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'An opportunity to innovate.' Antonelli’s Cheese Shop gets creative during COVID-19 pandemic

The Austin cheese experts are going digital.

AUSTIN, Texas — Coronavirus has impacted businesses both big and small. Some businesses have decided to get creative with how they will get their product out. 

Case and point: Austin's Antonelli’s Cheese Shop is now using technology to their advantage.

For the first time in 10 years, Antonelli’s is accepting phonecall orders. You can also place your order online for delivery or curbside pickup and now they offer a virtual cheesemonger experience.

Before we jump into that virtual experience, John Antonelli explains what a cheesemonger is: “Somebody that sells cheese. We are avid fanatics about the product. We love talking about cheese. I'll talk to anybody that's willing to listen.”

RELATED: Local, national restaurants changing their service due to coronavirus

OK, now that we know what a cheesemonger is, let’s talk about their virtual cheesemonger experience. 

You schedule your appointment ahead of time, and spend 15 minutes via video conference looking at the cheese and asking your questions.

It’s something that Antonelli had been thinking about doing for five years.

“It's been an opportunity to innovate,” he said.

If you feel like you don’t know the first thing about cheese, don’t worry. Antonelli’s Cheese Shop works hard to make the experience welcoming, and not intimidating.

“I've been studying cheese for 12 years, I'm a certified cheese professional, I'm still just scratching the surface. So if I'm just scratching the surface, there's no reason to make it intimidating for anybody else,” he said.

They’ll also be offering classes for those wanting to learn more about cheese. They’ll be launching Facebook Live events where you pick up your cheese plate drive-through style. Then you go home, and they’ll walk you through the selection.

Antonelli also adds that another great way to support local businesses is by ordering take-out or by buying gift cards.

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