Hidden in the heart of the city is a room that cheese lovers dream of and the faint-hearted fear—a place where the air is thick with the kind of aromas that could make a Frenchman swoon and a first-timer flee. Welcome to the Cheese Room at Okada Manila, a treasure trove of stinky, funky delights that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about cheese.

Tucked away near the entrance of Medley, the property's buffet restaurant, the Cheese Room is where the pungent perfumes of aged blues, washed rinds, and creamy, aromatic wheels collide in a beautiful chaos that only the bold can truly appreciate.

The room contains a collection of more than 50 cheeses, mostly from France. There are Dutch, Italian, Spanish and Philippine cheeses as well, explains the Cheese Room manager.

It is an aromatic labyrinth where browsing becomes a flavorful scavenger hunt—each rind tells a story, and every wedge offers a promise of something extraordinary. You might stumble upon a gooey brie that melts at the mere sight of a cracker or a crumbly blue that tingles with sharp, salty notes. The shelves are lined with a kaleidoscope of textures and colors, from ivory to deep amber, each waiting to be sliced, savored, and maybe even feared a little. It's a sensory journey that teases your curiosity and rewards your palate with unexpected delights, one funky bite at a time.

But while it's fun to just browse, the cheese room experience reaches new heights when guided by the expert hand of a sommelier who can recommend delightful cheese-and-wine pairings. His knowledge reveals the secrets behind each match, explaining how the right sip can elevate the cheese to new levels of complexity and delight.

Medley's sommelier, JC, explains how he takes diners on a journey that begins with the guest's preference. Does the guest prefer soft or hard cheese, for example? From these questions, the sommelier can recommend personalized pairing recommendations. Note that Medley boasts a pretty strong wine collection with aruond 450 labels, representing wines from all over the world.

What truly sets the Cheese Room apart is that it’s not just a standalone experience but part of Medley, Okada Manila's buffet restaurant. This turns your visit into a holistic culinary journey where you can move from station to station, savoring everything from freshly shucked oysters to decadent desserts, with the cheese room as a pivotal stop.

The beauty of this setup is that your cheese indulgence doesn’t have to be a solitary act; instead, it seamlessly weaves into a broader tapestry of tastes.

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The Cheese Room in Medley Buffet Okada Manila, New Seaside Drive, Entertainment City, Parañaque | IG: @medley_buffet or @okadamanila.