I had intended to only get one type of cheese (the Tete a Papineau), but then, I stated to chat with the salesperson and asked her to give me a rundown of how the cheese in the shop were organized. I asked some very naive questions about how I might think about the different cheeses and what I might consider for the next time and then she asked the deadly question: "Do you want to try something else?" How could I say no? I mean, there were so many different cheeses available, so I wasn't really sure where to begin, so I just asked her what her favourite cheese was, and she said the Balsamic BellaVitano...from Wisconsin. I laughed out loud that it was an American cheese and she chuckled as well. I think it's also part of my silly romanticism of Europe, but I was thinking that I would want to eat my way through European cheeses. But of course Wisconsin would have some good cheeses too!
Here's the description on the label (which, was of course written in French although it's an American cheese): "Fromage a pate ferme affine au vinaigre balsamique gagnant de la 1er place au American cheese Society 2010. Fin 2e. debut 3e service. Vin: Rose de Provence." (Translation, by google)
The cheese (from the Sartori Company) reminded me of a cheddar. Made from pasteurized cow's milk, it's a little harder, and has that kind of "cheddar" taste (I've got to develop a better flavour vocabulary)...I don't know how to describe it...salty? Thick? There is a hint of balsamic vinegar (obviously), but with my crappy palate, it's super subtle to me. The description of the website is helpful and I like the recommendations of what it pairs well with. I mean, that didn't really help me, because I was only looking at it after I'd finished eating, but knowing which foods it would go well with was interesting to think about.
Anyway, another cheese that I enjoyed. I mean, it's great that I'm finding all of these cheeses that I like, but I guess when you are able to taste the cheeses before buying them, that helps. I mean, I usually try one or two cheeses before deciding what to buy, and I don't really think I've actually tried something that I thought was vile. Mind you, I'm probably (based on the salesperson's knowledgeable recommendation) trying cheeses that probably wouldn't be too offensive (to my limited cheese palate). It's been fun going through these different cheeses. I'm really holding back from moving into goat cheese territory, but it seems like there are so many cow's milk cheeses that don't have to worry too much about it quite yet.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Tete a Papineau
So, I'm continuing to go through the selection of brie-like cheeses at my regular cheese shop. I think at some point, I'll need to move along to other types of cheeses and diversify, but for the meantime, I still start my conversation with whoever's helping me in the shops with something along the lines of, "I usually get something from this section, like a brie...what would you recommend that's similar?"
This time, the recommendation was Tete a Papineau. Another Quebec, pasteurized cow's milk cheese and coming from the Fromagerie Montebello. I wouldn't describe this cheese to be "spreadable" per se. It's softish, but not quite as soft as some of the other cheese that I've gotten. In terms of flavour, this cheese has NO flavour. Like, even eating the rind, I don't get that kind of bitter or funny taste that stays on the tongue. I get no hints of anything, no undertones...so if you like a strong cheese this one is not for you. I googled a little bit more about the cheese and found a description of its flavour as "Douceur, arome de creme fraiche, legerement herbace." (Translation, by google).
The description on the label from the shop reads: "Fromage artisanale a pate demi-ferme & croute lavee. Affinage de 35 a 60 jours. Finalist Fromages Fins Can. 2014. 2e service. Vin: Cahors, pinor noir." (Translation, courtesy of google)
Anyway, it was a light cheese that I enjoyed. Today's incredibly hot outside, and I'm sitting on my balcony (luckily, a big tree is blocking the sun right now), so it's very warm, but there's a nice breeze. And with a fresh baguette, tomatoes and fruit juice, eating this cheese is enjoyable.
This time, the recommendation was Tete a Papineau. Another Quebec, pasteurized cow's milk cheese and coming from the Fromagerie Montebello. I wouldn't describe this cheese to be "spreadable" per se. It's softish, but not quite as soft as some of the other cheese that I've gotten. In terms of flavour, this cheese has NO flavour. Like, even eating the rind, I don't get that kind of bitter or funny taste that stays on the tongue. I get no hints of anything, no undertones...so if you like a strong cheese this one is not for you. I googled a little bit more about the cheese and found a description of its flavour as "Douceur, arome de creme fraiche, legerement herbace." (Translation, by google).
The description on the label from the shop reads: "Fromage artisanale a pate demi-ferme & croute lavee. Affinage de 35 a 60 jours. Finalist Fromages Fins Can. 2014. 2e service. Vin: Cahors, pinor noir." (Translation, courtesy of google)
Anyway, it was a light cheese that I enjoyed. Today's incredibly hot outside, and I'm sitting on my balcony (luckily, a big tree is blocking the sun right now), so it's very warm, but there's a nice breeze. And with a fresh baguette, tomatoes and fruit juice, eating this cheese is enjoyable.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Montreal Jazz Festival (June 26-July 5, 2015)
It's festival after festival in Montreal during the summer. One of the big ones that recent finished up was the Festival International de Jazz.I managed to head down to Place des Arts to take in a couple (free) concerts. That's the awesome thing, Place des Arts is a wonderful set up and they erect massive stages and sound systems and provide opportunities for the public to experience the festivals without having to pay for the festivities. Retailers and concession stands, I'm sure benefit from the traffic.
Three concerts that I attended stood out to me:
Michael Kaeshammer (British Columbia, Canada) - I guess I would describe this music as big band jazz? Music that you can dance to, that's for sure. It's just such feel-good music.
Ginkgoa (France, pictured above) - I would describe this band as having an electro-swing flavour. As soon as they started playing, I immediate thought of this playlist on Songza. The band was awesome, playing music that you couldn't help but move to. And the lead singer couldn't help but move either. A fun touch was that she tap dancer through one of her songs.Adam Cohen (pictured, left) - So this is Leonard Cohen's son. I imagine that's a tough gig and maybe I shouldn't have chosen that as the opening to introduce this musician, but to me, it's also a good descriptor of the sound of his voice and style of his music.
It was absolutely incredible how many people attended the festival. There were tons of concepts that you had to buy tickets for, and I'm sure those were well attended too. I just couldn't believe how many people were packed into Place des Arts. For Adam Cohen's concert it was a seriously big deal of a concert. A huge production. Lots of lights, lots of big screens so that people not in front of the stage could still see the performance and of course an awesome sound system so that you could hear the concert from all around. I was so impressed with the show and will the turnout.
