For years, we have been driving past signs that said Lively Run and buying Lively Run cheese various places. For years, we have been saying, let's stop by Lively Run. And, we finally did, as you can see above.
It was a blast.
First, we saw horses, goats and a rooster. The goats were a hoot, and loved seeing a dog. The rooster, not so much - and he eventually aggressively flew at the dog. We exited quietly! And, as a side note, there were kids. Somehow goats seem to be trendy right now - and frankly, I don't get the notion of goat yoga (which Lively Run does do) but I can buy that goats are cute.
Second, we went to the store - and purchased two cheese tastings for $6 each. Wow was it worth it - because each of us got 6 or 7 goat cheeses, 6 or 7 cow milk cheeses, rice crackers, a bit of hot pepper jam, a bit of lamb sausage, some local honey, and . . . all on a lovely tray. We tasted while sitting outside at a picnic table - and truly took our time savoring the various tastes, some of which we knew and some of which were new to us.
A few details:
- I love blue cheese and there is both a lovely goat blue and a lovely cow blue available from Lively Run Neither is harsh and both are relatively creamy, with the cow's milk one edging out the Cayuga Blue slightly for creaminess.
- There were several versions of gouda style cheese, aged differently and, in one case, involving beer. All were tasty - and though not my favorites we did buy some because my partner loved them.
- We did get a Sheldrake Moon, which is their brie style cheese. I think I would like it a bit better if it were riper, but it holds up well.
- And, I absolutely love feta. This was the best feta I have had in a long time - right texture, taste and saltiness. I have to go back for more.
We also bought some salami - uncured pork - from the same company that was represented on the cheese tasting board by the lamb. (I bought the sausage before I tasted the lamb sausage - and avoided the lamb thinking I might not like it. I was wrong!) We got the belgian ale and lemon zest and a mezcal and lime uncured pork. They are from Brooklyn Cured in. . . Brooklyn.
I did not buy but do recommend the Hedonist Chocolates available at the Farm Store. We have been fans since the days of encountering the folks from Hedonist at farmer's markets.
For Lively Run's role in the time of COVID, click here or here. And, likely you can imagine, they have won awards - see, for example, here.
Location:
8978 County Road 142,
Interlaken, NY 14847
Phone: (607)532-4647
