Into The Grotto: Choosing, Storing & Tasting Cheese with Jessica Sennett

NOTE: iphone and ipad users, CLICK HERE to register for class.

Cheese boards are a holiday favorite—but few things are more disappointing than discovering your favorite wedge of cheese has gone sad and slimy in the back of the fridge. Join cheese expert Jessica Sennett, founder of the award-winning Cheese Grotto and a seasoned pro with nearly 20 years of experience in the specialty cheese world, for a livestream class on how to properly choose, store and savor high-quality cheeses. From buttery brie to crumbly blue, Jessica will walk you through each of the cheeses you’re most likely to have on your board this season. She’ll explain how they’re made, take you on a deep dive into terroir and give you a glimpse into the nuances of regional production practices. Then, she’ll walk you through which cheeses can live together peacefully, how to recognize signs of spoilage, and what to do with those odds and ends in your cheese drawer (hint: don’t toss them). Whether you’re newly curious about specialty cheeses or a longtime enthusiast, this class will help you become your family’s go-to cheesemonger. Want to taste along? Jessica will provide recommendations for her favorites bries, Alpine cheeses and blue cheeses to have on hand.

Get 10% off your order of all Cheese Grotto products in the Milk Street Store with code GROTTO10

About Jessica: Jessica launched an award-winning line of cheese storage in 2016, named Cheese Grotto. She developed and designed the Cheese Grotto after years of experience both making and selling a wide variety of cheeses in California, France, Washington, Massachusetts, and New York. The Grotto is a humidor for cheese that mimics the conditions of a natural cheese cave. With its built-in clay humidifier, and breathable natural materials, the Grotto allows customers to store aged varieties of cheese in the fridge for long term or on the counter for short term, under 70 degrees F. Made in small production runs in New York, the Grotto is a lifetime heirloom piece that also answers the most popular questions on cheese storage and service.

Thank you to the 2025 Annual Sponsors of the Cooking School, who make our livestream events possible:

• Coccinella, whose Oleavia Extra-Virgin Olive Oils are made with olives that are harvested early, hand-picked and cold-pressed to ensure impeccable flavor. Use code MILK STREET to get 20% off your first order: https://www.coccinellastore.com/oleavia-evoo
• Copper, which makes battery-equipped induction ranges that power premium cooking experiences and store renewable energy — without the need for complex, expensive electrical upgrades. Learn more: t.ly/cU1pO
• Vermicular. With 80+ years of Japanese craftsmanship and heating innovation, they craft thoughtfully designed cast iron cookware that inspires chefs of all levels. Use code COOKLIGHT for 10% off their products at the Milk Street Store: t.ly/mu01T
• Work Sharp, which makes sharpening products that are fast, easy to use and work every time. Find their products on the Milk Street Store and use code SHARPSMART for 10% off: t.ly/SSsSz
• Wulf’s Fish and Savenor’s Market. Together, Wulf’s and Savenor’s provide premium seafood and gourmet meat to chefs and home cooks across the country. Use code MILKSTREET for 20% off orders from Wulf’s (t.ly/REVSO) and Savenor’s (t.ly/CRwjA).

If you have any questions about this class, please don't hesitate to get in touch via cookingschool@177milkstreet.com.

This event has limited spots and you must register in advance via Eventbrite in order to attend. One sign-up covers one device. Payments for Milk Street livestream events are non-refundable. If you find yourself unable to attend, you may transfer the ticket to someone else, but we are unable to refund fees and all payments are final.

Closed Captioning is available for all Milk Street virtual events.

Immediately after registering, you will get a confirmation email that contains the Zoom meeting log-in information. One week prior to the class (or within 48 hours, if you register less than one week in advance), you will receive instructions on how to prepare ingredients and equipment in order to cook along, if you choose.

After class, you will receive a recording of the event, as links to any additional recipes and resources that may come up. NOTE:The recording link is only available online for one month following each event. If you’d like to have access to the recording for longer than that, you'll need to save the recording locally by clicking on “download” on the top right corner of the recording page.

Proceeds from livestream cooking classes and workshops support Milk Street's non-profit work with The Big Sisters Association of Great Boston, The Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester, FoodCorps and other partners.

Bonus: All attendees of this class will receive a one-time 20% off coupon to the Milk Street Store after class.