What a pleasant summer surprise — when the rest of CP goes on vacation for the month of August, Ripple, 3417 Connecticut Ave NW (formerly Aroma) goes all out. We met W there after the Shakespeare Theatre Free for All “Twelfth Night at 11:30 p.m. on a Friday night, and everything else was still closed. Ripple’s bar, with good wines (many by the glass, some at $6) is bright but cozy. Manager Danny Fisher, who comes from Cork and Cork Market, is there to guide you from drinks to cheese and dessert. The cheesemonger, Julia, served up a beautiful plate of cheese and charcuterie. All the cheese is from Cowgirl Creamery (no cheese cave since they are so close to the source) Danny helped us choose the right cheese and the right wines:
- Everona Piedmont – one of our local Virginia favs
- Fiore Sardo – a pecorino from Italy that always works
- Burrata – a soft, creamy mozzarella-like cheese from Puglia Italy that was as good as advertised
- Jean D’Also Bleu D’Auvergne – a soft, french buttery blue that was a perfect ending to them all.
- One the side La Quercia Americano, a proscuitto-like ham from Iowa. (the only American version I’ve ever liked).
Ripple’s homemade crackers are good, but ask for some of the good bread – doesn’t distract from the cheese.
3/24/13vUpdate 2012 on cheeses we would have liked to try there or somewhere else: Neva, Sheep Cheese from Spain; Cherry Grove Toma, Cow from Lawrenceville, NJ; La Peral, Cow and Sheep Cheese from Asturisa, Spain.