Showing posts with label cheese map. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cheese map. Show all posts

Saturday, July 11, 2020

Paris Cheese Map

The Paris Cheese Map is getting enveloped right now. 
Inspired by a cheesy French napkin I've been saving for just such an occasion.
I made all the fromagiers holding giant hunks of cheese. 

I've yet to find the names all for the geometrical cheese shapes. Do you know them? I can tell you the striations on top and bottom are from the straw they rest on. They are turned constantly while aging, somewhat like Champagne bottles . 
Today I went into LAURENT DUBOIS at Mutualité. They're known for their unusually flavored and shaped cheeses. 
B's 80-something mother called and said, "You better start eating in the Blue Zone if you want to live to 100. I think we watched the same program - DAN BUETNER chatting on Amanapore and Co. The gist is you eat mainly grains, seeds, nuts, beans and greens. No wonder my 6:30 AM Breakfast Club is in such good shape dining on flax seed/oatmeal. I wish someone would tell them there is NO dinner service. 
Yesterday I made a 'Blue Zone' lentil salad c/o THE LITTLE PARIS KITCHEN cookbook by Rachel Khoo, who used to live in a tiny walkup studio in the 19th arrondissement. 1cup washed French lentils in 2 cups cold water + a bay leaf, some thyme, salt and cook for 12-15 minute. No overnight soaking. Add greens etc. plus a dill dressing.

Watch the fun VIDEOWhen I wrote the book review in Feb 2013 I had no idea I would move into Rachel's tiny walk-up 6 months later. 

Here's a tiny patch of those fab Portuguese tiles in her kitchen we shared. I could have stayed but I found my current castle in the clouds and moved on. Rachel moved on to Sweden and is still turning out ingenious cookbooks  by the dozens. 

By the way Blue Zone regime says no dairy allowed. I shall ignor that rule. I'll bet these Jura cheese chips are not on the menu either but girls just wanna have fun.
 Have a good, safe weekend dear PBers.

Sunday, October 05, 2014

Melun Fete son Brie

In the US I was never a Brie cheese fan.

But eating Brie where it's made is a delicious shock to the taste buds.

The 1rst Saturday of October, Melun, just 20 minutes east of Paris, celebrates it's Brie. The festival takes over the town. Melun's shield design dates from the 15th century.

Last year I left empty handed. Not this time. The first Brie seller I came across, conveniently placed in front of a local fromager, immediately got my €€.

Soon as I turned a corner the whole fete going on.

Tent after tent offering Brie tastings, local honeys, rose 🌹 nectars, Champagne 🍾 Plus a lunch menu at restaurant 'Maryland'  - every course soup-to-nuts embellished with Brie

No less then the head of the brotherhood (le Confrerie des Chevaliers du Brie de Melun) was cutting 🔪 slices himself, wearing a Brie-like wheel of a hat.

Back in the cheese shop, less auspicious hands cut up my quarter slice.

Bries from all the surrounding towns, Coulommiers, Meaux are on offer with subtle aromas of cream, butter, hazelnuts and made from raw cow's milk.

Cows 🐄 always participate at the fete. Glasses of fresh milk 🥛 are handed out on the spot.

Cows 🐄 are everywhere in Melun. Hard to miss.

Rose syrups from nearby Provins.

I was tempted by the ready-cooked chestnuts, but 2 1/2 pounds is a lot of chestnuts for one person unless I have a chestnut 🌰 party.

I loved ❤️ the Champagne 🍾 jeroboams including a set of glass flutes 🥂

The Normans sacked Melun in 845. There's plenty of history here.

A different view of the Seine from a different bridge. Melun is in district Seine-et-Marne.

Back in Paris I ran out to catch my first 'Nuits Blanches' at yet to open musée Picasso.
When I got home my Brie was left out on the counter. Runny, almost soupy. Perfection on a slice of baguette 🥖 
There is nothing like eating French food bought at it's site of origin. Nothing compares.


         
🥖 🧀🥖 🧀 🥖 In my Etsy shop.🧀 🥖 🧀 🥖