MANHATTAN — Cover your nose and open your mouth — stinky cheese is here to stay.
A collection of French restaurants around the city will offer an odorous menu of fancy fromage as part of the sixth annual Stinky Cheese Festival, running from March 1 to 10.
The restaurants have each added dishes that bring out the flavor and aromas of the stinkiest of cheeses, like Limburger, Rocquefort, and Raclette.
Hell's Kitchen's Pigalle will be serving up Gruyere croquettes, a leek and Rocquefort tarte, and an artisanal cheese board. At Upper West Side French spot Nice Matin, customers can chow down on a Gorgonzola beef filet or a Limburger stuffed chicken breast.
Each of chef Simon Oren's French restaurants will participate in the stinky celebration, including Marseille, Cafe D'Alsace, French Roast Uptown and Dowtown, Le Monde, L'Express and Maison.
On top of a cheesy selection of eats, the festival has partnered with Empire Brewery to bring into a specially-made beer meant to pair with stinky cheeses. With the name En Garde, the medium-bodied amber brew is meant to combat the powerful flavor of the strongly-scented cheeses.