There were concerts happening all the time, and of course staggered a bit so that performers weren't competing between the stages. The soundchecks might have overlapped a bit, but that's it. And in between the big(ger) shows were smaller concerts and street performers. In fact, you can the vaudeville street performers pictured here standing in the background (in suits) of Ginkgoa's performance. They were enjoying and respecting fellow artists' performances. And it was impressive how quickly the festival crew was able to clear an area to let the performers set up and to set up the sound system.I can't wait to continue to explore and experience more festivals in the city.
Twelfth Night (or What You Will)
This year, the company put on Twelfth Night (or What You Will). I was recently chatting with a friend about the experience but had forgotten the name of the play. My description was, "You know, that one where a girl dresses up a a guy, and someone falls in love with her/him, but then someone else falls in love with some else, and there's a mix up and some other stuff." Pretty vague and unfortunately encompassing of a couple of Shakespeare's plays!
Anyway, the play was lovely. There were a couple songs in the play and I enjoyed the musical interludes. The last song that was sung to end the play and into the final bows sounded very familiar. Not like, it's a famous song, familiar, but like I'd heard it in another Shakespeare in the Park production. And since I think I've only really seen the Canadian Stage Company's productions in High Park, I'm narrowing it down to something that they did. So, is there a common song for Shakespeare?
As per usual, I packed a picnic dinner for this outing. It was fun. I'm really getting into this whole cheese and baguette thing. The cheese with ferns was purchased for this particular event.
Repercussion Theatre does things a little differently from the Canadian Stage Company. Instead of residing in one venue, the production moves around different parks around Montreal each night. Thus, you are able to select a night of a location that is convenient to you, or visit different parks in the city. It also means that the set and the whole she-bang needs to be easy to set up and rather portable. The set was simple, but effective. I went to the July 3rd show which was at a really large park. It was kinda cool because the entire evening there were people just walking by (because people in Montreal really love wandering and their green space...at least when the weather is nice) and stumbling across the production. There were also teams playing soccer on the fields in the background. And of course lots of people picnicking.
The company is touring until July 26th, so there's still time to catch a show! You can either find a patch of grass to sit on, bring a lawn chair (people here seem to not just bring those collapsible camping chairs, but straight up folding chairs) or even pay $5 to rent a chair (and get a seat right up front). The show is by donation (collected by cast members during intermission - I guess they don't have to bubble themselves throughout the entire show...mixing and mingling with the public doesn't throw them off).
Quebec City
Something funny, is that prior to moving to la belle province, I would call Quebec City, "Quebec City". But people here refer to it as "Quebec". Is that what folks in New York refer to New York City as.
For the first little while, I was always confused when people talked about Quebec because it didn't seem like they were referring to the entire province, but then I finally clued into what they were talking about.
I don't know how much of Quebec City I've had the chance the chance to city. Both times I was there, I was staying quite close to downtown. I had a chance to walk around the downtown area and go to the old city and it is quite quaint, but not too large, and I kind of got my fill of the city within an afternoon. I'm sure there's more to see, but it would probably require some sort of transportation more than my feet. I'd like to visit the ice hotel.Monday, July 06, 2015
Coulommiers Fougerus
On recommendation, I tried a different cheese shop. The shop is small, with a small selection, but a very nice boutique. Apparently they have cheeses that are more rare in the city, and the service was wonderful but I did have to buy my cheese blind because I wasn't offered a chance to taste anything.
Anyway, going with my continued quest to go through the bries, I asked what was available in that family. I was presented with two options, one made with unpasteurized milk and the other, pasteurized. As someone who was enceinte would be probably be eating the cheese, I went with the pasteurized cheese, the Coulommiers Fougerus.
This creamy cheese from France has a rind (still getting used to it) and is covered with ferns (so apparently, there's a hint of fern flavouring the cheese - can't taste it at all). This cheese shop doesn't provide any details about the cheese on the label, so I can't give more specifics about the cheese other than what I can find online. What freaks me out a bit is that through my online reading, this cheese is made from unpasteurized milk. Uh oh.
The cheese is easy to spread on a baguette and doesn't have a strong flavour, but it does have a bit of an aftertaste. Like that bitter-ish flavour or that rind-y flavour or something. Or maybe it's a little sour. Or mushroomy. It's a decent cheese. I don't LOVE it, but I enjoyed eating it.
Anyway, going with my continued quest to go through the bries, I asked what was available in that family. I was presented with two options, one made with unpasteurized milk and the other, pasteurized. As someone who was enceinte would be probably be eating the cheese, I went with the pasteurized cheese, the Coulommiers Fougerus.
This creamy cheese from France has a rind (still getting used to it) and is covered with ferns (so apparently, there's a hint of fern flavouring the cheese - can't taste it at all). This cheese shop doesn't provide any details about the cheese on the label, so I can't give more specifics about the cheese other than what I can find online. What freaks me out a bit is that through my online reading, this cheese is made from unpasteurized milk. Uh oh.
The cheese is easy to spread on a baguette and doesn't have a strong flavour, but it does have a bit of an aftertaste. Like that bitter-ish flavour or that rind-y flavour or something. Or maybe it's a little sour. Or mushroomy. It's a decent cheese. I don't LOVE it, but I enjoyed eating it.
Sunday, July 05, 2015
The Last Lecture
The Last Lecture, by Jeffrey Zaslow and Randy Pausch
The Last Lecture is a book based on a talk given by Randy Pausch in Carnegie Mellon's Last Lecture series in 2007 (embedded at the end of this post). You may know of it as it went viral.
At the time, I had seen the video, and followed Randy's blog until he passed away in 2008.
Randy had pancreatic cancer.
Randy was also a tenured professor in computer science, a family man, and a lover of life.
His talk was entitled Really Achieving Your Dreams.
I had enjoyed his lecture and found it TED-talk-esque.
I wasn't really sure what this book would be above and beyond what his talk discussed. The book is quite slim (and a quick read...if you tried, you could probably finish it in an hour or two). I enjoyed the book like I did his talk, but it wasn't quite as rich, expansive and compelling as I had hoped. Randy did remind me of some important life lessons and qualities to live by/for, but the story was rather brief. "Chapters" of the book were a couple pages at most, some even just a couple paragraphs. Perhaps it was because the message was so simple that it didn't need to be belabored. Why take pages and pages to say something that can be said in one? I guess what I was hoping a little bit more for was a lengthier narrative to provide background to his message. To read more about his stories, his life, his experiences. I just wanted more.
Still, I did enjoy this book. Reading it now seemed appropriate. Randy wrote about being an academic. Randy wrote about making the most out of life. Randy wrote about dreams. Randy also wrote about achieving your dreams.
This year has been a strange one for me. It's been a little bit bumpier than I would have liked, and I'm not sure when things will smooth out. But I am alive and thriving. And this book reminded me to make the most out of life, to continue to do awesome things and be positive.
