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Ravenous for Roquefort

9/8/2014

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The food police have returned.

The FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration) has found a new way to punish us.
Our penchant for Roquefort cheese is again being tested.
They've imposed new regulations concerning that old fiction
about raw milk and the need to reduce bacteria, blah, blah, blah.

Singling out my lifelong friend Roquefort, the celebrated blue cheese has been
burdened with yet another cross to bear in the U.S.
New guidelines have recently been enacted, demanding that Roquefort
producers reduce the amount of bacteria in their cheese.
Give me a break.

The blue vein (penicillium roqueforti) is what gives Roquefort its character.
  Mankind has been consuming this cheese since around 79 A.D.
so how can it be bad for you?
Piquant and exotic, I refuse to throw in the towel on beautiful blue Roquefort.
FDA, listen up!  Your restrictions are totally out of bounds.


 
That's like calling my mother ugly.
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Roquefort is France's second most popular cheese, an esteemed ranking
in the pecking order of a country that boasts 500 different types of fromage.
  Produced in the department of Aveyron, the cheese (by law) must hail from
the caves surrounding a little village called Roquefort-sur-Soulzon.
These caves produce a natural type of fungus which give the
cheese its characteristic twang.

  The cheese begins as raw ewe's milk and packs a wallop as it slowly develops
its characteristic deep blue-green veins during the careful aging process.

The legend of Roquefort goes something like this.
 
A beautiful young lady caught a shepherd's attention as he sat down
to his usual lunch of cheese curds and bread.
  Leaving his lunch in a nearby cave in order to pursue the young lass, he returned
much later, discovering a moldy cheese unlike anything he had ever seen.
His hunger overtook his fear and he tried a taste, discovering
the fantastic flavor and punch of the blue cheese.

So maybe now we know why cheese and love go hand in hand.

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My husband and I visited the Papillon factory in Roquefort-sur-Soulzon several years ago.
The adorable little town, dedicated to the art of cheese making,
made us love our favorite blue even more.
   The Papillon tour was both lively and educational, with a memorable reward
at the end --- a sampling of their delicious product.

  The best part was seeing how they bake the large round peasant loaves --
purposely baked at high temperatures until the crust is very dark, almost burnt
but still a bit underdone on the inside in order to promote the mold --
and allow the natural process to take it course.
It inspired us to find a nearby country auberge, where we enjoyed
a Roquefort omelette for lunch, always a good idea.


This is what makes France so special.
Tradition, pride, ingenuity and the horse sense to know what's good.

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Roquefort cheese has been lauded for its anti-inflammatory properties,
contributing to the legend of The French Paradox.
  There are some who dare to claim that it actually promotes cardiovascular health.
  Seems more believable than the bunk that this particular bacteria may be bad for you.
  After all, haven't many of us started adding bacteria (via probiotics) to aid digestive health?  Roquefort tastes far better than adding one more supplement to our daily ritual.

Think of all the good things in life that are blue:
the beautiful blue sky, the deep blue sea, Cookie Monster, Paul Newman's eyes,
bluebirds, sapphires, ...... the list goes on.
Perhaps LeAnn Rimes' hit "Blue" could be our anthem, "Blue, oh so lonesome for you." 


Perhaps I should thank the F.D.A.
I guess I'll be forced to go to Paris to fulfill my cheese dependence.
Time to start making plans for a Roquefort soufflé at La Cigale Recamier
or a cheese platter at Astier, or (insert favorite here!)......

  Suddenly, I'm not quite so blue!

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Fat & Happy in Paris

7/31/2014

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It's his fault.  I can't help it, I'm daffy for duck.
  Duck fat, to be specific. And cheese.  And salami.  All things FAT.
Don't forget the chocolate and the cream.  And for heavens sake, never nix the butter.

I still remember my first taste of duck confit.  I almost fainted dead away with pleasure.
Then there's duck paté - so rich, so velvety, surely it's made in heaven.
  No doubt about it, potatoes fried in duck fat deserve the medal of honor.

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What is it about these rich foods that we find so appealing?
  Taste?  Yes!  Texture?  Yes!  Sinfulness?  Yes!

I reserve a special PHOOEY for those who wish to ban foie gras.
  They'll never convince me of their moral superiority.
Foie gras, like so many of these beloved fats, are a gift, an extravagance,
a lesson in gratification that we all need.

