Whether they prefer beer or wine says a lot about a person. Think long and hard before deciding which of these two events to go to tonight:

White burgundy tasting
News flash: Burgundy doesn’t always have to be red. The proprietors of the Jakewalk and Smith & Vine wineshop prove the whites are just as worthy at this 15-bottle tasting. The vino—featuring rare white ’04 burgs from domains like Coche Dury and Roulot—starts flowing at 7pm, but 50 bones buys entry to a pre-event seminar at 6pm as well. The Jakewalk, 282 Smith St at Sackett St, Cobble Hill, Brooklyn (718-243-2864, smithandvine.com). 7–9pm, $35.

Brooklyn premiere of Beer Wars
Who doesn’t love a good underdog story? Root for the little guy at this screening of Beer Wars, which documents the clash between local breweries and big beer. A flight of four craft ales (from indie producers like Stone Brewing Co.) paired with Murray’s cheeses will follow the flick. The Bell House, 149 7th St between Second and Third Aves, Gowanus, Brooklyn (718-643-6510, thebellhouseny.com). 8pm, $20.

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Ah, the power of cheese: Not even the Man can keep it down. For the past five weeks, the FDA has been sitting on a shipment of the Italian mixed-milk robiola bosina—but the creamy curds are now back in action, and Murray’s Cheese has 20 cases of it to spare. That’s where you come in: With every $25 purchase at a Murray’s retail store, you’ll get a comp eight-ounce block of the cheese (normally $13.99). The deal, which starts tomorrow, lasts only as long as the cheese does, so get your free formaggio while you can.—Eve Binder

Guest blogger Liz Thorpe, author of the forthcoming book The Cheese Chronicles and Murray’s Cheese guru, gives you, dear readers, her latest rumination for the Feed. Read on for delicious details on the Ossabaw pig, and where you can try it in NYC:

Heritage pigs have been on my mind. A few weeks ago I hosted a double pig roast the day before my wedding. The 60-pound practically piglets were raised at Blue Hill Farm in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, and were selected for their Tamworth bloodlines. As they roasted over an open fire, the air smelled of bacon and the meat dripped pink juices. (Jeremy Stanton, who did the honors, will bring Berkshire-area pigs to NYC and roast them here.)

So when George Faison invited me over to the dry-age rooms at DeBragga and Spitler to talk Ossabaw pigs, I was game. Read more »

You, too, will be missed, my friend.

This just in from our fine and stinky friends at Murray’s Cheese:

“The Roquefort tariff increase scheduled for March 23 has been postponed a month to give additional time for negotiations between the U.S. and E.U. Remember it’s not just Roquefort we’re talking about. San Pellegrino (under the category “Italian water”) would double in cost.”

Another scary thought. Although there is now more gorging and guzzling time for lovers of imported European comestibles (there will be no change in tariffs until April 23), the Murray’s Au Revoir to Roquefort party is still on.  “If nothing else,” writes our source, “it’ll be an au revoir GWB.” What’s French for good riddance?

Bye bye, Roquie. We hardly knew ya. (Photo: Courtesy Murray's Cheese)

See this very fin de siècle (and can we say depressing?) memo/party invite, just in from our pals at Murray’s Cheese:

George W. Idiot imposed a 300% import tariff in his last days of office on “luxury foods” from Europe. They didn’t want our hormone-infected beef cattle, the gall of them. Anyway, Roquefort was one of those foods, meaning that on Sunday, March 22 the cost of the cheese basically goes from $8 to $30. Meaning,  most people will stop importing it because there’s no way to sell it and turn a profit. True here at Murray’s as well.

All that is to say: The famed cheese vendor is throwing an au revoir Roquefort party on Sunday, March 22, from 2 to 5pm. A $5 entry fee buys you a farewell taste of the cheese, plus Murray’s two recommended replacements. The first 50 people who come on down get a glass of dessert wine as well. An additional $10 gets attendees a cheese-cave tour, going on every half hour from 2:30 to 4:30pm.

We at The Feed love parties and all, but this is kind of a downer. Well, Obama, what are you going to do about it?

Happy New Year! In the spirit of new beginnings, TONY kicks 2009 off with a closer look at urban agriculture, a trend that has the potential to become an important part of New York’s food future.

Meanwhile, Jay Cheshes visits Bobo (two stars), and Freemans (four stars), two hipster hangs that have both seen recent chef changes. “If Freemans has the natural charisma stars are born with, Bobo in the West Village is the understudy trying to keep up,” he writes. TONY also drops by the Neapolitan pizza joint Motorino (four stars), in Williamsburg, and Serge Becker’s Café Select (two stars) in Soho. In bars, Jazz Age cocktail and piano lounge Ella (two stars) hits some sour notes. Read more »