“I had this cheese last time I was here and I can’t remember…”

This is the most common phrase uttered by a customer at the cheese shop where I’m a cheesemonger in northern CA. (Actually, the most common phrases are probably “I’d like something nutty” and “I don’t know anything about cheese,” but those are future blogs.) My focus here and now is on those who buy cheese regularly and just can’t remember what cheese they loved last time – and ways that this can be addressed.

Caseus Veneti is the Veneto region's annual cheese show and competition:

Will someone give me a hand?

The Veneto region grows one of the world's best strains of rice. Vialone Nano is a short grain that's hard to find in US stores, but is supposed to beat Arborio in the risotto game.

I learned this on two successive trips to two rice producers, where I was given six 2 lb. bags of this rice to take home with me. My backneck hurts just looking at it. Anyone want a bag?

Post your favorite risotto recipe in the comments. I will send the best recipe a heavy, heavy bag of premium-quality Vialone Nano.