Cheesemaking @ Asheville, North Carolina

March 11, 2020March 10, 20202 Comments

Looking Glass Creamery Asheville North Carolina Cheese Cristina Nogueras

About a year ago I listened to a Savor podcast episode about cheese in Asheville, NC and I just knew I had to make my way there to experience Looking Glass Creamery for myself! I know everyone raves about the breweries in Asheville (don’t get me wrong, they are great) but being the cheese lover that I am, I was most excited for the cheese. I didn’t know there was such a vibrant cheese community in Western North Carolina. I absolutely love and appreciate European cheeses but given the logistics and financial implications to get there from Atlanta, having local cheese adventures just a drive away is pretty sweet. From what I gathered, they respect the classic rules of cheesemaking but are not afraid to showcase creativity and make each cheese unique to their style.

Looking Glass Creamery Asheville North Carolina Cheese Cristina Nogueras

LGC has grown and now has two locations: a farm and store in Columbus and The Cheese Shop in Fairview (right outside of Asheville, where we went). This cute little farm house you see was their original creamery and now the second floor, or attic, is a cozy seating space where you can find super interesting cheese books to browse while you wait for your magnificent board! They also serve wine but mind you, we were there at 11:00 am when they opened and weren’t ready for that just yet. (Yes, we had a cheeseboard for breakfast, thank you very much.)

The cheese was absolutely delicious (not surprising!) and each variety had something special to offer. The sides were also fresh and flavorful, including some pickled beet which sounded weird but paired really well with the more sharp cheeses, in my opinion. I came home with some of their fromage blanc and sour cherry jam with plans of spreading those babies out on some crackers very soon!

Can we take a moment to talk about jams? Maybe my Puerto Rican upbringing did not expose me to jams as much, or maybe it did and I was just a picky eater then, but my goodness, they are wonderful! I have always been a butter-on-my-bread kind of person and never really gave jams a chance but lately, however, I have been trying them more and wow. During our time in Asheville alone I tried like 5 different, wonderful jams, all locally made. I know this may sound lame for some of you (Duh, Cristina, where have you been living?) but to me this is extremely exciting. So exciting, in fact, that I came home with two new jars of homemade jam. I now need to learn how to make biscuits or scones from scratch and we will be golden. Also, news flash for me: jams, jellies and marmalades are not all the same thing. About to fall on that Wikipedia rabbit hole real soon…

Anyways, cheese is great and local cheesemakers are cool.

Have you visited any cheesemakers in the US? Let me know where!

Looking Glass Creamery Asheville North Carolina Cheese Cristina Nogueras

Forget the Flowers, Here are Five Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Foodies

February 9, 2016February 9, 2016Leave a comment

I don’t need to tell you Valentine’s Day is coming, a simple visit to your nearest pharmacy will suffice. Whether you are in a relationship or not, this holiday is capitalistically designed so that you are probably thinking of getting someone something, whether they are a significant other or your best friend.

On my end, I like to take Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to be creative and encourage you to gift beyond the classics which are expected. I’ve compiled five top choices below to spark some ideas.

Try The World Box ($198/year) – Have you ever been obsessed with something you have not even been able to try? That’s how I feel about Try The World. Still, I can tell it’s amazing and I can’t wait to try it. Try The World is basically the best option for when you want to travel the world and eat all the food, but you can’t afford a plane ticket. You get a box every two months and each box features gourmet foods from one new country.
Cast Iron Fondue Set ($39.95) – Melted cheese at home? Whenever you want it? Who doesn’t want that? There are a lot of fondue set options out there, it really depends on what you are really planning to do with it. If you are just looking for a one night thing, then don’t spend big. If you see yourself, however, using it for dinner parties or even chocolate fondue, there are some fancier options like this one from Sur La Table.
Baking Mix Tin – Cornflake Marshmallow-Chocolate-Chip Cookie from Milk Bar ($17) – This is baking made easy and delicious. Have you had anything from Milk Bar yet? You have to. This gift can be a good activity to do together or a nice surprise if you want to skip ahead and make them beforehand for quick enjoyment. You can look at more flavors here. The mix of marshmallows and cornflakes is a delicious combination of crunch and softness, highly recommend it! This is also a good option for a more low key gift.
Sur La Table Cast-Iron Oyster Pan ($39.95) – I’m not gonna lie, this one is tricky. I have never really cooked seafood on my own. Sure, I love eating it, cooking it is just not my specialty. Still, since Valentine’s Day merits something special, why not cook an aphrodisiac meal? Just looking at this image gets me excited… for food. Don’t ask me where to get the oysters, I have no clue, BUT here’s some wine to drink with them.
Club W ($ – Varies) – Speaking of wine! Here’s another aphrodisiac that doesn’t need much explanation. I don’t really think you can go wrong with wine. If you can, plan a wine tour or local wine tasting. If you can’t, there are a lot of wine clubs out there that will make great gifts. I’m currently trying out Club W and so far, so good!

