The Cheese that Got my Goat

Do you like the stink of a good cheese? Does it make you think of your visits to small cafes in Paris and romanticize about wandering those cobblestone streets in the golden light of the early morning or in the drunken haze of night? 

For the longest time, I have been walking past this cheese stand at the local farmer's market, looking as I walk by, but never stopping to take a good look at what they have. What a mistake I made! I finally stopped. I can't believe what I found. Out of the cheeses I bought and tried, there was one that was a show stopper. It's new to the line-up and it's the one everyone wants apparently. 

The cheese is a semi-hard goat cheese, almost cheddar-like in consistency with a nice thin rind that stinks to high-heaven, but in a good way. What makes this little devil so good is that the rind is washed with Gravenstein apple cider vinegar. For those of you that know, this is an apple grown up in Sonoma County, Sebastopol to be exact. It's one of my favorite's too. So, the flavor of the cider soaked rind infuses into the body of the hard cheese, making an extraordinary complex flavor rivaling anything I have eaten in France. Cut the slices very thinly. Don't overpower your palate. Enjoy the flavor. Simply wonderful. A new favorite.

So, the Farm is Redwood Hills Farm. The cheese is simply called Gravenstein. I could not find this cheese on their website, but believe me, it exists. 

Call them or find them at your local farmer's market if you can. 

Beer and a Weiner…YA!

Hot dogs, franks, wieners or sausages? Where to find something unique that is not a Frankendog stuffed with fake cheese or a typical pink footlong? Do you want a change and something new and exciting? What about a fantastic Belgian ale poured fresh from the tap to pair with it? 

Does this sound incredible to you? Too good to be true? 

There is a place buried in the depths of Los Angeles, where the artists and creative types live in a transitional urban neighborhood friendly by day and a little scary at night. But this place is worth the dig and worth the fright. It's a sanctuary for the residents and those who know about its culinary secrets. Dare to open the black door of corner building of 800 block.  This place is a gem in its own right. 

So, Wurstkuche has over a dozen Belgian beers on tap, yes on tap, eight German and four American as well. All picked to go perfectly with your gourmet sausage sandwich. They have 21 sausages to choose from with various gourmet toppings for each. 

For beer, definitely order the Affligem Noel. This is a wonderfully dark Belgian with a nice fruitiness, slight yeast, and dark nose to compliment the gilled skins on your sausages.

For food, get the Bratwurst and the Duck and Bacon with Jalapeno peppers. Get the sweet peppers and caramelized onions for a topping. You can't go wrong.

If you are up to it, try the rattlesnake and rabbit with spicy peppers!

Dogs just got so much better. 

Other Worldly Chocolate

I like bar hopping. Not the type you are used too, no spilled drinks or drunk come-ons here, just a bunch of good old chocolate bars. Of course, each has its own individual characteristics that make it personable too, but not quite the same. From my tastings from one bar to another, I have many interesting flavors and qualities. Recently, I found a single origin bar that is absolutely stunning in its flavor and complexity.

I received it as a gift and am I happy I did. This bar is called "The Wild Thing". This delicacy is from Lillie Belle Farms in Oregon. 

First of all, this is a handmade chocolate. Second, they have their own chocolatier. Third, this is single origin from the jungles of Bolivia. Fourth, it's awesome.

The flavors are harmoniously subtle and encompassing at the same time. Flavors of earthy wood and faint leather come into play in the base notes of the chocolate while a fantastic sweetness of apple and pear come right to the front to put you in awe that this is simple chocolate you are eating. Incredible. I was not sure what to expect, but I was happily surprised to find all these flavors and more in the chocolate. 

Here is a blurb from Lillie Belle on the bar: 

"This is the best chocolate bar ever! Hand selected cocoa pods from the jungles of Bolivia are picked during the peak of ripeness. This is NOT plantation grown hybrid cacao. It is a true wild strain that is so rare we are currently the only company in the US offering this special chocolate in bar form. One taste of it's special character and you will never want another chocolate again......except for our new "The Other One"

So, forget the dealings of the day and go order yourself one of these bars. You won't regret it.