Cheese ~ Storytelling ~ Authenticity ~ Creativity

Something Tasty: A cheese pairing to try

Moses Reaper

Cheese people love a good pun, and this cheese is no exception.

If you’re looking for a spooky seasonal bloomy (brie-style) cheese but you’re not super jazzed about cheese that has pumpkin creme in the middle (NO SHADE BUT SOME LIKE IT SOME DON’T)- may I introduce you to Moses Reaper.

Inspired by traditional French Brie, Moses Sleeper (it’s non-spooky counterpart from Jasper Hill Farms) is classically buttery with notes of mushrooms, toasted nuts, and cruciferous vegetables.

A sprinkling of vegetable ash is what gives Moses Reaper it’s granite-like black rind contrasting the bright orange paste on the inside.

What’s not scary about this cheese? The ingredient list.

Even though the color is intense and bright- there is no artificial coloring. The cheese gets it’s color from annatto, a dye derived from the seeds of the achiote tree.

Something True: A truth about myself

Curiosity with Context

Here’s the truth.

One of the (unspoken- till now) pillars of the Trust Your Taste Workshop is:

Curiosity with Context

This means that in the workshop- instead of labeling smells, tastes, thoughts, or memories as “bad” or “good” and stopping there, everyone is invited to get curious and ask more questions.

It also means that we look at that labeling within the context of our own lives, as well as the cultural context of the cheese we’re trying (where it’s from, what animal milk, really anything important that is known about the cheese).

I’ve found it’s the best way to explore my senses while deepening understanding of my own experience AND the traditions/ cultural footprint of what I’m tasting.

Food is so deeply rooted in culture and tradition. With our current global marketplace, often our first experience with a different culture will be through their cuisine.

It’s a big part of how we relate to one another. Food is connection.

In the fall, there is a certain energy that invigorates me, but it can also get me into hibernation mode where it’s just easier to be cozy at home and not talk to people, go places, or do anything.

Alone time is veryyy necessary for me to recharge, and sometimes it feels impossible to fully recharge- so I get caught up in my own thoughts and end up using my alone time as an excuse to disconnect when the world feels like too much.

I become less curious, so I lose that connection to others. Without that connection to others, I lose context for what’s really going on with me and the world around me.

So as the days get colder, if you’re having a hard time or feeling disconnected:

(Maybe your seasonal depression is setting in, maybe the news is really taking it’s toll on you, maybe your social media doomscrolling has gotten out of hand, maybe it’s your busy season and the holidays are still months away but you are already working 24/7 and burning out- I’m looking at you food + event people)

May I suggest to bake or cook something and share it with someone? Or don’t make anything and meet someone for coffee and a warm seasonal baked good someone else made. Or go out to eat and share a meal with someone you love.

I promise you it will help.

And if you aren’t having a particularly difficult time at the moment, that’s amazing and my suggestion still stands. You never know who might need the invitation, and it’s always a good idea to get curious about our nearest and dearest. Maybe over some Moses Reaper :)

Farm to Fable: How food shows up in storytelling 

Pies in Sweeney Todd

If you’re a fan of dark comedies, musicals, or Tim Burton movies, you might be familiar with Sondheim’s musical thriller “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”.

Last week I talked about things you aren’t “supposed” to eat in spooky storytelling.

Nothing probably illustrates this point better than Mrs. Lovett baking people into pies.

Mrs. Lovett, originally played by Angela Lansbury, is a role of a lifetime for quick comedy queens. If you’re close enough to Broadway, you can catch Annaleigh Ashford in the role now!

In “Worst Pies in London” she sings about her pies being absolutely revolting, probably because the meat is all raggedy creatures from the streets of London.

In “A Little Priest” she conspires with Sweeney Todd about the different types of occupations they could put into pies. SPOOKY! GROSS! FUNNY!

I saw a version downtown at Barrow Street Theatre where they actually served pie during intermission. People were resistant to eat them, which makes sense.

It gives “dinner theatre” a new meaning.

Until next time,

Anne-Marie

P.S. - Sunday Scaries

A terrifying AI image to help us all rest knowing AI bots could never replace a real human artist:

For whatever reason the AI bot was down and did not want to indulge “Sweeney Todd and the grim reaper sitting at a table eating pies.” So I will try again next week.

Tech problems! Scary!

www.annemariepietersma.com