My folks returned from France this past weekend with some delish French cheese in tow that I was lucky enough to be able to partake in the enjoyment of -- some goat's milk cheese, Gorgonzola and Roquefort. The Roquefort just struck the most fantastic cord with me on this cold evening taking me on a journey to the covered market in Antibes where I reckon they purchased this spicy punchy classic French blue. You might think couldn't she get this same Roquefort at a variety of locales around town?
You'd unfortunately be incorrect there my friends, there is a "je ne sais quoi" about this Roquefort that seems to be lost when transported for retail consumption purposes. There are countless reasons for this but it sure got me thinking about food having a sense of place. To me it feels much more like an old world societal and cultural convention than a concept present in the melting pot of the new world. Just take a moment to think about it, what do you think of when you think of Barcelona? Paris? London? Rome? Munich? Or perhaps you took a trip to Istanbul and your memory is strongest when it comes to that one meal you had overlooking the Bosphorus? Isn't it interesting to stop and think about what places, people, things, and memories are triggered when enjoying a morsel of cheese or of food in general?
This morsel of Roquefort took me back to the dog days of summer -- as previously mentioned the covered markets of Antibes; Campari and soda at sunset; black stone beaches; fraise des bois and bouquets of mache among the other fabulously fresh offerings available at that marche; chilled glasses white port listening to fireworks in the background and the distant notes of French jazz. What a treat it was!
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