An Epic Spanish Cheese Adventure at Canela in The Castro

Last week, I embarked on a culinary adventure at Canela Bistro & Wine Bar in The Castro, where the spotlight was on  Spanish cheeses. This event was particularly special, I mean…who doesn’t love fancy cheese? Every dish featured cheese imported by Forever Cheese, and to make the occasion even more special, a cheese maker all the way from the Canary Islands graced us with their presence. The evening left me pondering what’s the true meaning of being a ‘foodie’ in The Bay and the incredible opportunity we have to absorb culinary knowledge from the diverse community surrounding us.

Imported from Spain, the cheeses at Canela are hand picked perfection

We can follow our curiosity here in The Bay…about anything we’re interested in, really. Following our curiosity around food means attending dinners like the one at this one at Canela where we learned and expanded our knowledge about food from the makers of the ingredients. At each of our tables, we had the pleasure of being visited by cheesemaker Nadia Herrera, hailing from the Canary Islands, and Raquel Danés from Forever Cheese. They graciously shared insights about every cheese and personal stories. Their genuine enthusiasm for the event and their eagerness to share their stories left a lasting impression, infusing us all with a newfound excitement for Spanish cheese.

As Chef Matt Schuster explained each of the 6 dishes to us, he enlightened us about the cultural significance behind these creations. It was a captivating experience that fueled my love for fancy cheese even more. Chef Schuster has a keen ability to take the complexity of a cheese and highlight it in his dishes without overshadowing the flavors of the other ingredients. Every dish made me fall more and more in love with the cheeses we were learning about.

“Every bite tells a tale of tradition and flavor. Each cheese variety we offer is a testament to Spain’s culinary artistry, sourced from @forevercheese and individuals who for many, have been honing their craft for generations. It’s a way of life in this part of the world, and when you bite into a piece, you’ll notice it straight away,” in talking on the Canela IG about Forever Cheese and the imported cheeses they get from Spain.

We learned that some cheeses are rubbed with Paprika on the outside to mimic how cheese had once been covered in clay-like dirt in the 1400s

The Journey of Culinary Exploration is Ongoing

Being a foodie here encourages you to be open-minded and willing to try new and unfamiliar foods. It fosters a sense of adventure when it comes to culinary exploration. Admittedly, until the event at Canela, I wasn’t a huge goat cheese fan. I used to tell people that any cheese made from goat’s milk was just too unusual for my taste. However, as the evening unfolded at Canela, I found myself gradually developing a newfound appreciation for goat cheeses. The cheeses we sampled kept blowing me away.

Aside from the delectable food, what truly captivated me about the dinner was the knowledge I gained. I left with a newfound appreciation, transforming into a super fan not only of the restaurant but also of Spanish cheese in all its forms. I was reminded that living here means the journey of culinary exploration is ongoing.

Cheese is a universal delight, and this event showcased the magic of it all. As Chef Schuster masterfully unfolded the stories behind each of the six dishes, I was reminded that great food carries personal significance. The Bay Area’s culinary diversity allows us to follow our curiosity and fosters an adventurous spirit in our culinary pursuits. Even my previous reservations about goat cheese were dispelled during this remarkable evening.

My favorite of the evening was the dessert – Crema Catalana with Sheep’s Milk Cheese

The Delicious Menu for The Evening:

• Baked Miticana de Oveja Volovan (Puff Pastry) 
• Cheese Tasting Pairing (2 rounds of 5 cheeses) 
• Spanish “Caesar” Salad
• Stuffed Prawns
• Empanada of Ground Dush and Mahon Cheese
• Crema Catalana with Sheep’s Milk Cheese

Each dish featured one of the cheeses we sampled in the cheese tastings. This allowed us all to see the cheese in its natural form before it was integrated into the dishes. I appreciated the ability to taste the cheese on its own and then figure out how that flavor complimented the other ingredients inside each dish.

Not surprisingly, the meal had wine pairings for each dish

The Bay Area is renowned for its dedication to sourcing fresh, thoughtfully selected ingredients, and Canela is no exception in this regard. What truly distinguished this event was the emphasis it placed on the profound passion of the cheesemaker, Canela and Chef Schuster. To me, the mark of a truly exceptional chef and restaurant lies in the ability to infuse their cuisine with personal significance. For each cheese and dish, there was a personal story that was shared with me from the chef and cheesemaker.

I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know Canela, Chef Shuster and the team at Forever Cheese. I emerged from this dinner happy, a little rounder but feeling lighter than air on cloud nine from a delightful experience. I am now huge fan girl of Chef Schuster and a forever admirer of Spanish cheese. I always love any opportunity to follow my curiosity and delve into the intricacies of how, what, where, and who in the world of food like I was able to during this special  event. If you know of any events similar to this one, please do let us know!If you’re unable to sit down at Canela to enjoy their food, they have a slew of really cool meal kits you can pick up from their restaurant. 

Every dish was thoughtfully curated and plated beautifully

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CANELA, VISIT THEIR WEBSITE & IG:
Website: canelasf.square.site
IG: @canelasf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CanelaSF

Also: super sweet random side note is that I noticed on the Canela website that you can scoop up some housewares – some of which are made by local artists. I noticed these dish towels by The Heated and I used to have some of these myself. They are wonderful and the artist is a super nice person.
(all images from Canela’s IG)