These foods are not for every day (unless you're vacationing in France!)
but they should be enjoyed without guilt
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Go Ahead, Dig into that Chocolate Delight from le Comptoir du Relais!
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Cassoulet.  Soufflé.  Quiche Lorraine.  Choucroute garnie.
  Escargot bathed in parsley/garlic butter.  Kouign Amann.  Raclette.
  Just a few famous French treats that should be at the top of your Greatest Hits list.
  Try them.  Enjoy them.
  Note to Self:  Don't consult your doctor first.
 
Wine is also food.  It feeds the soul.  But really, that's a whole other blog.
  And ice cream.  Sigh.....


"There is no sincerer love than the love of food."  - George Bernard Shaw
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SHARE THE GOOD STUFF WITH SOMEONE YOU LOVE
p.s.  If you enjoy food, please read my novel "The Paris Effect."  You'll gain 10 pounds.
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Life on Rue Daguerre

7/23/2014

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This is What I Crave When I'm Strolling the Streets of Paris
Life on rue Daguerre is as authentic and purely Parisian as you'll find anywhere in the city.
  This is not opulent Paris or even majestic Paris.  It's ordinary -- and that's a good thing.
  If you're looking for a slice-of-life neighborhood, this community is your place. 
Located in the 14th arrondissement, the street is steps away from Denfert Rochereau,
a great stop that offers service on both the Metro and the RER
(with quick access to Roissy-Charles DeGaulle Airport).
It's a destination I always return to, continually finding new surprises that delight.
With each and every visit, it always manages to tug at my heart strings.
  Isn't that why we come back to Paris again and again?


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I Dream of Cheese
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Two destinations of particular interest await you on rue Daguerre.

Maison Péret, sometimes called Le Rallye Péret, is a brasserie located in the middle of this hustle-bustle market street.  It's open 7 days a week, convenient to both locals and travelers, worthy of a special trip to this neighborhood. I never miss the heavenly experience of dining
al fresco on their patio where I can enjoy the engaging commotion of the shopping street.
Feasting on a simple but delightful mix of salad greens, the plate showboats three different cheeses that crown grilled Poilâne bread (the blue is my favorite).  Paired with a delightful glass of the grape from their wine shop located adjacent to the restaurant, Maison Péret is exactly what you crave in Paris.  Bonus: Berthillon ice cream is on offer for dessert.
  Family friendly, it's one of those dining experiences that isn't hot or trendy, just good.
  Four generations of the Péret family have been working hard at their craft since 1919.
It's a great chance to experience an authentic bite of Paris.
  Bravo Family Péret!

Speaking of cheese, historic fromage purveyor Androuet has opened a boutique on rue Daguerre.  Think historic, artisnal, delightful.  Camembert, Brie de Melun, Ossau Iraty, Cantal, Comté, Roquefort, blue d'Auvergne and many more favorites can be discovered at this
tiny shop.  The lines are sometimes long but it's worth the wait.  This is not grocery store cheese.  It's the real deal and the staff is both knowledgeable and dedicated to getting it right.

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Rue Daguerre is named after Louis Daguerre, the so-called "Father of Photography."
He invented the Daguerreotype process of photography, well known in American as the process used by Matthew Brady to shoot those great American portraits of the day that
helped document the time of the Civil War.

This photo, taken in Paris, was captured some time around 1938.  It's not that different from the Polaroids taken in my childhood.  Isn't it hard to imagine life before still pictures?

Monsieur Daguerre was gifted.  He was well known, too, as an artist and theatre designer.
  But I like him best because of the little street in Paris that he inspired.  A street where you can find charcuterie, steaming paella, fresh figs and cherries, designer chocolate and much more. 

It's a neighborhood to remember.
Please, if you haven't already discovered the charms of rue Daguerre, add it to your next adventure in Paris.

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Fresher than Fresh Vegetables Decorate Rue Daguerre
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    AUTHOR
    MICHELLE MOGGIO

    Thanks for visiting  my blog!

    I've been experiencing the joys of Paris since the ripe old age of eleven.
    As a big fan of duck fat, raw oysters and bad French movies, my long career in advertising helped pave the way for drinking at lunch. When not living la vie en rose, my husband Gary and I live in Brentwood, TN, where we stay busy planning our next travel adventure and offering unsolicited advice to our daughter.

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