Cheese Guy!

Ah, one of my favorite things to do is visit the "Cheese Guy" at Eastern Market on Capitol Hill. But let's face it, my cardiologist will only put up with so much cheese. I really can't go there every week and stock up on another pound of arterial plaster. I allow myself a little in the fridge at all times for an occasional snack. This week S and I were getting low and I had some free time at lunch. I walked over to the market and found the Cheese Guy filling out his NCAA bracket and snapped up a couple of excellent finds. I don't want to sound too "Anti-Globalization-Activisty," but I really can't stomach going to those chain store cheese places when the old cheese guy is always available at E.M. I would much rather visit Mr. Bowers than a multinational. He is a true institution on Capitol Hill. But I digress...

One pick was a Bougon, a delicious goat cheese with a thin, delicate penicilin mold coating, a crumbly inner ring, and a very soft, sticky center. Yum! Tart and acidic, but not too powerful. Another was a Goat Gouda, of course a Dutch cheese, with the creamy richness of Gouda, but the tangyness of goat cheese. I picked up a little pate, too. A couple cheeses, some nuts, some olives, a sliced apple, a martini, and I'm good for the night!

Some of the best varieties Mr. Bowers has recommended over the years include:

• Applewood Smoked Cheddar (a.k.a Bacon Cheese)
• Paranno (Gouda Parmesan)
• Chive Cheddar
• Sage Derby

By the way, in case you were wondering, Mr. Bowers leans toward Ohio State or Georgetown to win this year. Good luck!