- picture courtesy of www.chapters.indigo.ca
The Last Lecture is a book based on a talk given by Randy Pausch in Carnegie Mellon's Last Lecture series in 2007 (embedded at the end of this post). You may know of it as it went viral.At the time, I had seen the video, and followed Randy's blog until he passed away in 2008.
Randy had pancreatic cancer.
Randy was also a tenured professor in computer science, a family man, and a lover of life.
His talk was entitled Really Achieving Your Dreams.
I had enjoyed his lecture and found it TED-talk-esque.
I wasn't really sure what this book would be above and beyond what his talk discussed. The book is quite slim (and a quick read...if you tried, you could probably finish it in an hour or two). I enjoyed the book like I did his talk, but it wasn't quite as rich, expansive and compelling as I had hoped. Randy did remind me of some important life lessons and qualities to live by/for, but the story was rather brief. "Chapters" of the book were a couple pages at most, some even just a couple paragraphs. Perhaps it was because the message was so simple that it didn't need to be belabored. Why take pages and pages to say something that can be said in one? I guess what I was hoping a little bit more for was a lengthier narrative to provide background to his message. To read more about his stories, his life, his experiences. I just wanted more.
Still, I did enjoy this book. Reading it now seemed appropriate. Randy wrote about being an academic. Randy wrote about making the most out of life. Randy wrote about dreams. Randy also wrote about achieving your dreams.
This year has been a strange one for me. It's been a little bit bumpier than I would have liked, and I'm not sure when things will smooth out. But I am alive and thriving. And this book reminded me to make the most out of life, to continue to do awesome things and be positive.
- picture courtesy of www.chapters.indigo.ca
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Rang des Iles Meule
I think I'm starting to run out of cheeses to try in that "brie" section. What am I going to do when I try all of the cheese in that section? Which section would I go to next? Surely not goat cheeses. Blech!
Rang des Iles Meule is another cheese made from lat pasteurise de vache. As written on the label: Fromage fermier a pate molle et croute mixte. Fait de lait 100% suisse brune. Affinage de 30 jours. 1er service. Vin: Cotes du Rhone blanc. (Translated by google).
The cheese was made in Saint-Gedeon in Lac-Saint-Jean (Quebec) at the Fomagerie Medard. As the description says, it's made by milk from a certain kind of cow (Suisse brune). I don't pick up any particular hints of whatever flavour (but maybe my palate is not refined enough to do so), so the only description I have for it is: creamy. There's no particular aftertaste or anything either. It's another one of those cheeses that I spread onto bread and it's like I'm eating butter. So if that's the type of cheese that you like, this would be a good one!
Rang des Iles Meule is another cheese made from lat pasteurise de vache. As written on the label: Fromage fermier a pate molle et croute mixte. Fait de lait 100% suisse brune. Affinage de 30 jours. 1er service. Vin: Cotes du Rhone blanc. (Translated by google).
The cheese was made in Saint-Gedeon in Lac-Saint-Jean (Quebec) at the Fomagerie Medard. As the description says, it's made by milk from a certain kind of cow (Suisse brune). I don't pick up any particular hints of whatever flavour (but maybe my palate is not refined enough to do so), so the only description I have for it is: creamy. There's no particular aftertaste or anything either. It's another one of those cheeses that I spread onto bread and it's like I'm eating butter. So if that's the type of cheese that you like, this would be a good one!
Cheddar Applewood Fume
Switching it up a bit, I got a cheddar cheese from the market. Most of the cheddars that I tried tasted very similar, but this one (obviously) had a smokey taste to it (which I liked), so I decided to go with this one instead.
This cheddar is from the east coast, Prince Edward Island...the Cows Creamery in Charlottetown to be exact.
Here's what the label said: Fromage a pate ferme fume au bois de pommier (8hrs). Affinage de 2 ans. Gagnant fromage aromatique. "Grand prix des fromages Canadiens". Vin: Chardonnay boise, biere anglaise. (Translated via google)
I mean, what is there to say about this cheese? It's a cheddar, and tastes like cheddar. It also tastes smokey. And apple-ish. And tasty.
This cheddar is from the east coast, Prince Edward Island...the Cows Creamery in Charlottetown to be exact.
Here's what the label said: Fromage a pate ferme fume au bois de pommier (8hrs). Affinage de 2 ans. Gagnant fromage aromatique. "Grand prix des fromages Canadiens". Vin: Chardonnay boise, biere anglaise. (Translated via google)
I mean, what is there to say about this cheese? It's a cheddar, and tastes like cheddar. It also tastes smokey. And apple-ish. And tasty.
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Lean In
Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg
Fun fact about me: I don't really do well in bookstores. Like, I'm not good at just going in, wandering around, picking up whatever book looks interesting and just start reading it. So, I don't really venture into bookstores to browse like I might go into other types of shops.
Once, though, I was with someone else who does like to go into bookstores, so what else could I do? I wandered around, just looking at different covers and admiring the pictures on the fronts of books...until I felt like I had done as much as I could do before actually picking up a book. I forced myself to grab one and start reading (because what else could I do to take up more time?) and Lean In was the book that I happened to pick up.
I had time to read about the first chapter of the book and I loved it. But then, it was time to leave the shop and I put the book down. I was kind of annoyed actually that I couldn't finish the book. I'm not good at stopping things partway through. Anyway, I think that was at least 3 years ago that I was in that bookstore.
So, continuing on in my summer of reading, I thought I'd seek out this book again and continue to read it. Also, I had a good hunch that this book would be available at my library at work.
I really liked this book. It discusses so many things that are so relevant in my life. It gave me a perspective about some of the workings of contexts that I am a part of (and better familiarizing myself with) and even some insights into myself. I encourages me to "lean in" and be a little bit bolder than my natural inclination. It makes me think a little bit more carefully about interactions and human behaviour. It reassured me to know that so many things that I've been experiencing, thinking about, and puzzling over are not rare occurences.
Similar to Malcolm Gladwell's books, Sandberg clearly put a lot of thought into her book and did her homework. Not only does she pepper her writing with personal anecdotes and experiences, she also links her ideas to research to really drive home her points.
Reading this book felt like I was watching a really long TED talk. I was inspired, able to make lots of connections and wonder how I'm going to apply all of the thoughts that are going through my head into my life.
Anyway, I'm glad that I was able to finish reading this book. I'm happy that I've been able to get through a couple books already this summer and that I've been able to slow my pace down. Today, when I went for a walk to get some errands done, I walked slower. Maybe even at a typical person's pace. I mean, people weren't passing me, nor was I passing others. I just took my time and I think it's been good for my soul to take my time.
