This is my first post onto my first blog in the absence of followers. Just me and my therapist (mac book), sat in a room, alone, talking about cheese. Welcome to my world.
As someone who enjoys food, I have amassed a grand collection of food related reading matter, including a few of the usual suspects. Good food accounts for a large part of my social life and along the way I have acquired a few basic cooking skills that have increased my confidence with food. Along with this confidence has come a need to buy, prepare and eat the best quality food that I can reasonably source and afford. Provenance is a term 'banded around' as a higher state of food! Provenance to me is basic, it is knowing where the food you put into your mouth comes from.
My journey started whilst taking my mum away to France for her birthday. We decided on the Champagne region and agreed not to book our first night and 'wing it'. Whist driving through Etoge, a small village near Epernay, Rula mentioned that the 'red book' made reference to a chateau that may be worthy of a look whilst in the area. As we turned the corner and began driving up the gravel drive, we approached Chateau Etoge.
I had no sooner pulled up in the parking area than my mum had negotiated the reception, the language barrier and booked 2 rooms along with a table for a gastronomic menu.
That evening, we joined mother for an aperitif in the drawing room. The scene was reminiscent of a murder mystery film set, with all the typical character's, a retired eccentric Major and his wife and a couple who looked as if they had won a weekend away.
We ate the cheese course prior, to the dessert, a first for me. The cheese trolley was wheeled to our table. The three of us looked on in astonishment at the vast selection of French cheese with the waiter having exceptional knowledge of each and every gem.
That was the day my obsession with cheese began. That weekend is never far away from any conversation that regards my mother, France, champagne or cheese.
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