In praise of The Cow (a.k.a. La Vache, La Mucca, La Vaca)

/
In praise of The Cow (a.k.a. La Vache, La Mucca, La Vaca)

After last week’s post, I could not stop thinking (and reading) about the current state of the dairy market. It got me thinking about this majestic animal that can be found (and utilized) on nearly every continent on the planet. Some for dairy, some for meat, or sometimes as a draught animal.

So, for inspiration for this week’s post, I simply turned to my camera roll and scrolled through the 1000’s of photos until I was reminded of this one from 2016.

Read More

Too much of a good thing…

/
Too much of a good thing…

Hello Fellow Non-Travelers!

As I am entering my fourth week of “Shelter in Place”, I am reading around the country as both dairies and cheesemakers alike are struggling. Unlike a manufacturing plant or a small business, dairies do not have the ability of just “stopping” the milk from flowing. Dairy cows can produce up to 20 quarts of milk per day and they need to be milked. Many of these dairies are in contracts with cheesemakers, so again, it is hard to stop this locomotive, especially when you understand that this situation could turn around quickly and that the demand could then outweigh the supply. Not an easy (nor quick) fix.

So both dairies and cheesemakers need your support!

Read More

Back to Nature – Marinated…

/
Back to Nature – Marinated…

Hello Fellow Non-Travelers!

These last few weeks, while difficult, have also been filled with gratitude as I reconnect with family and friends over the phone and computer.

This “Shelter in Place” order has slowed life down, and I can better appreciate the small things in life that sadly were overlooked in our previous “hurried lives”.

I have also used this time to get creative and try several new things that I have been wanting to do, but could never seem to “find the time”. Two weeks ago, my work asked me if I could create a video to show some recipes that I have been doing at home in my kitchen. Today’s “Video Post” is one of those video entries.

Read More

Shelter from the Storm…

/
Shelter from the Storm…

Hello Fellow Non-Travelers!

The world sure has changed an awful lot since my last week’s post. Many across the country are experiencing “Shelter in Place” orders, or “Essential Travel Only”…only to find that when you get to the store, many store shelves have been picked clean and retailers are doing the best they can to keep shelves stocked, while trying to keep an unsettled public fed and happy.

When last week’s post came out, we had already been house bound for several days.

We did a lot of cleaning and organizing those first few days, then settled into catching up on a good book, as well as catching up with some good friends and family by phone.

By week two, we had enjoyed some great home cooked meals and had started catching up on some movies/series on Netflix….But what to snack on while watching these? If you are at our house, it’s…..

Read More

Cheesemaker’s Pride…

/
Cheesemaker’s Pride…

Hello Fellow Cheese Travelers!

Many people across the country are finding themselves homebound this week. A great time to finish some projects, cook, catch up with family and friends, and of course, pick up a good book.

This week’s reading selection has been on my “TO READ” list for some time: Cheddar: A Journey to the Heart of America’s Most Iconic Cheese by cheesemonger extraordinaire, Gordon Edgar. I had read his book Cheesemonger: A Life on the Wedge years before and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I knew this book would be a great read.

Read More

On the right track…

/
On the right track…

Hello Fellow Cheese Travelers!

In looking for inspiration for this week’s post, I looked no further that my note book and my photo files…page after page of hundreds of cheeses that I have enjoyed across the country and the thousands of photos that accompany them.

This story was meant to be told closer to last Christmas, but just like many people, I was swept up in shopping, family dinners, etc. and this story sat patiently upon my desk, waiting until I dedicated the time to sit and tell such an important story.

Read More

Sacre Bleu(s)!!...

/
Sacre Bleu(s)!!...

Hello Fellow Travelers!

I often am asked what my favorite cheese is…a difficult question to answer, but not impossible. I would have to answer by saying the classic French Bleu cheeses…Roquefort, Fourme de Montbrison, Bleu de Gex, Bleu des Causses, Saint Agur, just to name a few. Of all of these French Bleus, my current favorites are from the region of Auvergne-Rhone Alps…..

Read More

Truffle Turophobia??…

/
Truffle Turophobia??…

Hello Fellow Travelers!

Truffle Turophobia?? (Fear of Truffle Cheese?)…Not in this household!!...But what I have learned about Truffles is that people either love them, or hate them with little middle ground if any.

I had been considering writing a blog post on Truffles for some time, but as soon as the most recent issue of Sacramento Magazine showed up in my mailbox, I just knew that the time was now to write the story.

Read More

Tools of the trade…

/
Tools of the trade…

Hello Fellow Travelers!

Ah, my online subscriptions…just like little Christmas presents! I can always count on two or three coming in every month that will peak my interest…

Image courtesy of Vinepair

A few weeks ago, one of these popped into my inbox from Vinepair. The article was on “A Guide to Cheese Knives” which was a good article and helps the average reader understand the proper tool for a selected cheese. But just like pairing wine and cheese, you can always choose any knife (or wine) you want…you just may not get the best results…or, you may understand why one is better than another. This article got me to thinking about my own collection of cheese knives and serving tools. So, I thought that I would share just some of my collection, and discuss some of the more interesting ones…

Read More

Cheese Influencers and Cheese Inspiration…

/
Cheese Influencers and Cheese Inspiration…

Hello fellow travelers!

Reading over my previous posts, I noticed one that I wanted to tell…”The Rest of the Story”

My post of 8.26.19 told the story of two authors that had an impact on my life in the cheese industry. I never had the chance to meet either one of them, but their impact was significant enough to redirect my life on a new course.