- picture courtesy of www.chapters.indigo.ca
Once, though, I was with someone else who does like to go into bookstores, so what else could I do? I wandered around, just looking at different covers and admiring the pictures on the fronts of books...until I felt like I had done as much as I could do before actually picking up a book. I forced myself to grab one and start reading (because what else could I do to take up more time?) and Lean In was the book that I happened to pick up.
I had time to read about the first chapter of the book and I loved it. But then, it was time to leave the shop and I put the book down. I was kind of annoyed actually that I couldn't finish the book. I'm not good at stopping things partway through. Anyway, I think that was at least 3 years ago that I was in that bookstore.
So, continuing on in my summer of reading, I thought I'd seek out this book again and continue to read it. Also, I had a good hunch that this book would be available at my library at work.
I really liked this book. It discusses so many things that are so relevant in my life. It gave me a perspective about some of the workings of contexts that I am a part of (and better familiarizing myself with) and even some insights into myself. I encourages me to "lean in" and be a little bit bolder than my natural inclination. It makes me think a little bit more carefully about interactions and human behaviour. It reassured me to know that so many things that I've been experiencing, thinking about, and puzzling over are not rare occurences.
Similar to Malcolm Gladwell's books, Sandberg clearly put a lot of thought into her book and did her homework. Not only does she pepper her writing with personal anecdotes and experiences, she also links her ideas to research to really drive home her points.
Reading this book felt like I was watching a really long TED talk. I was inspired, able to make lots of connections and wonder how I'm going to apply all of the thoughts that are going through my head into my life.
Anyway, I'm glad that I was able to finish reading this book. I'm happy that I've been able to get through a couple books already this summer and that I've been able to slow my pace down. Today, when I went for a walk to get some errands done, I walked slower. Maybe even at a typical person's pace. I mean, people weren't passing me, nor was I passing others. I just took my time and I think it's been good for my soul to take my time.
- picture courtesy of www.chapters.indigo.ca
The Tipping Point
The Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell
Inspired by Outliers, I decided to read another one of Malcolm Gladwell's books. I don't know if it's reader's fatigue or something, but I didn't find this book as interesting. The style of the book was very similar, but the content didn't seem quite as compelling.
In The Tipping Point, the author described different traits/components/characteristics/contributors to making an event/person reach a point of taking them over some sort of threshold. For example, describing three types of critical "players": Connectors, mavens, and salesmen. He also describes what he calls, "The stickiness factor" and "The power of context". Gladwell uses different examples and case studies to illustrate his points.
I often wonder what the process is for authors writing books. I guess it would depend on the topic and the style of the author, but until a couple years ago, I never considered that an author would need to do research for his/her book (except for non-fiction, which I assumed would obviously need knowledge of a particular topic). I also had a similar revelation about filmmakers. To come up with a finished product must take a lot of background work and with the types of books that Gladwell writes, I wonder how many people are supporting the process. Would he be researching all of the ideas himself, or would there be an academic/researcher (or someone like a research assistant?) who would help provide evidence of his claims. His books have footnotes/endnotes where he's referencing other people's work so I wonder how he goes back and forth between the narrative text and his references. Would it be very similar to the process that I take when I write, I wonder?
Anyway, I thought this book was just as accessible for a hesitant reader as Outliers was, but not quite as juicy. I would still recommend it because it does give further insight into life and interactions and who doesn't want to try to better understand how the world works?
- picture courtesy of www.chapters.indigo.ca
In The Tipping Point, the author described different traits/components/characteristics/contributors to making an event/person reach a point of taking them over some sort of threshold. For example, describing three types of critical "players": Connectors, mavens, and salesmen. He also describes what he calls, "The stickiness factor" and "The power of context". Gladwell uses different examples and case studies to illustrate his points.
I often wonder what the process is for authors writing books. I guess it would depend on the topic and the style of the author, but until a couple years ago, I never considered that an author would need to do research for his/her book (except for non-fiction, which I assumed would obviously need knowledge of a particular topic). I also had a similar revelation about filmmakers. To come up with a finished product must take a lot of background work and with the types of books that Gladwell writes, I wonder how many people are supporting the process. Would he be researching all of the ideas himself, or would there be an academic/researcher (or someone like a research assistant?) who would help provide evidence of his claims. His books have footnotes/endnotes where he's referencing other people's work so I wonder how he goes back and forth between the narrative text and his references. Would it be very similar to the process that I take when I write, I wonder?
Anyway, I thought this book was just as accessible for a hesitant reader as Outliers was, but not quite as juicy. I would still recommend it because it does give further insight into life and interactions and who doesn't want to try to better understand how the world works?
- picture courtesy of www.chapters.indigo.ca
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Outliers
Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell
So, I received this book as a gift in December 2008. And I finally read it. I had started reading it quite some time ago, but for some reason, I never got around to finishing it. I'm so happy that I finally got back to it. It's a great book. Kudos to the person who gave it to me, he guessed that I would be interested in the topics described in the book, and he was right.
Not only did I like the topic, but it was an easy read (check off one of my requirements for my summer reading list). There were short chapters (critical for me as I've been reading in short snippets of time...on the bus, to kick start my day, to end my days, waiting for people to show up for coffee/lunch/brunch/whatever...and also because I'm not good at remembering what's going on in the book, so stopping partway through a chapter really confuses me the next time I pick it up).
This is the first book that I've read by Gladwell. I tend not to be an overly critical reader (especially if the writing is well crafted). I think maybe I should be a little bit more critical...or maybe it depends on the subject matter. I have read things that I think are completely ridiculous. Anyway, my point is, I was happy to follow Gladwell's arguments. I guess I could google what others think of his writing (there must be critics out there), but I don't feel like it's a priority.
As the title suggests, this book is about outliers. The things that make people/things get to that place that makes them extraordinary. Gladwell provides lots of examples of this, talking about being in the right time and place, culture, context, and basically, just explaining how things work. As some who likes to analyse and figure out how things work, I found the book very interesting. I learned a little bit more about luck. I learned a little bit about timing. I learned a little bit more about small things making a difference.
I was thinking about my life as I read this book. About what in my life has contributed to who I am today. I mean, the easy answer is that everything contributes, I to try to get a better sense of how they contributed. I read this book with a lot of interest and wonder. And was happy that it was an easy read.
