As part of my job, I need to know the best food purveyors in Portland. Recently I had a client request a special cheese plate for a cocktail party they were hosting. I had heard about a mythical place called Steve’s Cheese, buried deep in Northwest Portland that sold mind-boggling cheeses from around the world. So about a month ago, I set off on my quest to find this mythical cheese place and see for myself if the rumors were true.

Let me tell you they are.

Tucked into the back corner of Square Deal Wine on NW Thurman and 23rd, I found Steve amidst his cheese. As I gazed happily and the extensive collection behind the glass, I saw familiar staples like triple cream Brie and little circles of fresh Chèvre. But the majority of cheeses in his case were unfamiliar to me. But no matter – you don’t need to know exactly what you want when you arrive.

Tell Steve what you’re up to – what you want to accomplish with your cheese. Are you trying to impress dinner guests with a unique selection or do you just want some for a snack? Steve will guide you in the right direction and along the way offer you samples.

I explained that I had a client who was hosting a cocktail party for 50 in three weeks. Could I pre-order the cheese now and pick it up before the event? The simple answer was no. Steve orders all his cheese a couple days in advance and never knows what he’ll have two weeks from now. He pays attention to what matters most – knowing his inventory and selling amazing cheeses.

On any given day, Steve stocks between 150 to 200 cheeses in his little tiny glass case. Pick out a wine or name a certain dish and he can pair the right cheese. And once you’ve had four of five samples of cheese (of which you’ll be purchasing large slices because they’re so good), you wander over to the charcuterie. Salty, meaty salamis, thick-cut pancetta, whisper thin slices of prosciutto – it’s all there. You’ll want to take it all home with you. Trust me.

After a solid cheese education (which you’ll be spouting to your friends later on), wander through the wooden wine crates of Square Deal Wine. If you like stories with your wine, this is the place for you. The owners have personally visited every vineyard they carry. Each bottle comes with a unique tale of how it’s made, the winemaker, and the wine’s history. And because the owners buy directly from the producers, there’s no middle-man mark-up involved. You get fabulously good wine at a reasonable price. They’ll even create an online account for you so you can track all your purchases.

So next time you’re having friends over for dinner or just want a snack of your own, head over to Steve’s Cheese and Square Deal Wine. The rumors are true!

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