Working with Cheese

Graphics and Artwork by Equalizer

I must say that I love cheese! Not any kind of cheese! I certainly wouldn't call the processed varieties available at supermarkets cheese. I'm not saying that it doesn'y taste like cheese or its not sometimes tasty, but its just not cheese. Well then what do I define as cheese? For me anything that is hand made fresh from fresh milk and done the right way is cheese.

There are so many varieties of cheese, each with its own unique flavor and texture and color and smell. The best however are raw unpasteurized milk cheese, which is banned in certain countries due to its health risk. The flavor however is plain heaven-on-tastebuds. The real question is; how do you eat cheese or better yet what do you do with that thing? I have compiled a list of things you can do with cheese without damaging the integrity of the cheese in question.

• Parmegiano Reggiano (parmesan): Shaved on top of pastas and salads. Used in pestos and risottos.
• Manchego: Manchego is named for the Spanish region of La Mancha, also home of Don Quixote. A perfect sheep milk Spanish tapas cheese, served as wedges, you can have it with fresh bread and a side of olives.
• Camembert: A nice and mild soft cows milk cheese that is easily spreadable on baguette and crackers. I love to spread it on a nicely grilled wagyu burger on a bagel with Dijon mustard.
  
• Feta: This cheese is widely used around the Eastern Meditteranean countries. its soft and creamy taste along with its crumbly texture makes it perfect for multiple uses. I usually used it the most in salads with roasted pinenuts, argula and raspberry balsamic dressing.
• Leicester: Similar to cheddar, but has a more deeper orange color and has a flaky texture. I like to have it very simple, just a thick slice between two peices of super soft whole grain bread slices.
• Stilton: This is an English version of the Roquefort, but much milder and creamier. This goes very well on salads or just a plain table cheese.
• Buffalo Mozzarela: This is the most widely misrepresented cheese. The mozzarela you buy from the supermarkets are extremely different than the buffalo mozzarela known to Italians. The best way to eat this cheese is just plain fresh as an antipasti. However, new mozzarela bars in Italy are infusing it with different cuts of meat like bresaola etc. or sliced and served on a bed of arugula. Simply Divine.
  

Waking Up To Breakfast

Breakfast in the Garden. Photo by Equalizer

I am not a breakfast person at all. I can't wake up and all of a sudden start stuffing my self with food. However, there are certain occasions where breakfast is must. I love to have breakfast in nice open airy spaces, or in certain times in a very cozy authentic place. Alot of people wake up early to have the hotel breakfast. That's fair enough if you think its something different. Sometimes the breakfast itself isin't anything special, but the place really makes a difference and gives you a proper boost to the rest of the day. I sometimes wish I can have that place, if I didn't I'll just create my own gourmet creations.

Hotel de Russie, Rome. Photo by Equalizer

I usually like to try the local specialties whenever I travel. That really depends whether it is edible. In China they serve something called century egg. It literally looks like a century old egg. Its green, and thats enough description. However, I found out after days of searching that noodles are usually served for breakfast, so I had my noodles in China only for breakfast. Damn good ones! So here is my list of favorite Breakfast Spots:

1. Cafe Pasqual, Santa Fe, NM: Huevos Rancheros, cant beat that.
2. Cafe de Fleurie, Paris: You can't go wrong with the usual petit dejeuner, and add an omlette with fine herbes.
3. Hotel de Russie, Rome: One of the best courtyard settings. Simple breakfast menu, but gets a boost from the the fresh buffalo ricotta cheese with rosemary honey.
4. The Leela Palace,Bangalore, India: The best brunch scattered all over the property.
   
5. My Kitchen ;)
   

Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA. Photo by Equalizer

Omlette with Fresh Thyme, Goat Cheese and Truffle Oil.

2 Eggs
1 tbs fresh chopped thyme
1 tbs crumbled goat cheese
1 tsp. truffle oil
1 tbs. fresh heavy cream
1 tsp. butter
salt
fresh cracked pepper

Whisk eggs with truffle oil, cream, thyme, salt and pepper. Heat butter on pan and pour whisked eggs. Move eggs to allow for excess mixture to fall on pan. Add goat cheese and fold. Leave for 30 seconds on the pan and transfer to serving plate. Serve with toasted slices of baguette.

Courtyards: An Internal Paradise

Palais Rhoul's Living Room. Marrakech. Photo by Equalizer

Once aspect of design that has sadly taken place in large areas of the Gulf is the abandonment of local architectural features. The region had taken an ugly detour into trying to imitate architectural features of other countries in a very cheap way. The idea as a whole is wrong, because we happen to have architectural features that are beautiful in their own rights.