I've recently been thinking about writing a book. It's something that people in my profession often do. I was at a conference a little while ago, getting inspired and thinking about different things that I'd like to investigate further. I came up with some ideas for a book. But the connection to this book is that I think if I write something, I'll definitely want it to be very accessible. An easy read, and something that people can connect with. Like, a "human interest" kind of story. We'll see if that book ever gets written.
- picture courtesy of www.chapters.indigo.ca
Not only did I like the topic, but it was an easy read (check off one of my requirements for my summer reading list). There were short chapters (critical for me as I've been reading in short snippets of time...on the bus, to kick start my day, to end my days, waiting for people to show up for coffee/lunch/brunch/whatever...and also because I'm not good at remembering what's going on in the book, so stopping partway through a chapter really confuses me the next time I pick it up).
This is the first book that I've read by Gladwell. I tend not to be an overly critical reader (especially if the writing is well crafted). I think maybe I should be a little bit more critical...or maybe it depends on the subject matter. I have read things that I think are completely ridiculous. Anyway, my point is, I was happy to follow Gladwell's arguments. I guess I could google what others think of his writing (there must be critics out there), but I don't feel like it's a priority.
As the title suggests, this book is about outliers. The things that make people/things get to that place that makes them extraordinary. Gladwell provides lots of examples of this, talking about being in the right time and place, culture, context, and basically, just explaining how things work. As some who likes to analyse and figure out how things work, I found the book very interesting. I learned a little bit more about luck. I learned a little bit about timing. I learned a little bit more about small things making a difference.
I was thinking about my life as I read this book. About what in my life has contributed to who I am today. I mean, the easy answer is that everything contributes, I to try to get a better sense of how they contributed. I read this book with a lot of interest and wonder. And was happy that it was an easy read.
I've recently been thinking about writing a book. It's something that people in my profession often do. I was at a conference a little while ago, getting inspired and thinking about different things that I'd like to investigate further. I came up with some ideas for a book. But the connection to this book is that I think if I write something, I'll definitely want it to be very accessible. An easy read, and something that people can connect with. Like, a "human interest" kind of story. We'll see if that book ever gets written.
- picture courtesy of www.chapters.indigo.ca
Watermelon
Watermelon, by Marian Keyes
Total chick lit. Mindless, frivolous, the easiest read. I have to say though, I didn't like how it ended up. I mean, it went in the right direction, but I needed an extra chapter or something to continue the fluff. Fluff is fun and good and there needed to be more to complete the story. For chick lit, it's got to be the perfect storybook ending, right? Sure, this book has some little twists here and there, but when it comes to the resolution, I want them to go all out and lay it on thick.
So if you need a synopsis, here it is (it's basically the same story as every other chick lit). Girl somehow gets shafted by her man. She goes a little nutty and is serious crisis mode. Then she meets some other guy...rebound of sorts. And then the original guy comes back into the picture. But what happens in the end? You'll have to read it to find out! Ha! Oh, and they're British of course. Why is that? Either it's taking place in Manhattan and everyone is so chic and fabulous, or their in the UK where you read the book and imagine everyone speaking with glorious accents.
- picture courtesy of www.chapters.indigo.ca
Total chick lit. Mindless, frivolous, the easiest read. I have to say though, I didn't like how it ended up. I mean, it went in the right direction, but I needed an extra chapter or something to continue the fluff. Fluff is fun and good and there needed to be more to complete the story. For chick lit, it's got to be the perfect storybook ending, right? Sure, this book has some little twists here and there, but when it comes to the resolution, I want them to go all out and lay it on thick.
So if you need a synopsis, here it is (it's basically the same story as every other chick lit). Girl somehow gets shafted by her man. She goes a little nutty and is serious crisis mode. Then she meets some other guy...rebound of sorts. And then the original guy comes back into the picture. But what happens in the end? You'll have to read it to find out! Ha! Oh, and they're British of course. Why is that? Either it's taking place in Manhattan and everyone is so chic and fabulous, or their in the UK where you read the book and imagine everyone speaking with glorious accents.
- picture courtesy of www.chapters.indigo.ca
(Summer) reading
I recently started to read. It'd be great if I can get into a routine of reading regularly (alliteration FTW!).
I will typically have a more relaxed schedule over the spring and summer months. Still, I have tried to maintain a good schedule. I tend to wake up around 8-8.30am (yes, I know, most people are about to start their work day at that time, but for me this is quite a feat to regularly wake up at this hour - I'm often working evenings with my position so my schedule shifts a bit). And slowly ease into the day. Sometimes this entails reading a little bit in bed. And even eating breakfast! I think that these are all very good things to have as part of my routine because during the year, I did neither. I've typically been arriving into work around 10.30am.
Anyway, the point is, I've been reading. I've been wanting to read something light to match my summer schedule. I don't own too many books that I haven't read, especially ones that don't have heavy topics. I did have one chick lit book on my shelf and thought that it was a perfect place to start. And then I went back to a book that I had started reading awhile ago and but for some reason, never got around to finishing. I'm on my third book now, and have a couple more that I picked up from my work library that will hopefully work out. I'll happily take suggestions if people have them. Mindless books were kind of my target reading for the summer, but my work library doesn't seem to have them (or at least the titles and authors that I knew of). But that's ok - the titles that I've got on my lineup should be relatively easy reading still, of personal interest, and will encourage some synapses to fire.
It would be great if I could get through a couple books over these next couple of months.
The nice weather will help me in my quest. I type this as I sit on my balcony, taking a break from my current book. It's a beautiful day outside and reading and my general routine this past little while has helped me to slow down my pace a bit (needed). It's been good for my mental health too, I think.
I will typically have a more relaxed schedule over the spring and summer months. Still, I have tried to maintain a good schedule. I tend to wake up around 8-8.30am (yes, I know, most people are about to start their work day at that time, but for me this is quite a feat to regularly wake up at this hour - I'm often working evenings with my position so my schedule shifts a bit). And slowly ease into the day. Sometimes this entails reading a little bit in bed. And even eating breakfast! I think that these are all very good things to have as part of my routine because during the year, I did neither. I've typically been arriving into work around 10.30am.
Anyway, the point is, I've been reading. I've been wanting to read something light to match my summer schedule. I don't own too many books that I haven't read, especially ones that don't have heavy topics. I did have one chick lit book on my shelf and thought that it was a perfect place to start. And then I went back to a book that I had started reading awhile ago and but for some reason, never got around to finishing. I'm on my third book now, and have a couple more that I picked up from my work library that will hopefully work out. I'll happily take suggestions if people have them. Mindless books were kind of my target reading for the summer, but my work library doesn't seem to have them (or at least the titles and authors that I knew of). But that's ok - the titles that I've got on my lineup should be relatively easy reading still, of personal interest, and will encourage some synapses to fire.
