Something Tasty: A cheese pairing to try

The Farmers Wedge

May is my favorite month. There are flowers everywhere, my birthday is near, andddd it also happens to be American Cheese Month!

So I will be highlighting some fantastic cheeses contributing to the ever-growing landscape of American cheesemaking. First up: The Farmer’s Wedge from Rare Breed Cheese.

Yesterday I was at Meeting of the Milkmaids (more on that in two weeks) and got to try this wonderful new cow’s milk cheese from Lebanon, CT.

It’s semi-soft with a perfectly springy texture that’s light yet substantial. The biggest flavor note I get is buttermilk. Milky and mild with a slight sourness that makes it pretty difficult to stop eating.

I took some home and paired it with maple syrup for a breakfast cheese moment, and I was instantly flooded with memories of making buttermilk pancakes with my mom.

Something True: A truth about myself

Jubilee Highlights

Here’s the truth.

A few weeks ago I attended Cherry Bombe’s Jubilee- a HUGE yearly gathering of women in food.

The highlights for me were getting to meet some titans of the food world and hear them speak. Ruth Reichl (above), Dr. Jessica B. Harris, Madhur Jaffrey, and Grace Young blessed us all with some sage words. Some of my favorites that I could quickly scribble down:

These have not left my mind.

They all, in different ways, served as confirmation I’m on the right track. The Trust Your Taste Workshop is all about embracing our unique sense of taste, and all the memories and cultural context that come with it.

I think about taste, story, and memory all the time. So, naturally, since I spend so much time with these ideas, sometimes I think no one will care or think it’s as important as I do…and then the universe gives me these special little nudges.

It reminds me that a core belief of Trust Your Taste is: the things most unique and special to you are a superpower. Just because you thought of something does not mean it’s obvious or top of mind to others.

What makes you weird is what makes you cool, and certain things occupy your mind for a reason. Probably so you can share them with the rest of us.

Also Madhur Jaffrey is going to be 91 this year and she’s still acting and coming out with a new book (stay tuned, she wouldn’t tell us anything about it). She’s living the dream. She carved out that life for herself, so I think I can too.

And I hope I’m as lucky to still be doing both in my 90’s.

Farm to Fable: How food shows up in storytelling 

Ratatouille in Ratatouille

Yes, I have already talked about Ratatouille. But that was a different scene and a completely different vibe!

This scene at the end of the movie always makes me cry, which is not a rare occurrence, but it’s great storytelling nonetheless.

It will speak to anyone who has ever put themselves through the vulnerable act of creating something, and even scarier- sharing it.

Anton Ego, the food critic (above) has an incredible reaction to the dish. Yes, it was tasty, but a quick flashback shows us it’s not the taste alone that prompts his overwhelmingly positive review.

It’s because the flavors brought him back to a moment with his mother. He wasn’t just tasting stewed vegetables, he was tasting love and comfort.

That is where the power of food lies.

The next time you hear from me will be Mother’s Day, which brings up all sorts of memories for people. Whatever feelings you associate with the day, I hope this week you taste something that brings you to a positive memory with someone you love.

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:

Okay, I owe you two. Last week the prompt was “The debut Tortilla Soup: The Musical”

Pretty disappointing. Also that text is terrifying and looks like someone opened a ransom note while eating their soup dinner.

This week the prompt is: “Women at a cheese and pancake festival.”

I didn’t say horror festival, but here we are. Terrifying.

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