May 9th, 2012 
Henri’s Cheese Shop is perfect for dates, girls’ nights, a place to bring your parents or pretty much any kind of occasion you can imagine. It’s amazing! The adorable cheese and lunch shop, charcuterrie and wine bar opened this past spring and has gotten amazing feedback from the city, and especially the neighbors who love having such a unique shop within walking distance of their South Lamar neighborhood.
First things first- Henri is not the name of one of the owners, but the name of one of the owner’s grandfather. Henri was a big cheese fan, but not in the business, even though he did live in France for a while where lots of great cheeses come from.
Display case (Photo Credit: Leslie Silver)
Henri’s is open for lunch, and the most popular lunch dish is the grilled cheese. However, they have lots of other great sandwiches and salad options. Then in the evening, guests can enjoy cheese and charcuterie plates and wine. Henri’s has just started offering pairing nights and classes, and the cheese isn’t limited to wines- they have a beer menu that pairs nicely with cheese as well. The décor of the shop fits the theme perfectly- green tile surround the bar, soft wood, attractive but comfortable seating.
The cheese monger, Marie-Louise Friedland, curates cheeses from all over the world, but she and the owners prefer to work with local companies and do so in everything from the baguettes to the cheese boards. Marie has taught the owners and the rest of the team how to best educate guests who are new to their cheese education, and it’s a great place to learn what you like without spending too much money. There’s not a ‘beginner plate’ but rather the team encourages conversation and for guests to try something new and talk about what they personally prefer, and each cheese dish is then personally curated.
There are anywhere from 60-90 cheeses in the shop at one time, and next week is the perfect time to visit as they will be cracking an 80 pound wheel of parmesan reggiano. The cheese should be available for about a week, but try and go by Tuesday the 15th or Wednesday the 16th to get the best flavor!
Cheese and charcuterie board (Photo Credit: Marie-Louise Friedland)
On my first visit I tried three different cheeses- Ossau Iraty, Carr Valley Mobay and Teahive. The Ossau was personally my least favorite but it’s still a very popular cheese as it recently won the ‘best cheese in the world’ award at the World Cheese Awards held in Birmingham, England.
I really liked the Carr Valley Mobay. It’s half goat’s milk and half sheep’s milk- a little sweet and goes perfectly on a fresh baguette (which Henri’s gets from their delicious neighbor Moonlight Bakery). But, my favorite is the Teahive. This cow’s milk cheddar is rubbed with black tea and bergamot oil that helps promote relaxation. I think it could have had that effect on me, but either way it was delicious!
Henri’s will be cracking an 80 pound parmesan reggiano on Tuesday, May 15th, which would be a perfect time to visit and get a taste! Henri’s updates customers regarding special events through their Facebook page, so be sure and become a fan or check in often here.
Parmesan Reggiano wheel (Photo Credit: Leslie Silver)
WHERE:
Henri’s Cheese
2026 South Lamar
Austin, TX 78704
512-442-3373
HOURS:
Lunch is served daily from 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
In the evenings, they are open from 5:00-10:00 p.m. for charcuterie, cheese and wine and will be adding chocolate to their menu in a few weeks.