It would be great if I could get through a couple books over these next couple of months.
The nice weather will help me in my quest. I type this as I sit on my balcony, taking a break from my current book. It's a beautiful day outside and reading and my general routine this past little while has helped me to slow down my pace a bit (needed). It's been good for my mental health too, I think.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Still here
I know I keep saying that, and I know I keep promising (more frequent) updates and even to go back to ones that I never got around doing. I think most of all, my trip to China in 2013.
But I wonder why I haven't gotten around to maintaining this blog a little bit better (as if I need another thing to ponder and think about it from this angle and that angle). Maybe I'm just living my life and not making it a priority to share it with others?
I mean, I am doing many things that in the moment or shortly thereafter I think, "Oh, I should blog about that." (Or maybe it's just getting at a deeper issue of wishing I could have shared the experience with someone else?). But that life continued on and I don't/didn't blog.
I am still taking pictures here and there, albeit less of them than when I did my last big relocation (to CH...although, maybe moving back to Toronto should have counted as the last big relocation...because the CH adventures were pretty epic and I felt that I needed to document them all via photograph). So I have a bunch of pictures, just sitting on my camera...not even on this blog.
But ok, since I'm typing right now, here are a couple quick things that I'll ramble off of the top of my head as things that I had wanted to blog about:
- Musical swings in Promenade des Artistes
- How EVERYONE floods the city once the weather changes...the vibe of the city is so different!
- Terrase, not patio...and people love them here
- Growing herbs is fun (FYI, I've got basil, rosemary, and cilantro...I also have some lavender which I desperately hope I can get to spread and take over all of my balconies or something)
- Bring on all of the festivals!!!
- St. Viateur has Rosemary and Sea Salt Bagels but Fairmount is just generally better.
- Hmmmm (So, I visit the Toronto Star website every day...but I'm wondering if I should make the switch. It would be a pretty big deal. I mean, I should probably just do both - along with all of the other websites I visit - the one I would instinctively visit first probably says something)
- Grey's Anatomy is done. I wasn't sure when the season final was going to be and after I watch it, I didn't realize is was the final episode. I mean, in terms of the fact that I didn't feel like it was you're typical, "Let's finish off all the story lines" finale or whatever. I mean, I liked it, but it wasn't like, "Boom, we're done." It did leave on a positive note, which I liked. (Two-second-later-edit: Errr, so it's not done. Why did I think it was done? I probably mis-remembered that it's just that Patrick Dempsey was leaving the show.)
- Similarly, I really like the The Mindy Project. Glad to hear that it's going to continue on Canadian TV (and hopefully the network's website).
- Went to Ottawa for a day today for something work related (I'm sitting on a train right now - seems to be a regular blogging time for me)...had a Beavertail (I think it was my first!)...walked along the Canal...saw Ontario license plates...just did my thing...and generally felt pretty great. I wonder if I should consider doing day trips more often?
But I wonder why I haven't gotten around to maintaining this blog a little bit better (as if I need another thing to ponder and think about it from this angle and that angle). Maybe I'm just living my life and not making it a priority to share it with others?
I mean, I am doing many things that in the moment or shortly thereafter I think, "Oh, I should blog about that." (Or maybe it's just getting at a deeper issue of wishing I could have shared the experience with someone else?). But that life continued on and I don't/didn't blog.
I am still taking pictures here and there, albeit less of them than when I did my last big relocation (to CH...although, maybe moving back to Toronto should have counted as the last big relocation...because the CH adventures were pretty epic and I felt that I needed to document them all via photograph). So I have a bunch of pictures, just sitting on my camera...not even on this blog.
But ok, since I'm typing right now, here are a couple quick things that I'll ramble off of the top of my head as things that I had wanted to blog about:
- Musical swings in Promenade des Artistes
- How EVERYONE floods the city once the weather changes...the vibe of the city is so different!
- Terrase, not patio...and people love them here
- Growing herbs is fun (FYI, I've got basil, rosemary, and cilantro...I also have some lavender which I desperately hope I can get to spread and take over all of my balconies or something)
- Bring on all of the festivals!!!
- St. Viateur has Rosemary and Sea Salt Bagels but Fairmount is just generally better.
- Hmmmm (So, I visit the Toronto Star website every day...but I'm wondering if I should make the switch. It would be a pretty big deal. I mean, I should probably just do both - along with all of the other websites I visit - the one I would instinctively visit first probably says something)
- Grey's Anatomy is done. I wasn't sure when the season final was going to be and after I watch it, I didn't realize is was the final episode. I mean, in terms of the fact that I didn't feel like it was you're typical, "Let's finish off all the story lines" finale or whatever. I mean, I liked it, but it wasn't like, "Boom, we're done." It did leave on a positive note, which I liked. (Two-second-later-edit: Errr, so it's not done. Why did I think it was done? I probably mis-remembered that it's just that Patrick Dempsey was leaving the show.)
- Similarly, I really like the The Mindy Project. Glad to hear that it's going to continue on Canadian TV (and hopefully the network's website).
- Went to Ottawa for a day today for something work related (I'm sitting on a train right now - seems to be a regular blogging time for me)...had a Beavertail (I think it was my first!)...walked along the Canal...saw Ontario license plates...just did my thing...and generally felt pretty great. I wonder if I should consider doing day trips more often?
Monday, March 09, 2015
Silver lining?
So, one reason I like winter and the snow that comes with it is because then I can drop my garbage down to the street from my 3rd floor balcony without worrying about the bag breaking, rather than climb down the rickety and narrow fire escape. Ha ha!
Saturday, March 07, 2015
Back on the ice
I went skating for the first time in about 5 years.
Montreal's pretty great in the winter. They flood a bunch of parks and have outdoor rinks for folks to take advantage of. I knew that there were a couple that were close to me, but I had envisioned them being further away then they actually are.
This evening, I stopped making excuses and just walked over to the nearest one, laced up my skates, and skated.
I had mentally prepped myself, thinking that if there were a lot of people there, I would just keep walking and head home. I prefer to skate when there aren't many people, especially in public skating situations. Since skating in circles is minimal, I would rather less people witness my shenanigans. I obviously picked a late night to go, thinking that there would be less people and it wasn't as bloody cold outside tonight so I that helped compel me to go.
I arrived around the same time as a couple other folks and saw them head into an indoor structure. Ah, a nice heated area with seating for folks to put their skates on and take a break as needed. I think there were also events related to the Festival de Casteliers going on there, but I wasn't too sure.
