Sampling a New Cheese: Hippo Flambe
June 28, 2011 - 10:43am | by cheese_taster
My name is Robin Berger, you can find out more about me and what I like to cook on my food blog: http://blog.hippoflambe.com
Will Write for Cheese: The Accidental Locavore Helps Birth a Cheese
June 28, 2011 - 9:29am | by cheese_taster
Anne Maxfield, the Accidental Locavore, was brought up in the early days of Julia Child, however back then what she really thrived on was the bounty of prepared foods. Onion rings in a can, on top of macaroni and cheese from a box, with those cute Vienna franks (also from a can) and there was a great dinner! Parents going out? Frozen pot pies, or even better, a TV dinner…bliss. Why whole grains and fresh vegetables, when there were cans or frozen foods?
Aaron's Obsession: The Blue Without a Name
June 28, 2011 - 6:33am | by cheese_taster
I am pretty much what you would call a cheese freak. I eat it, cook with it, write about it, make it (at home and with cheesemakers on their farm). Because that isn't enough, I even monger at a cheese shop on a part-time basis. So yeah... you could say that I am a bit obsessed. So imagine my surprise when given the opportunity to help a master craft a new American classic? Now that is priceless...
I opened up the box to find a nice sized wedge, wrapped in foil, and surrounded by a couple of cold packs. There was also a card on top from Point Reyes, welcoming me to the panel, and giving some of the details of what criteria they were looking for. Although it was extremely difficult, I waited about an hour and a half in order for it to come up to room temperature. I unwrapped the wedge, and found a nice piece of blue cheese.
Back to the Farm Blue- Ruth's Cheese Pairing Picnic
June 27, 2011 - 9:04pm | by cheese_taster
When I got the call from Will officially inviting me to join the cheese tasting team, I was giddy. Having worked in some incredible cheese shops in the past, I have missed having privileged access to artisanal cheeses made with true attention and care. I quickly arranged for my neighbor to receive the package while I was away at work and started planning when and where I would do my first tasting.
Hooray for the Sea Monster!
June 27, 2011 - 8:58pm | by cheese_taster
I am so excited to be a part of the Birth of a Cheese tasting panel. Thanks to Culture and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese for making this a possibility. I’m by no means a cheese expert, but I’m working on it. In January 2010, I made a New Year’s Resolution that I actually kept—to eat more cheese. For several months, I visited some of the best cheese shops in Salt Lake City, Utah, shared my finds with a supportive but unexcited husband, and tried to chronicle these experiences on my blog. That July, we moved from the suburbs to our very small (population 500 or so) hometown, far from the cheese shops but close to our family. I work at a small college and hang out with my husband and my three-year-old son whenever I can. While my son is not a cheese aficionado yet, I’m hoping he’ll transition from string cheese to St. Andre in no time.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it... Kirsten did
June 27, 2011 - 6:28pm | by cheese_taster
I've never worked with cheese and other than an adventurous palate and passion, don't have formal training in the fromage-arts. So I though what could it hurt to apply as a cheese tester? Worse case I'd be passed over like Velveeta on a cheese board and best case scenario, well, I could say I've been "paid" with CHEESE! How cool is that? By some stroke of luck, I was picked to be on the Birth of a Cheese Tasting Panel and what a tasty honor it has been.
My secret wedge was delivered by FedEx, although it felt like it should have been a dark suited man in sunglasses holding a metal briefcase. I carefully unpacked the precious cargo, each layer increasing my excitement and suspense until the last peeled away to reveal a freshly cut, foil wrapped wedge of cheese. Blue cheese to be exact, my favorite, my Kryptonite. With my brain shouting "must eat now!", I somehow managed a couple pictures before succumbing to the demands and digging in.
California Pizza: Will goes native
June 24, 2011 - 1:21pm | by wfertman
It's official:
After only six months of living here, I am now a Californian. The evidence? Whole-wheat peach pizza with goat cheese, sage and red onion. That's right, I said peaches. The Scientist (aka Minda "no sauce" Berbeco) whipped up another batch of dough last night, and suggested we use a few of the fruits we'd picked up at Davis CA's infamous farmer's market.
It sure was one of the prettiest pizzas we've ever made. The uncooked pie (pictured) was cute enough to hang over the couch. And when we pulled it out, the cheese and herbs melded perfectly with the sweet peaches and onions, furthering my conviction that everything goes with just about everything. Which, I suppose, is a very California attitude.
Searching for god smak (“good taste”)
June 21, 2011 - 1:00pm | by elaine
I’m finishing up a week of traveling the fjords and roads of Norway, trying to scope out the cheese scene in this country better known for salmon and sweaters. One of the first things I discovered on my Scandinavian beat is that the average Norwegian refers to her/his cheese by color: they have their white cheese, their yellow cheese, some blue cheese, and plenty of brown cheese. Color indicts familiar supermarket cheese. They know, for instance, what to expect from a slice of white cheese.
Oh Canada
June 16, 2011 - 4:55pm | by stephanie
Oh Canada…it’s your turn for national hurdles.
Last night we brought your Stanley Cup back to Boston after a 39 year absence (thank YOU!). Your postal system is shut until further notice, and Vancouver based Hootsuite has ticked off a few PAYING customers (http://www.mediabistro.com/alltwitter/hootsuite-publisher-fail_b10216) with its latest upgrade. Ok. Not a good day.
But, you still have plenty of Canadian goodies right at hand.
Goat Rap: another entry in the annals of making goats talk
June 14, 2011 - 2:51pm | by wfertman
When I saw this section from Liam Lynch's podcast Lynchland, I thought of our own efforts in the field of talking goats.
Liam is the creator of MTV's Sifl and Olly Show, brought to you by the incomparable Precious Roy Home Shopping Network.