Last Night for NYC Restaurant Week!

February 5, 2016February 5, 2016Leave a comment

NYC Restaurant Week, you know it’s happening, you’ve seen your friends snap about it, but have you actually made a reservation yet? Well, tonight is the last night, don’t miss out. To me, NYC Restaurant Week is an opportunity to go to those fancy restaurants you wouldn’t be able to afford without a special pre-fix menu, am I right? As you probably know, $38 gets you an appetizer, an entrée and a dessert. Not too shabby. If you are like me, you probably end up at a place where wine is $18 a glass and are forced to throw caution to the wind.

While we are in the subject of not caring about anything and eating what makes you happy, below are some pictures of my NYC Restaurant Week experience. I went to Montebello Restaurant and Artisanal Fromagerie & Bistro. Italian and French, that’s my jam.

Dinner at Montebello Restaurant was filling and satisfying. Our waiter was super nice and made some excellent recommendations. I got an eggplant parm… as an appetizer! You know you are about to feast when your appetizer is delicious and generous. They also had a nice selection to choose from, as opposed to other places where you can only pick from about two choices. My friend and I, avid eaters as we are, ordered two different entrees and shared. The Crespelle was delicious, think about a crêpe and a lasagna having a baby. Gross in theory, amazing in real life. It doesn’t stop there, we also ordered the Pollo Montebello, a delicious Parmesan crusted chicken, followed by cheesecake AND chocolate cake. Oops.

Last night, I went to heaven, I mean Artisanal Fromagerie & Bistro. I got my own little Artisanal blend fondue as part of the restaurant week menu. Oh dear lord, hands down one of the best fondues I have ever had. I need to come back and try their truffle fondue, I can’t even imagine the goodness. I really enjoyed my fall cavatelli entrée with roasted squash, orange poppy seed cream and ricotta (yum, ricotta). Prices are a little high, so think about this as a place for celebratory dinners and special occasions.

It’s not too late to enjoy restaurant week, you still have lunch and dinner today, what are you waiting for?

#ReinventSnacking with these Creamy Cheese Options

February 2, 2016February 1, 2016Leave a comment

Image from The Laughing Cow ®

My love for The Laughing Cow started as a romantic French love affair. I was introduced to their classic, creamy swiss by my loving French host family and it quickly became an integral part of my breakfasts while abroad. It even substituted butter as my top choice to put on bread in the morning. When I was running out of money during my time abroad, I would still chip in to indulge in some creamy goodness. It made my cheap sandwich diet so much more exciting.

Homemade breakfast in Paris, Fall 2010. Man, those were cool place mats.

That’s why I was so excited when I got invited to The Laughing Cow’s #ReinventSnacking event in New York City. Fun event plus a brand I already love? I’m in. During the night, I got to experience three different sessions in which I was able to learn from some talented folks.

My first station was Plates, Style & Photograph Snacks with Kristen Hess, from The Artful Gourmet. Basically, my dream job. Best part of setting up for style photography? If you are lucky, you get to eat the food. I did.

I then got to meet the lovely Chef Sarah Simmons from City Grit and Birds and Bubbles. In her station, we used different Laughing Cow products to create tasty and unique treats with a touch of Southern charm.

Lastly, I hit the Stop Motion Snack Video session with Amber Lee and created the video below. Guys, I’m really proud of it. But really, if you like my little video, go check out Amber’s work. Truly amazing.

Fun doesn’t end there, this month, there is another great flavor joining the Laughing Cow family… Creamy Asiago! I got the chance to try it this past month and it’s really good. It pairs well with pecans and pineapple but honestly, I can even eat it plain with one of my favorites, Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins. The Laughing Cow Creamy Asiago hits shelves this month.

Disclosure: The Laughing Cow provided me with product for consideration.

All opinions, ideas and stories are 100% my own.

Gifts For That Foodie In Your Life

December 16, 2015December 15, 2015Leave a comment

It’s that wonderful time of year! Yes, it’s almost Christmas, even though New York City weather wants to tell us otherwise. Today, instead of sharing mouthwatering pictures, I took the time to compile a list of a few awesome gifts to get that special foodie in your life (even if that special foodie is you!).