I'm kind of intrigued by the Festival, I see little cat puppets lining the shop windows in my neighbourhood and went on the website to check out the situation, but nothing's really sticking out to me. Maybe I'll give it a try next year?
Anyway, the rink was actually a loop around the structure. With a couple other people on the ice, I took a couple laps and I needed them to get my feet under me anyhow. Skating is like riding a bike, but the balance to do edgework and turns takes a little bit longer to come back. I can't even say that by the time I left the rink I was feeling completely comfortable. After a couple laps and doing so basic edges, I wanted to do a little bit more and focus on really getting my feet back under me. There were still too many people on the ice in the more open part for my liking (I think at most, there were 7 people...that's 7 too many!), so I ducked around to the 'back part' of the loop where people tended not to go (the 3 or 4 people who has been doing loops can stopped and stay on the main part of the rink).
I tried to centre myself by doing some spins. Just upright spins...forwards and backwards. It's a shame that the dizziness comes back. The ice was pretty mucked up. They don't flood, and it's covered with a nice layer of snow and of course it's not perfectly even or anything. And it's practically the middle of the night with just a couple lamps on. So that was a little tough too.
Then I tried some jumps. I even hurled myself into some doubles. Surprisingly, I landed some. I just did double salchows. I didn't want to push my luck. It's funny how muscle memory, well, stays in your muscles (and memory). My bum has enough padding that it didn't completely hurt when I fell, but the ice seemed rather hard (not the springy ice at the Galaxy!) and my elbow seemed my bony than ever.
I did some turns (my balance was horrible!) and wiped out on some double threes.
But it was really nice to be back on the ice. I've missed it.
I'm not sure if I'll be back out again soon. I mean, it took me all this time to get out there this one time. We'll see how it goes.
Montreal's pretty great in the winter. They flood a bunch of parks and have outdoor rinks for folks to take advantage of. I knew that there were a couple that were close to me, but I had envisioned them being further away then they actually are.
This evening, I stopped making excuses and just walked over to the nearest one, laced up my skates, and skated.
I had mentally prepped myself, thinking that if there were a lot of people there, I would just keep walking and head home. I prefer to skate when there aren't many people, especially in public skating situations. Since skating in circles is minimal, I would rather less people witness my shenanigans. I obviously picked a late night to go, thinking that there would be less people and it wasn't as bloody cold outside tonight so I that helped compel me to go.
I arrived around the same time as a couple other folks and saw them head into an indoor structure. Ah, a nice heated area with seating for folks to put their skates on and take a break as needed. I think there were also events related to the Festival de Casteliers going on there, but I wasn't too sure.
I'm kind of intrigued by the Festival, I see little cat puppets lining the shop windows in my neighbourhood and went on the website to check out the situation, but nothing's really sticking out to me. Maybe I'll give it a try next year?
Anyway, the rink was actually a loop around the structure. With a couple other people on the ice, I took a couple laps and I needed them to get my feet under me anyhow. Skating is like riding a bike, but the balance to do edgework and turns takes a little bit longer to come back. I can't even say that by the time I left the rink I was feeling completely comfortable. After a couple laps and doing so basic edges, I wanted to do a little bit more and focus on really getting my feet back under me. There were still too many people on the ice in the more open part for my liking (I think at most, there were 7 people...that's 7 too many!), so I ducked around to the 'back part' of the loop where people tended not to go (the 3 or 4 people who has been doing loops can stopped and stay on the main part of the rink).
I tried to centre myself by doing some spins. Just upright spins...forwards and backwards. It's a shame that the dizziness comes back. The ice was pretty mucked up. They don't flood, and it's covered with a nice layer of snow and of course it's not perfectly even or anything. And it's practically the middle of the night with just a couple lamps on. So that was a little tough too.
Then I tried some jumps. I even hurled myself into some doubles. Surprisingly, I landed some. I just did double salchows. I didn't want to push my luck. It's funny how muscle memory, well, stays in your muscles (and memory). My bum has enough padding that it didn't completely hurt when I fell, but the ice seemed rather hard (not the springy ice at the Galaxy!) and my elbow seemed my bony than ever.
I did some turns (my balance was horrible!) and wiped out on some double threes.
But it was really nice to be back on the ice. I've missed it.
I'm not sure if I'll be back out again soon. I mean, it took me all this time to get out there this one time. We'll see how it goes.
Getting groceries
I was going to go to dance class this morning, but took too long getting ready and decided to abandon that plan. I'm a little annoyed at myself for causing myself to miss class (because it's an awesome class), but the day I've had instead was quite nice.
After realizing that I hadn't been to the market for awhile, I went, and it was lovely (of course). As usual, I took my time looking at everything. I slowed my pace down (I'm realizing that I need to do this more often). I mean, I actively slowed my walking. Slowed my movements and just took my time.
So, it's maple syrup season!
I've decided that the next time I go to the market, I'll get a tire sur neige. I did have a little sample of syrup though. So yummy.
Anyway, lots of people were buying cans of syrup. I don't think I eat pancakes often enough to buy a can. And people were buying multiple cans at a time! Also, cans seem awkward. Do they siphon the syrup into another vessel? I'll need to figure that part of it out.
Some words for you:
Panais - parsnip
Navet - turnip
I got what I needed for lunch and my dinner (which will also be lunch for the week) and headed off to the next grocery stop.
There is an Asian grocery store near the market that I went in once before. When I had gone the last time, it was comforting. Kind of like when I go to Joe Fresh and the Loblaws Superstore nearby. I know it's a little weird, but it's true. There's something reassuring about them. Familiarity, I suppose. (I'll be writing a post about identity and belonging soon.)
I was hoping to find daikon (of course, I would never call it this myself, but I've learned of this name - thanks, Top Chef - and it writes better than my attempt at pin yin) for some soup and figured that this would be my best bet. I could obviously have gone to Chinatown, but it's out of the way for me (in fact, I haven't been since I first arrived, and that was just to walk through it). I've heard that there's an Asian grocery store west of me in a multicultural neighbourhood (that people tend to mention when I talk about things I miss about Toronto - and the comment always seems strange to me), but I haven't gone out there yet either.
Anyway, I'm in the Asian grocery store near the market, taking my time, walking up and down the aisles. I'm looking at the different people, and listening to the different languages. I'm also reading the signs for the different produce...all written in French. I wondered to myself whether or not the writing was correct. In similar shops in Toronto, sometimes the English isn't correct. Spelling mistakes are not uncommon. I wonder if any of the French words in this store as spelled incorrectly. Unfortunately, I am not skilled enough to know.
I found my daikon, and proceeded to check out.