But there have also been those in the cheese industry that I have known, and their words, actions, and influence still inspire me.

Read More

Gaining Market Share…

/
Gaining Market Share…

Hello Fellow Travelers!

I am aboard my flight heading home from a team building meeting in Chicago…The *IDDBA cheese merchandising team came to Chicago to gain inspiration from the sights, smells, tastes and sounds of one of America’s great food cities!

Don’t worry, we won’t get in to the classic debate over which style of pizza is best (I will save that for a later post J

Our team ended their day by having dinner at Time Out Market, “a 50,000 square foot industrial hub for chef-driven eats & cocktails with communal seating and a rooftop deck that opened in 2019”.

Read More

Love is in the Air…

/
Love is in the Air…

Hello Fellow Travelers!

Ah, February…the month that seems to be dedicated to love!

In this last week’s travel, I found myself in San Francisco surrounded by my cheese friends and family at the Fancy Food Show. While walking the aisles looking at display after display of cheese, I noticed a cheese that is not well known in the United States, but it should be, as it is quite unique and delicious.

When one hears of the term, “Neufchatel Cheese” here in the States, they most likely think of Neufchatel that is sold in “bricks” found in Cream Cheese section of your local supermarket….this could not be further from FrenchNeufchâtel Cheese which is produced in Normandy, France…

Read More

Cheeseapolooza!

/
Cheeseapolooza!

Hello Fellow Travelers!

Tokyo, Japan may be the home of the 2020 Summer Olympics, but another “Olympic-Worthy” competition took place on January 19th that I need to tell you about. If you were to quickly look at the trophy pictured here, you might guess that it was for a blue-ribbon steer at the local county fair, but you would have guessed wrong…

Read More

To Sir with Love…

/
To Sir with Love…

Hello Fellow Travelers!

This week’s title is a slight play on words….No, it’s not a movie review of the classic 1967 British film starring Sidney Poitier and singer Lulu, but it’s about another European classic (cheese) that you may not have heard of…Paški Sir

If you know me well, you will know how passionate I am about cheese, and especially the protected cheeses of Europe and Switzerland…That’s why I wanted to dedicate today’s post to the newest protected cheese you may have never heard of…

Read More

Building a Cheeseboard…

/
Building a Cheeseboard…

Hello Fellow Travelers!

If you noticed like many, the six months leading up to the holidays were completely overrun with social media posts about cheeseboards, building cheeseboards, and using the word “Charcuterie” in as many sentences, headings, and posts as they could…Let me tell you, this will not be one of those blog posts!! Oh sure, I love seeing how creative people can be with designing beautiful displays with cheeses and meats, although many are not practical.

About six weeks ago, I was approached by a retailer that wanted to work with me to create a presentation on building a cheeseboard…

Read More

Saffron + Sheep’s Milk Cheese = Spice of Life

/
Saffron + Sheep’s Milk Cheese = Spice of Life

Hello Fellow Travelers!

As I travel, you can always find me at the cheese case…retailers large and small, specialty stores, and international markets. Sure, I am searching for cheeses that I am not familiar with, but I am looking for the opportunity to hear from the cheesemongers (or just the person that stocks the case) and learn their favorites, what customers are looking for, local items, and upcoming trends. Most of the time, I find cheeses that I readily recognize, but not on this last visit to upstate New York. I spotted a cheese that visually stopped me in my tracks – Pinna Brigante with Saffron. 

Read More

Champagne, Triple Creme Brie and Friends!

/
Champagne, Triple Creme Brie and Friends!

Hello Fellow Travelers!

As we close this decade, I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to remember some of my New Year’s Eves past…One came to mind that I wanted to share with you.

Twenty years ago, we were putting the finishing touches on our home (and the menu) for a New Year’s Eve like no other!…

Read More

Raclette…

/
Raclette…

Hello Fellow Travelers!

Raclette! – Yes, it is a cheese, but it can also be an experience…Let me explain…

The year was 1997. I had been the Director of Deli’s for Nob Hill Foods for several years when my good friend Jim Basta invited me (and other cheese buyers across the country) to Vail, Colorado to witness the U.S. Ski Trials. He invited us because he was working for the Switzerland Cheese Association at the time and they were sponsors of the event and even brought members of the Switzerland Ski Team to perform in the festivities. That night the Switzerland Cheese Association put on a large dinner for the skiers which, not surprising, included Fondue…

Read More

Barefoot in the Kitchen…

/
Barefoot in the Kitchen…

Hello Fellow Travelers!

Now that I am unpacking my kitchen, the time finally come to open the hundredth unmarked box to finally find my cookbooks!

Tucked away in these pages are years of memories of meals, parties, and experimenting in the kitchen. The pages are dog eared, stained, and paper clipped, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

The desire has been so overwhelming to get back in this kitchen, that I literally have dreams of cooking once again. While I have a sizeable collection of books, this photo (and the recipes I include in this week’s post) will finally give away my celebrity chef “crush” – Ina Garten, better known as the Barefoot Contessa…

Read More

From Oregon with Love…

/
From Oregon with Love…

While I enjoy the adventure of travels (and cheese!), I have been longing to set down some roots and purchase a home over the last year. 

I am happy to say that I purchased a home and the process of moving has begun. Box after box were brought in to the home that I had to find a new home for….and just when I thought I would scream if I saw one more box, this care package came from Oregon. Just the label on the outside of the box told me I was in for something special….

Read More