples (“Try Before You Buy”), and recommend great pairings. Regular “Meet Your Local Cheesemaker” events are also scheduled (click here for details). Also, don’t miss the FREE Grand Opening Cheese, Wine & Beer tasting event this Friday, June 8 from 5-8pm. If you love cheese, you’ll definitely want to swing by!!! The Burlingame Fred Meyer is located at 7555 SW Barbur Blvd., Portland.

Tags: Burlingame Fred Meyer, cheese, Fred Meyer, gourmet cheese, local cheese tastings, Murray's Cheese, Murray's Cheese shop, Northwest cheese, Oregon cheese, Pacific Northwest cheese, Portland cheese tastings, River's Edge Chevre, Rogue Creamery, Tillamook Cheese, Tumalo Farms

This recipe is a great updated version of a classic chicken salad sandwich. Flavorful blue cheese, chopped tarragon, freshly squeezed lemon juice and sliced green onions add loads of flavor. The recipe calls for sprinkling the blue cheese on top of the chicken salad but I prefer mixing the blue cheese into the salad so you get the blue cheese flavor in every bite. Boy, this is a great chicken salad sandwich!

Pacific Northwesterners should try one of Rogue Creamery’s artisan blue cheeses, which are made in Central Point, Oregon. Available in a variety of local markets throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, Rogue Creamery’s products are excellent and worth seeking out. They produce a potpourri of blues ranging from robust to smoked…YUM!

Blue Cheese-Chicken Salad Sandwiches
-recipe from Dishing Up Oregon by Ashley Gartland

This picnic-worthy chicken salad sandwich gets an update with a hit of tarragon and a layer of a blue cheese of your choice. Makes 4 servings.

2 cups diced cooked chicken breast
2/3 cup diced celery
1/3 cup mayonnaise
4 scallions, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh tarragon leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 whole-grain sandwich rolls, halved
4 ounces blue cheese

Mix the chicken, celery, mayonnaise, scallions, lemon juice, and tarragon together in a large bowl with a rubber spatula until well combined. Salt and pepper to taste.

Divide the chicken salad evenly among the bottom halves of the rolls. Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the chicken salad, dividing it evenly. Place the top halves of the rolls on the sandwiches and serve immediately.

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Tags: blue cheese, chicken salad, chicken salad sandwich, picnic, picnic food, Rogue Creamery, Rogue Creamery blue cheese, sandwich, tarragon