Paste & Rind
Cheese, but make it an experience.Paste & Rind is a Washington, DC–based hub for all things artisanal cheese. We bring exceptional cheese, thoughtful curation, and a healthy dose of cheese nerdiness to events, businesses, and curious eaters throughout the DC area.From hands-on classes and unforgettable cheese boards to custom sourcing and consulting for food and beverage businesses, Paste & Rind makes great cheese more accessible—and a whole lot more fun.Whether you want to learn how cheese is made, build a better cheese program, host a seriously good party, or simply discover your next favorite wedge, we're here for it.
What We Do
EAT CHEESE · LEARN CHEESE · DISCOVER CHEESE
Eat cheese slates every day.
Paste & Rind @ Henceforth
Good beer. Great cheese. We think they belong together.Paste & Rind is proud to partner with Henceforth, on H St. NE to bring thoughtfully curated artisan cheese to the taproom, wine bar, and gathering space.As Henceforth's Cheese Director, Paste & Rind's founder Kara McGrath curates the cheese slate featured on the menu, selecting a rotating lineup of exceptional cheeses designed to pair beautifully with Henceforth's beers, wines, and cocktails.Every slate is an opportunity to discover something new—from local and regional American cheeses to classic styles and unexpected gems. And because the best part of cheese is eating it, each selection comes with thoughtfully chosen accompaniments to round out the experience.Want to taste what we're talking about?Head to Henceforth, order a cheese slate, grab a beer or a glass of wine, and let us do the pairing work for you.
get cheese every month.
Trolley Club : A Monthly Cheese Curation
Trolley Club is Paste & Rind's ongoing cheese adventure for people who like discovering what's next.Each month, members get a thoughtfully curated selection of exceptional cheeses chosen by Paste & Rind, with the stories, tasting notes, and guidance you need to enjoy them at their best.Expect hard cheeses, soft cheeses, funky cheeses, American originals, European classics, unexpected gems—and occasionally something that makes you say, "Wait, cheese can DO that?"It's a monthly excuse to eat more cheese. We fully support it.
Come hang out with us.
Classes, Events, Collaborations, & Pop-Ups
Paste & Rind hosts a rotating lineup of classes, tastings, pairing events, pop-up shops, and other decidedly cheesy gatherings throughout Washington, DC.Sometimes we're teaching a deep dive into the world of artisan cheese. Sometimes we're pairing cheese with beer, wine, or whatever else sounds delicious. Sometimes we're setting up shop with a selection of cheeses to take home. And sometimes we're collaborating with a fellow food or beverage obsessive to create something entirely new.You can find us at Henceforth Brewing, Hill's Kitchen, and other favorite spots around the city, with new events popping up all the time.Come learn something. Come try something. Come buy some cheese. Mostly, just come eat cheese.
Build a better cheese program.
Cheese Consulting
Build a better cheese program.Great cheese deserves a great program behind it.Paste & Rind works with restaurants, breweries, specialty food retailers, butchers, wine shops, and other food and beverage businesses to develop cheese programs that are delicious, practical, profitable, and true to their brand.Services can include cheese selection and sourcing, menu and board development, inventory management, pricing and cost analysis, staff training, service standards, purchasing systems, and customer-facing cheese education.Whether you're starting a cheese program from scratch or looking to take an existing one to the next level, we'll help you make cheese work for your business.Available for:
Retail Programs · Restaurant Menu Programs· Cheese Centered Event Design · Staff Training · Beverage Pairings · Custom Experiences
What We're Up To
THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING CHEESY HAPPENING.
about me
Kara McGrath, Cheesemonger
Kara McGrath is an award-winning cheesemonger, educator, and founder of Paste & Rind, a Washington, DC–based hub for all things artisanal cheese.After nearly a decade working in international development, including work in Washington, DC and more than 10 countries, Kara left the field to pursue her passion for artisan cheese. She worked her way through catering, cheesemongering, operations, buying, and eventually co-ownership of a cheese business before founding Paste & Rind in 2021.Kara is a finalist in the 2026 Cheesemonger Invitational, one of the premier competitions for professional cheesemongers in the United States. At the competition, she won both the Perfect Plate and Perfect Beverage Pairing components, showcasing her expertise in cheese presentation, pairing, and the art of creating a complete cheese experience.Her work has also been recognized by Washington City Paper's Best of DC, where she received the Best of DC award in 2024 and 2025 and was named a runner-up in 2023 and 2026.Through Paste & Rind, Kara is passionate about making exceptional artisan cheese more accessible, with a particular focus on local and regional American cheesemakers. She teaches classes, leads tastings and pairing events, curates cheese experiences, and works with restaurants, breweries, and specialty food businesses to develop thoughtful cheese programs.At the heart of it all is a simple belief: great cheese is meant to be shared—and there's always more to learn about it.