This past month I discovered Shoptiques, thanks to the fabulous FabFitFun Winter box. Yes, I may have been living under a rock if I just heard of this website, but if you know me, you know that I’ll take a fancy cheese plate over a pair of expensive shoes anytime. That’s just how I am wired. However, that does not mean I can’t appreciate the wonder that is Shoptiques. It basically lets you shop online from boutiques all over the world, all in one seamless experience.

I got to play around with it and it was really useful to be able to shop by category, but also being able to switch and focus on one boutique at a time. My first purchase arrived in basically 24 hours and the boutique owner even wrote me a handwritten note! Simple, yet meaningful.

Need it by Christmas? They guarantee delivery on time if you order by December 20th. Also, I can now basically give you $15 dollars to spend! Just click on this link, and once you purchase and take advantage of the $15, you will get your own link to share out with friends. The gift that keeps on giving, right?

Start browsing below, hope you find something that you like!

Porcelain Yes Mug ($16)

Got This Tumbler ($16)

Antipasto Tray ($20)

Carry-on Cocktail Kit, Gin & Tonic ($24)

Foodie Dice ($24)

Gift Boxed Cheese-Knives ($47)

Chez Elle Coasters ($47)

Dot Martini Shaker ($50)

Cheese Board Set ($60)

Impromptu Cheese Crawl

September 14, 2015November 22, 2015Leave a comment

Last week I went on a cheese crawl. Yup. Like a bar crawl, but with cheese, I’m sure you get it. Although, can I call it a cheese crawl if there were only two stops? I’m going to say that I can.

First stop: Murray Cheese Bar. I love this place, it’s always highly satisfying. I’ve had a full dinner there before, but for the purposes of this cheese crawl, I just had cheese. Below are the four picks of the night, all of them highly recommended!

Other great picks from past visits:

Petit Billy
Four Fat Fowl St. Stephen
Cavemaster Reserve Hudson Flower
Alemar Good Thunder

Second stop: Risotteria. Another place I love. Not only because I love risotto, but this is an awesome gluten-free spot where I can take all my great friends who can’t have gluten. Risotto is really an amazing concept and I’m a huge fan, as you may have seen here or here.

I don’t think you can go wrong with these two spots, not only do they have amazing cheese capabilities, they also have a great vibe for meeting up with friends from around or out of town.

You may have recalled I wrote an open letter to cheese a few months ago, but it was never a break up. I’m learning to balance my life so that I’m not having a full block of cheese for dinner every single night (it happens) but I can still indulge in the wonderfulness that is cheese.

On all seriousness, can we have a cheese crawl in nyc? I’m sure there is one, this city has it all…

*does quick Google search*

Guys, there is a tater tot crawl AND these guys did a grilled cheese crawl. All amazing activities, I must say. Oh my, there’s also a burger crawl. I must stop right now, this is too much to handle right now.

Ok, there’s some serious crawling that needs to happen soon. Maybe this can be a fun fall activity?

Let me just leave you with one final piece for inspiration:

“Life is great. Cheese makes it better.”
― Avery Aames

Dear Cheese, We Need to Talk

March 24, 2015November 22, 20151 Comment

Dear Cheese,

You know my love for you is true, but we need to talk. All I’ve ever done is praise you and treat you with love and what do you do in return? You hurt me. You hurt me when I least expect it and it drills a Swiss cheese hole in my heart.

You know I want to be with you every waking moment. I want you in my breakfast, as my snack, with my lunch, before dinner and for dinner. You make me happy in so many ways and you’ve given me some amazing times I will cherish forever. Your versatility provides for unexpected delight in different situations. Melted, hard or spread, you’re still amazing.

But Cheese, you’ve been hurting me too much lately. I can’t fathom the idea of life without you, the mere thought is too painful to bear. Still, my love, I think we need to spend some time apart. I’m not going to say goodbye forever because that’s impossible, but I think we need to see a little less of each other for a while.

I know you mean well, how can’t you with all the cheesy love you have to offer? You bring smiles to everyone who is lucky enough to encounter you, you make boring meals so much more exciting and even on your own… you are a wonder.

We’ve both seen what you can do to me. I know you’re sorry and you don’t mean to hurt me, I still love you in spite of the pain.

This is not farewell, it’s just a “see you soon” (and in smaller amounts).

Forever yours,
Cristina

Image Credit

[Dinner] Grano Trattoria

March 17, 2015November 22, 20153 Comments

I love Italian food, as any sane person should. Cheese is everything, no questions asked. When it was time to pick where to go for my first birthday dinner (yes, there is more than one, duh) I wanted to go somewhere Italian.

I’ve been dying to try Rosemary’s in the West Village, many friends have recommended it, but there were no reservations available when I checked. Thanks to the Open Table app I discovered another option for dinner, Grano Trattoria.

