Monday, August 28, 2006

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.

13 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Age Doesnt matter unless ur a cheese

8/28/2006 10:14:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Shoot Me

8/28/2006 10:15:00 PM  
Blogger iDip said...

in addition to Buffalo Mozzarella, my favourites are: Brie (France) & Tetilla (Spain).

BTW,
do you know a good place that sells GOOD cheese in Kuwait?

8/29/2006 02:32:00 AM  
Blogger Equalizer said...

Laialy: Yeah I agree Mexican cheeses like the Asadero (Oaxaca) is amazing when melted with jalapenos and onions and served with tortilla bread!

Fayoora: what about wine? or meat?

iDip: Good choice. The best bet would be Sultan Center, and yeah they do get some good ones every now and then. Avoid the processed cheap ones though.

8/29/2006 03:23:00 AM  
Blogger Fuzzy said...

im Addicted to Cheese ! i used to believe that the Moon is made out of Cheese as shown in Cartoons heh.
unpasteurized milk cheese is the best you're right. i like cheese Fondue, blue cheese, swiss cheeses, german cheeses, and any European kind of cheese ! i cant name a certain kind cuz i love them all

CheeseMania

8/29/2006 05:42:00 PM  
Blogger Fuzzy said...

idip try shamiya coop ركن الذواقة

Alzaad company branch

8/30/2006 10:00:00 AM  
Blogger chiktute said...

i'm obsessed with cheese too! it's the one thing i wouldn't stop eating ever since i learnt to chew! ;p

8/30/2006 03:22:00 PM  
Blogger Equalizer said...

Laialy: Anytime ;)

Fuzzy: Cheese is a very wonderful thing to eat if you like to be adventurous and try all kinds and appreciate all! As for Azzad at Shamiya Coop, they have a very limited selection, but good enough if you want to avoid Sultan.

chiktute: What kind of cheese? I know people obsessed with KIRI and "jibin gla9" Kraft cream cheese! LOL
...well yeah I love those too hehe

8/30/2006 07:56:00 PM  
Blogger Erzulie said...

I love Camembert. What about chevre?

The thing I hate about cheese is the gas that comes with it :/


:P~

hehe

8/31/2006 06:11:00 AM  
Blogger Entrepreneur said...

Roasted goats cheese with rocket, balsamic vinegar dressing and perhaps some sun dried tomatos...

yummy, FULL flavour

8/31/2006 01:06:00 PM  
Blogger Equalizer said...

Erzulie: you can't go wrong with Chevre, its one of my favorite cheeses, I just can't list everything I love. What I'll do with it is coated with Japanese panko (bread crumbs), deep fry it and lay it over a mountain of shaved fennel and drizzled with a cirtus and sweet chilli vinaigrette ;)

Entrepreneur: Very nice and simple, i would add some roasted pine nuts to that!

8/31/2006 01:48:00 PM  
Blogger 1001 Nights said...

You reminded me of Camambert! Ahh... where can we get that in Kuwait? And fresh baguette... *sigh*

9/01/2006 09:54:00 AM  
Blogger Equalizer said...

1001 nights: you can find it at Sultan Center. As for the best authentic baguette, go to Delice De France in Shamiya Co-op. The second best you can find in Sultan Center Salmiya (some French bakery)

9/01/2006 10:23:00 PM  

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