I was instantly intrigued when I heard the name, “The Fox & the Crow.” For those who’ve had the pleasure of traveling over to the U.K., you may have noted that pubs and shops often feature the names of animals. This old naming tactic was first established during an era were illiteracy was rampant, making the animal imagery easy to decipher and remember for local pub-goers. While The Fox & the Crow is not known as a local pub, it is known for its tasty local, American, and imported cheeses (from all over the world, not just from the U.K.). It is no secret that I am a cheese fanatic and that one personal goal of mine since returning from England is to scour America for an affordable source of U.K. cheeses and this is my new favorite spot.
I stopped by during happy hour (every weekday from
4-6 p.m.) and didn’t quite know what to expect. Would their seemingly affordable offerings actually be enough to fill me up for dinner? I was nervous when I was told the featured cheeseboard was “mini” – a frightening word for any American diner. However, what I was presented with looked the opposite of “mini” and was a work of art. I had my choice of two artisan cheeses – generous slabs of cheese with plenty of accoutrements (last week they added kiwi-berries to my cheese board, which look like grape sized kiwis and were sweet and tart). I felt so fancy sitting outside in their charming gated patio, sipping my wine, and trying not to dive headfirst into the cheeseboard. The whole meal cost me $11 and really felt like a decadent treat.
Their fully stocked cheese cases feature new offerings every week or so. Some of the U.K. cheeses I’ve seen featured include Stilton, Ticklemore (fantastic name for a cheese company), and a beautiful Irish cheddar made with lines of porter inside. What is great about the Fox & the Crow is that their cheesemongers really know their stuff and are a trustworthy bunch: something I didn’t know was a requirement when looking for a good cheesemonger. I simply told them cheeses that I usually enjoyed and they picked the board out for me. And it was perfect – they seemed to know my tastes simply by asking what I usually picked out for myself. They know the history and flavor profile of each cheese and seem to always have something in stock that is from the U.K. or has a similar flavor to one of my favorite U.K.-style cheeses. I stay up to date on their cheese offerings by following their Instagram account, which makes me terribly hungry looking at their beautiful photos.
I know you’re asking yourself, “Shan, can’t you just find imported cheeses in your local grocery store?” Yes, many grocery stores feature an artisan cheese selection, but those poor cheeses have been tightly plastic-wrapped and manhandled across the Atlantic, arriving in the store in an unnatural shape and still far too expensive for my taste. They also lack the variety found at a cheese shop.
1) I love supporting local businesses; 2) The Fox & the Crow takes gentle care of their cheese, thoughtfully pairing it with fruits and nuts, and they make it a special culinary event;
I rest my case. Please check out The Fox & the Crow if you’re in the Fort Collins, Colorado area. They are located at 2601 S Lemay Ave Unit #21. Visit their website at http://www.thefoxandthecrow.net/.
Your U.K. cheese connoisseur,
Shan
U.K. in the Everyday 