So, when I'm out and about, I try to speak French as often as possible. I appreciate the opportunity to practice it and think it's the right approach to living here. (Again, more about that in a future post.)
Mind you, yesterday when I was shopping, since the salesperson started speaking to me in English and it was a store that when walking around I hear multiple salespeople speaking to each other in English and with a customer base that for the most part may not be Francophone, I responded and conversed in English. I mean, my French isn't horrible, but I'm definitely am not as comfortable and cannot fully express myself and articulate all of my thoughts in French in an eloquent manner. It was nice to just have a 'break' and speak English too. (Seriously, more to come in another post.)
So, I'm in an Asian grocery store. I'm hearing a lot of different Asian languages. I'm not skilled enough to look at someone and guess what part of Asian their from, but when I was at the checkout, I decided to speak Chinese. I mean, it was only a "hello" and "thank you", but the cashier responded in the same language.
It was nice.
After realizing that I hadn't been to the market for awhile, I went, and it was lovely (of course). As usual, I took my time looking at everything. I slowed my pace down (I'm realizing that I need to do this more often). I mean, I actively slowed my walking. Slowed my movements and just took my time.
So, it's maple syrup season!
I've decided that the next time I go to the market, I'll get a tire sur neige. I did have a little sample of syrup though. So yummy.
Anyway, lots of people were buying cans of syrup. I don't think I eat pancakes often enough to buy a can. And people were buying multiple cans at a time! Also, cans seem awkward. Do they siphon the syrup into another vessel? I'll need to figure that part of it out.
Some words for you:
Panais - parsnip
Navet - turnip
I got what I needed for lunch and my dinner (which will also be lunch for the week) and headed off to the next grocery stop.
There is an Asian grocery store near the market that I went in once before. When I had gone the last time, it was comforting. Kind of like when I go to Joe Fresh and the Loblaws Superstore nearby. I know it's a little weird, but it's true. There's something reassuring about them. Familiarity, I suppose. (I'll be writing a post about identity and belonging soon.)
I was hoping to find daikon (of course, I would never call it this myself, but I've learned of this name - thanks, Top Chef - and it writes better than my attempt at pin yin) for some soup and figured that this would be my best bet. I could obviously have gone to Chinatown, but it's out of the way for me (in fact, I haven't been since I first arrived, and that was just to walk through it). I've heard that there's an Asian grocery store west of me in a multicultural neighbourhood (that people tend to mention when I talk about things I miss about Toronto - and the comment always seems strange to me), but I haven't gone out there yet either.
Anyway, I'm in the Asian grocery store near the market, taking my time, walking up and down the aisles. I'm looking at the different people, and listening to the different languages. I'm also reading the signs for the different produce...all written in French. I wondered to myself whether or not the writing was correct. In similar shops in Toronto, sometimes the English isn't correct. Spelling mistakes are not uncommon. I wonder if any of the French words in this store as spelled incorrectly. Unfortunately, I am not skilled enough to know.
I found my daikon, and proceeded to check out.
So, when I'm out and about, I try to speak French as often as possible. I appreciate the opportunity to practice it and think it's the right approach to living here. (Again, more about that in a future post.)
Mind you, yesterday when I was shopping, since the salesperson started speaking to me in English and it was a store that when walking around I hear multiple salespeople speaking to each other in English and with a customer base that for the most part may not be Francophone, I responded and conversed in English. I mean, my French isn't horrible, but I'm definitely am not as comfortable and cannot fully express myself and articulate all of my thoughts in French in an eloquent manner. It was nice to just have a 'break' and speak English too. (Seriously, more to come in another post.)
So, I'm in an Asian grocery store. I'm hearing a lot of different Asian languages. I'm not skilled enough to look at someone and guess what part of Asian their from, but when I was at the checkout, I decided to speak Chinese. I mean, it was only a "hello" and "thank you", but the cashier responded in the same language.
It was nice.
Le Noble
My journey through cheese continues.
I'm still going through soft cheeses...super mild ones. Maybe one day I'll be eating stinky cheeses!
Le Noble is a cheese made from lait pasteurise de vache (cow's milk). When I get to the point of eating stinky cheeses, I'll also venture into the goat's cheese section. I'm just not a super-fan of the taste! The cheese comes from the Fromagerie Domaine Feodal
which also made the Cendre des Pres that I'd tried previously.
As written on the label:
Pate molle a croute fleurie. Odeur de champignons, gout subtil d'amande. Texture tres cremeuse. (Translated via google)
Only after I read the label did I maybe pick up on the almond. But yes, it's quite creamy. My lunch today was cheese and baguette and salad. It was quite lovely.
It's a super mild cheese, which hardly any flavour. And I guess I'm starting to get used to the rind part. It's not my favourite part of the cheese, but I can manage it.
Oh yes, and the wine pairing recommendation: Riesling sec, cidre de glace. Hmmm. Well, that's different from some of the previous cheeses that I've had. And the cheeses all seem so similar to me, so I wonder why the wine pairing for this one is different?
Anyway, good cheese...I wonder what my next one will be!
I'm still going through soft cheeses...super mild ones. Maybe one day I'll be eating stinky cheeses!
Le Noble is a cheese made from lait pasteurise de vache (cow's milk). When I get to the point of eating stinky cheeses, I'll also venture into the goat's cheese section. I'm just not a super-fan of the taste! The cheese comes from the Fromagerie Domaine Feodal
which also made the Cendre des Pres that I'd tried previously.
As written on the label:
Pate molle a croute fleurie. Odeur de champignons, gout subtil d'amande. Texture tres cremeuse. (Translated via google)
Only after I read the label did I maybe pick up on the almond. But yes, it's quite creamy. My lunch today was cheese and baguette and salad. It was quite lovely.
It's a super mild cheese, which hardly any flavour. And I guess I'm starting to get used to the rind part. It's not my favourite part of the cheese, but I can manage it.
Oh yes, and the wine pairing recommendation: Riesling sec, cidre de glace. Hmmm. Well, that's different from some of the previous cheeses that I've had. And the cheeses all seem so similar to me, so I wonder why the wine pairing for this one is different?
Anyway, good cheese...I wonder what my next one will be!
Friday, March 06, 2015
Grey's FTW!
Oh man, Grey's Anatomy is so good. I can't believe that 8 years ago, I was guffawing at the show.
And the fact that the superman pose showed up in last night's episode...interesting. There have now been a couple instances where I've been reminded me of this TED talk.
And the fact that the superman pose showed up in last night's episode...interesting. There have now been a couple instances where I've been reminded me of this TED talk.
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