Obviously, I started with the daily selection of cheese. These were particularly more special since I had been on some sort of cheese deprivation period, which basically means that I was eating normal amounts of cheese and no the ridiculous amounts that my heart desires.

This is what got me. This risotto was DELICIOUS. It was the perfect balance of thick and creamy. I think by some, this risotto can be considered more on the cheesy/creamy side, but in my eyes that equals perfection.

My boyfriend got the veal parmegiana, which looks messy but was actually pretty good. I’m not a big fan of veal, but he said it was good. He’s usually an easy chicken parm kind of guy, so I think that says a lot.

So that’s how my birthday celebrations began! If it was up to me, I would celebrate all month (which I kinda do in some way) but I tried to be normal and kept the celebrations down to a week. I always love to go out to dinner and try new places, but there’s always a nice extra touch when you’re going out for a special occasion. You don’t need to get me any presents, just feed me, seriously.

Wine, Cheese & Friends (Pasta, Shrimp & Hot Dogs too)

December 10, 2014November 22, 20151 Comment

What do I love more than wine and cheese? Having wine and cheese with friends, old and new.

As you may or may not know (everyone’s busy, I get it) I have a new camera and of course, I’m eager to explore all the possibilities. It’s not as easy as it looks, I’ve yet to find that perfect light but I’m enjoying the journey.

Back to the wine and cheese.

I love the Holidays. Considering the crappy weather, it’s a season full of color and life that allows us to reconnect with people and gives us an excuse to put pretty things together. Seriously, think of all the things you do in preparation for the Holidays! I love the hustle, from getting the perfect gifts to finding the perfect outfit for your company’s Holiday party (which is tomorrow and I do not have).

I may have a passion for capturing beautiful moments, but my friend and old coworker Citlalic has a passion for creating them. Her house is full of exquisite details that come together to build a lovely home. She has the perfect amount of patience to make sure that everything is perfect, which I love to capture!

I must say I am very proud of my two cheese picks, Nettle Meadow Kunik and Aged Gouda from Murray Cheese Bar. Boy, were they good. My worst nightmare has a name and that is “lactose intolerant”.

We also made pigs in a blanket! Not my best assembly, but that doesn’t affect the taste! Who knew this was so easy? Just cut little hot dogs and roll them with Pillsbury Crescent Rolls.

I look at this picture and I am hungry all over again. Citlalic cooked this delicious creamy shrimp Alfredo pasta with homemade sauce, props to her because I’m usually lazy and just buy the sauce at the store. Check out the recipe here.

I look forward to the day that I have the capabilities to set up a table like that. I don’t even own a table cloth at the moment. I miss my mom’s kitchen where I could find napkins of every color and glasses for any occasion. One day, Cristina, one day.

Happy Holidays!

An Unexpected Valentine’s Day

February 15, 2014November 22, 2015Leave a comment

Surprise bouquet at the office, delicious candlelit dinner at the fanciest restaurant with the finest bottle of wine and a night out dancing and strolling by the water…

That was not my Valentine’s Day.

I have been sick for the past week, but don’t worry I will not bore you (or disgust you) with the details.

Somehow, I was still able to have a pretty damn sweet Valentine’s Day. Boyfriend brought me flowers and some grape juice, which I enjoyed in a fancy wine glass while I ate a dairy-free and fairly unseasoned pasta on my freezing kitchen. I could not eat chocolates or any other sweets for that matter and all the dancing I did was from the kitchen to the sofa, where I killed that grape juice while we watched nothing else but the Valentine’s Day movie (permission to gag).

Yes, I was upset about the food choice and evident lack of wine and cheese. Yes, I wish we could have done the long weekend road trip we originally planned, but you know what?

Sh*t happens and you still are able to smile. I wasn’t able to stuff my face with complicated dishes, fancy cheese and gulps of wine? Eh, I saved the calories?

In all seriousness, I’m grateful I could even eat. I also had love, which is kind of the point of this so-called Holiday, so why was I complaining? Oh yeah, because I am obsessed with cheese.

Beaches & Brie

One girl’s journey through places and plates, with a side of everyday life

Tag: cheese

Cheesemaking @ Asheville, North Carolina

Forget the Flowers, Here are Five Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas for Foodies

Last Night for NYC Restaurant Week!

#ReinventSnacking with these Creamy Cheese Options

Gifts For That Foodie In Your Life

Impromptu Cheese Crawl

Dear Cheese, We Need to Talk

[Dinner] Grano Trattoria

Wine, Cheese & Friends (Pasta, Shrimp & Hot Dogs too)

An Unexpected Valentine’s Day

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: