• 12 cheeses of christmas,  Accompaniments,  Aged Cheese,  Artisan Cheese,  blogging,  Blue Cheese,  brie,  British,  British cheese,  Cheddar,  Cheese,  Food,  food festival

    How to Make the Perfect Festive Cheese Plate

    December 10, 2016

    In my view, whatever the question, the answer is ALWAYS cheese. And, as the weather cools and the year draws to an end, ’tis the season to be…eating as much cheese as possible. Whether it’s catering to a big crowd of friends and family, or settling in to watch Netflix on a weekend, or just because,  cheese is the ideal entertainer. I know, I’m biased. But frankly, it can be the perfect end to a dinner party, or served as a spread at any party But it’s not always easy to choose the right cheeses. So I’ve joined with Lulu Qatar and Chocolate Fish Parties to show you how easy it is to creative…

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  • Aged Cheese,  Artisan Cheese,  Blue Cheese,  brie,  Cheese

    The Secret Life of Cheeses and Other Ugly Truths

    November 18, 2014

    Like many things in life – sausage making lawmaking being two – I try not to dwell on the finer points on what makes cheese taste as awesome as it does. I mean, we all know it’s about mold, and bacteria, but frankly, if we think too hard about it we wouldn’t ever eat it again. Which is why this piece on the BBC website both fascinated and repelled me at the same time. The Strange World Inside Cheese Read it at your own peril. Spoil the mystery if you must.

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  • Aged Cheese,  Artisan Cheese,  Australia,  Australian Cheese,  beer,  Blue Cheese,  brie,  Cheddar,  Cheese,  Cheese in Cooking,  Cooking,  Food Trends,  Turkey

    Party On – How to Be a “Grate” Host

    June 9, 2014

    You’ll always find me in the kitchen at parties, especially my own. I have inherited my mother’s love of cooking for a crowd. I have also inherited her love of reality TV, but that’s another story. But everyone can hone their skills especially in this ‘Post Post Emily Post Era’, and the great people at King Island Dairy have produced a free guide for the perfect dinner party and cheese plate. The Perfect Dinner Party is free to download and a wealth of foodie information. http://www.perfectdinnerparty.com.au There is some great a advice in here – like balance your ambitions with your abilities. I for one have been waaay too ambitious…

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  • brie,  British,  Cafes,  Cheddar,  Cheese,  Cheese in Cooking,  Doha,  Food,  Food Trends,  Middle East,  Qatar

    Hello, is it Brie You’re Looking For…in Doha

    June 1, 2014

    When I tell people about this blog, I usually get asked two questions. Why cheese? That answer is simple – why not? Usually delivered with an exaggerated eyeroll. The second is: where can I get good cheese? In Doha we are spoiled for choice. Recently I did a roundup in my monthly column for BBC Good Food Middle East. Now you have it – a handy cut out and keep guide. Now I can be close to your heart…or wallet…always.

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  • American Cheese,  Blue Cheese,  brie,  British,  Cheddar,  Cheese,  Cyprus,  European Cheese,  Feta,  Food,  France,  Goat Cheese,  Gouda,  Greece,  Italy,  Ricotta,  Sheep Milk,  Swiss,  Travel,  Unusual Cheeses,  Washed Rind,  White Cheese

    Honor Roll – Huff Post Lists Best Cheeses

    July 4, 2013

    Every day I say a small prayer to a higher power for not being born lactose intolerant. I mean, it would have been difficult to do this blog in the first place. More importantly, what would I talk about at parties? I get asked a lot what I think the best cheese in the world is. The beauty is, there are thousands. The Huffington Post has a similar view to me, in that there is no such thing as a bad cheese. but they have also compiled a list of the 20 best cheeses (in their humble opinion). I agree with all the listed ones, maybe not the order. Check…

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  • brie,  Cheese,  France,  French,  Travel

    If You Leave Brie, Can I Come Too?

    November 21, 2012

    I’m an expat and have been for some time now. It doesn’t define me as such, but it’s an important part of my life and will be for a long time.  There are some great things about being an expat – no tax, travel, decent wages. But the downsides are homesickness, frustration with bureaucracy….and seeing important people in your life leave. It happens, in expat land, nothing is forever. We are all guests in our country and as always, there will be another opportunity in another country. The thing about expat friendships and relationships is that they develop fast and strong, kind of like the uncertainty of our lives fuels…

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  • brie,  Cheese,  French

    It’s not ewe, it’s Brie…

    October 7, 2012

    Chagrined but not defeated, I returned to Jones the Grocer today and knelt at the altar of cheesy fabulousness. I bought another sliver of Truffle Brie as a replacement for the “lost” one, and was rewarded with a sample of another cheese, Fosseway Fleece. Truffle Brie is a departure for me. I am usually a cheese purist – that is someone who likes their cheddar without sage and their goats cheese without chives. But the lure of the earthy taste of truffle and brie is just too much. It’s pretty hard to overwhelm the taste of a good brie and those one manages to balance both strong flavors. It’s made…

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  • brie,  French

    Who moved my cheese?

    October 6, 2012

    My grand plan to launch the blog with the much discussed truffle brie melted faster than a Kraft Single on white bread under the griller. I forked out close to $15 for a hunk of the prized cheese but somehow managed to lose it between the store and my house – it’s somewhere in Doha, stinking up a storm. I would like to hope it went to a good home. Sadly I think it was just thrown away. I had intended to share the brie with a French friend, a triumphant start to the blog. But instead had to confess my crime. And to a French person, losing any brie,…

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