Memories From the Past

I figured for my first blog it would be appropriate to give a small synopsis of who I am and how I became fascinated with the world of cheese, wine, and gastronomy. Those of you who already know me know my background, but for those that do not, let me briefly tell you a little about myself. I was born and raised in South Florida and have lived here for most of my life. Living in South Florida has had its ups and downs, we do not have many great markets, grocers, or the quaint culinary perks like some of the other states do. However, we do have a very fast paced and tourist oriented mode of living. Many of the great restaurants down here are equivalent to those found in Los Angeles and New York. I was raised rather differently from most young children. My parents always went out and wined and dined in fancy establishments, their rule for me was simply put; if I couldn't find anything to eat, I simply did not eat. Growing up in this way allowed me to establish a very broad palate and exposed me to many different culinary treats and ethnic delicacies. I began eating sushi at the age of eleven, drinking wine at around the same time; although I never really liked it much and it was always just for holiday and family gatherings. For as long as I remember I have been eating foods from around the world, and also sampling what many people would find to be strange and odd. I never thought of it in this way and I have always enjoyed indulging my culinary endeavors.

I don't really remember the first time I tasted cheese, real cheese, the kind of cheese that cheesmakers pride when they finish. Artisanal cheese is what I am speaking of here. I always remember my mom bringing home cheeses for special occassions or when she just felt like eating something new and delicious. I'd always try some, not really knowing what I was trying or why I was trying it. I remember eating cheese with grapes, crackers, and other fruits. I guess my first formal experience with cheese, in which I actually willingly went to taste and learn was about two years ago at a restaurant in Portland, Oregon called Blue Hour. Blue Hour is a fantastic restaurant and one of the few restaurants I have been to that have a cheese cart with separate cheese menu. Seeing the cheese cart, smelling the pungency of some of the cheeses, and listening to the maître fromager explain the different regions each cheese came from and how it was produced really excited my curiosity. Thus, I have been on a quest since then to learn as much as I can about cheese. I figured with my growing knowledge and love of wine, cheese would fit easily into the picture and also accompany my wine hobby rather nicely.

I will use this blog to share all of my experiences, tasting notes, and general information that I attain on wine and cheese. Hopefully, everyone will learn something from this and take an appreciation in wine and cheese.