Ever since we tried the Queso Oaxaca, a type of low-fat Mexican cheese, from Nari and Kāge at a pop-up many moons ago, we've been their fans. So when they opened their chic little fromagerie (cheese factory in French) on the bylanes of Koramangala's 4th Block, guess who showed up promptly to check out the space. Tastefully done in white with wood all around, it's warm and inviting. There are so many little elements that catch your eye – from the painting on the wall to the large cutting board that we wanted to literally steal, and the cute benches! The centre of it all is the cheese display that showcases the various kinds of cheese made in-house. But before we get into the cheesy details, it's story time.
Nari and Kāge (which means fox and the crow in Kannada but nari also means woman in Hindi) is founders and cheesemakers Benjamin and Katherina's way of paying homage to the city through the Aesop fable of the crow and fox but with a twist where the women bring the crow and fox together to share and enjoy the cheese. Just like Benjamin and Katherina bringing people together to enjoy their artisanal cheese.
The fromagerie (cheese factory) currently stocks up on gruyere, feta, vicalita nilli, camembert, edam, and our favourite cheese, Queso Oaxaca. The Queso is this stringy cheese that's perfect for sandwiches and gives a great cheese pull. Benjamin (or Katherina, who we missed on the day we had gone here), will take you through the cheese and do a bit of tasting too. They plan to add more cheese to the mix. Besides cheese, they also have a little deli section stocking up on in-house honey and ghee. There's also condiments from Ishka Farms and Kuruvinakunnel Tharavadu Farms, and fresh sourdough loaves.