One of the main features that was abandoned was the courtyard layout in traditional houses. The courtyard has many benefits, especially for conservative countries such as Gulf countries and the lack of natural habitat. There are exceptions tot the rule in certain pockets of the Gulf in terms of courtyard usage, but the local architectural elements should always be in use at all time. I think what is happenening is a disaster to the local cultural identity. There has been many places that had transformed traditional architectural into a modern design based on traditional elements. One of the finest example I could think about is the Chedi in Muscat.

I think there are many way to transform a courtyard into your own garden of paradise. Paradise by the way comes from Cyrus's Paradaiso or Perdos, which means a walled garden. In arabic it is al ferdaws. Transforming your courtyard into a walled garden is just as simple as having a Japanese zen garden or a more lush and tropical garden. The inclusion of a pool and a dining area also provided an added function to the area. Having the courtyard as the focal point of the house has a much better view that the current view of Tanzifco (waste management company) garbage bins with cats lingering around with bits of machboos on their mouth.

Hotel Lock Down

Dar Said. Sidi Bou Said. Tunisia. Photo by Equalizer

In a hotel room. All alone and you don't feel like going out. You have the whole hotel to yourself. What do you do?

My program would be the following (depending on hotel facilities):

• Swim a couple of laps in the pool.
• Read a book and tan near the pool.
• Order drinks and food and finish it off with a cigarette.
• Take another dip in the pool.
• Have a walk in the garden, while listening to my iPod music.
• Go to the gym and workout for an hour.
  
• Go to my massage appointment and hammam.
• Change into something breezy and head out to the lounge to sip a cool drink or coffee, socialize when possible.
• Have a nice dinner.
• Another walk in the garden.
• Read book before sleeping.

Food Favorites:

Pool Side: Nothing beats a good ol' burger. The way I like it is with a nice poppy seed kaiser roll, thick n juicy freshly grilled chopped sirloin, melted red leicester cheese, butter lettuce, heirloom tomatoes, crinkle cut pickles, caramellized onions, brown mustard and aioli sauce. In Dar Said: I had a beureka, a thin pastry sheet filled tuna and egg and deep fried until crispy. served with harissa (a chilli-garlic paste).

Dinner: Depends on the country I am in, i would try one of the local specialties. Had a fish couscous at the amazing annex property called Dar Zarouk.
View from pool at Dar Said. Right, Dar Zarouk




Music Favorites:

Pool / Garden : Almost Everything.

Dinner: Jazz, Lounge, Blues, etc.

Office Chill

My office

My office is sometimes almost home to me since I spend more time here than in any other place (excluding sleeping areas). Since its very difficult to find a decent spot nearby to have quick escape that really feels like its an escape. Unfortunately we do not have a proper city center that serves people that work later that 1:30. I guess city planners thought that everyone somehow is an employee of the Ministry of Affairs (Shu2oon) and other malfunctioning ministries. I do not call Starbucks and the likes an escape, if anything its adds more distress than releif. I guess I dont like to see a copy and paste places. Anything that has quiet and unique atmoshphere with really good lunch offerings.

So I though, ok i can make my own office an escape. Add a bit of music selection and order some good lunch niblets and voila!


My Office Music Selection:

Sabah O Masa -Fairuz
King of Sorrow - Sade
Live with Me - Massive Attack
Meditation - Tom and Joy
Life in Rain - Quantic
Sueno Ideal - Agnes Jaoui (highly recommended)
Rhum and Coca Cola - Arielle Dombasle
Bang Bang - Nancy Sinatra
Legrimas Negras - Bebo Valdez, Diego Elcigala & Alicia Keys (highly recommended)

My Food Niblets:

Lobster Gyoza with ginger, chives and orange zest served with a sriracha and mirin rice vinegar sauce.

Dimsum of braised lamb shank with satay sauce in mini puff pastry parcels.

Crostini topped with a black olive and sundried tomato tapenade topped with ricotta cheese and roasted pine nuts drizzled with truffle oil.

Mixed green salad with goat cheese, fried almond slices, pan roasted balsamic pear cubes and a honey-pear vinaigrette.

Banana Mousse with cinnamon, coffee and caramel swirls



P.S. Get your hands on the awesome JBL Speaker called creature for KD 30 and turn your office into a musical experience filled with deep bass and crisp sound.